PhD - Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology

The Department of Zoology offers graduate work leading toward the Doctor of Philosophy degree in all areas of biology ranging from molecular to community levels. Research is conducted in laboratories on campus, at the Malheur Field Station in southeastern Oregon, at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, and in natural areas of the Cascade Mountains and Willamette Valley. Students also have entered into cooperative research programs in other departments, with the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, and with the Primate Research Center in Beaverton. As part of their training, all students participate in the departmental seminar program, and doctoral students spend at least one year as teaching assistants. Most students are supported by graduate teaching or research assistantships. Students are expected to have broad competency in biology. The master’s program leads to a thesis or research report (non thesis option) on a specific problem; the PhD program emphasizes independent thesis research on a major topic at the forefront of the chosen field. Available Concentrations Behavioral ecology Behavioral endocrinology Cell biology Chemical ecology Conservation biology Developmental biology Evolutionary biology Genetics Genomics Host-microbe interactions Marine ecology Paleontology Physiology Population biology