Interdepartmental Genetics Graduate Program - M.S./Ph.D.

We are accepting applications for graduate students for Fall 2007 (applications must be received by February 1). If you would like to apply to our program, please do the following:

Fill out an Iowa State University Graduate Application and pay the application fee. Information here will direct you in how to provide official transcripts, official GRE and (for international students) English Language Testing scores

Send directly to the Genetics program (Genetics, 2102 Molecular Biology, Ames, IA 50011-3260 U.S.A.) the following:

• Copy of the ISU Graduate Application
• Resume
• Description of research experience at all previous institutions/industry
• Statement of research interests (by area and faculty) at Iowa State University
• Three letters of recommendation
• If easily available, we would appreciate copies of GREs, English Language Testing Scores, and transcripts.

Below is a more thorough description of the materials requested above that are to be sent directly to the Genetics program.

Resume: name, email address, postal address, telephone, fax, country of citizenship, degree sought (M.S. or Ph.D.), education background (name of institution, degree awarded or in progress, grade point average, major, and date degree/s was or will be awarded), GRE score, and TOEFL or IELTS score. List and describe publications, scholarships, honors, awards, education, employment or other special accomplishments or circumstances that you wish considered by the admissions committee.

Description of Research Experience at all previous institutions/industry: A statement that describes research projects that you have been involved with and your participation level in those projects. A description of laboratory or computer techniques that you are familiar with may be listed.

Three letters of recommendation: Each letter should be on official letterhead. The recommenders should comment in detail on your potential for graduate study, indicating, if possible, how you rank with other students he/she has recommended for graduate study. We are particularly interested in an assessment of your ability and motivation to carry on advanced study and research.

Statement of research interests (by area--see below and by faculty) at Iowa State University: To be considered for admission, you must provide a statement indicating

• 1) areas (general and/or specific) of genetics research in which you are interested
• 2) list faculty in whose research areas you are interested

No application will be sent to committee for review without this information.

The following are most of the areas of genetics in which research is presently being done at Iowa State University: animal genetics, animal genomics, animal-microbe interactions, animal QTLs, animal breeding, companion animal disease, bacterial genetics, biochemical genetics, companion animal genetics, computational molecular genetics, cytogenetics, developmental genetics, evolutionary genetics, fungal genetics, fungal molecular biology, gene expression, gene therapy, genetic engineering, genetic toxicology, genome mapping, genomics, immunogenetics, veterinary medical genetics, microbial pathogenesis, molecular evolution, molecular genetics, molecular systematics, nuclear-cytoplasmic interactions, nutritional genomics, nutrient-gene interactions, phylogenetics, plant breeding, plant genomics, plant genetics, plant-microbe interactions, plant QTLs, Populus genomics, population genetics, prokaryotic genetics, quantitative genetics, plant-microbe interactions, RNA genetics, signal transduction, systematics, statistical genetics, transposable elements, microbial genetics, mitochondrial & chloroplast genetics. You may indicate other areas of interest.

Some of the model organisms used in genetics research at Iowa State are: Populus, Arabidopsis thaliana, barley, tobacco, rice, mouse, maize, soybean, dairy cattle, beef cattle, poultry, quail, zebra fish, shrimp, dog, cat, rat, Caenorhabditis elegans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Salmonella enterica LT2, Echerichia coli K12, swine, Echerichia coli, Chlamydomonas, Drosophila, Synechocystis, cotton, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas syringae, Xanthomonas oryzae, cultured human cells and cultured rodent cells.

Procedures for review of your application (domestic)

• When your complete application has been received, it will be sent immediately to the Admissions Committee for review
• Comments by the Admissions Committee are forwarded within two weeks to the Chair of the program
• The Chair, based on Admissions Committee comments and review of your application, will decide either
  • to invite you for a visit to Iowa State University to meet with faculty and present graduate students. This is a chance for us to get to know you and for you to see if our program will meet your research interests and needs. We will pay all reasonable travel and lodging costs associated with the visit. A decision regarding admission and funding will be made immediately after the visit.
  • to place your application into HOLD status until March 1 before a final decision is made
  • to deny admission

Procedures for review of your application (international)

• All international applications are sent to the Admissions Committee the first week in February. The Committee reviews and ranks students within areas of research interest. Students who do not indicate their area of research interest will likely not be considered for admission. On March 1, offers are made to international students based on ranking, research interest, and funding availability. Final decisions regarding all international applications will be made by May 1. On May 1 students not offered Admission will be advised.

Participating Departments

Agronomy

Animal Science

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology

Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology

Entomology

Food Science and Human Nutrition

Horticulture

Genetics, Development and Cell Biology

Natural Resource Ecology and Management

Plant Pathology

Statistics

Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine

Veterinary Pathology