The goal of the Graduate Program in Biology is to equip students with the research, critical-thinking and communication skills that are necessary for a successful career as a scientist. The Graduate Program in Biology is a joint program between the departments of Biological Sciences at Rutgers-Newark and at the New Jersey Institute of technology (NJIT), and offers two degrees: the Master of Science (M.S.) degree, and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree.

The M.S. program provides students with the professional skills and knowledge that will be necessary for advancing their careers in science or pursuing higher degrees in Graduate or Medical schools. Laboratory research training is available to M.S. students opting for experiment-based thesis. In addition to the trainings provided by the M.S. program, the Ph.D. program is designed to provide students with the interdisciplinary research training that is necessary for establishing independent research careers. Students receive research training in the world-class laboratories of our faculty, in the topics of cell biology, molecular biology, neurobiology, ecology and evolution.

The Ph.D. program is arranged into three tracks (Cell and Molecular Biology, Neurobiology, Ecology/Evolution), each with a core of Faculty researchers. Within each track, students choose from a wide variety of research topics that represent the specialized interests of the Faculty.