Graduate Program  

The Center for Plant Science Innovation is a faculty group of researchers involved in basic plant science research involving functional genomics, biotechnology, bioinformatics, biochemistry and cell biology. Opportunities exist to join this group for graduate training. Our graduate training program selects students with strong academic credentials and provides graduate traineeships at a competitive stipend rate, excellent opportunities for laboratory rotation, an outstanding array of shared laboratory facilities, and opportunities for international traineeships.

Student Admission

Graduate students may be admitted to the program at any time during the year. Admission is through the Plant Sciences Program (PSP). Information can be obtained at the website or by contacting Ms. Vicky Harris, Program Coordinator, at vharris2@unlnotes.unl.edu. Admission may also be through direct application to the School of Biological Sciences, Plant Systems Biology Graduate Research Emphasis Group (PSB-GREG). Students may receive funding from a variety of sources including an IGRP traineeship, a PSI traineeship, an independent student fellowship, or grant support. Stipend rates begin at $20,000 per year. Applicants with truly exceptional academic records are also eligible for the PSI Graduate Award in addition to the stipend.

Rotation and Traineeship Opportunities

Students entering the PSI graduate program have the opportunity to participate in a minimum of two laboratory rotations, each of 6- week duration, prior to identifying the laboratory in which they will conduct their thesis research. As many as four rotations may be conducted if the student so chooses. These laboratory rotations provide a student with the opportunity to experience different lab environments before making their selection, and to develop associations within the PSI.
Students are also provided the opportunity for international training. This may involve participation in an international laboratory training course or workshop, a brief stay in a collaborating laboratory located in another country or at an international research center or, at a minimum, presentation of research at an international meeting followed by visits to laboratories at the meeting site. We have designed this training opportunity to provide students with exposure to the international scientific community, its breadth, diversity, and perspectives.

The Student’s Home Department and Advisory Committee

Selection of a laboratory for thesis research will determine the home department from which the student will receive their degree. A student is expected to meet the degree requirements of their home department as well as those of the PSI. A student entering through the Plant Systems Biology GREG will assume the School of Biological Sciences as home department. Upon identifying a home laboratory, the student is assigned a graduate advisory committee. The advisory committee must include at least one PSI faculty member in addition to the advisor.

Curriculum and Teaching Requirements

Student curriculum is designed by the student, the student’s advisor and the student’s advisory committee to meet the needs of the student and to satisfy the requirements of the home department. The core requirements of the PSI involve the completion of four courses listed below:

All PSI graduate trainees are expected to serve as a Teaching Assistant for a minimum of one semester during their program. The course in which they participate will be selected to provide suitable training and expertise to the student. This requirement may be met at any time during the program and is designed to enhance a student’s mastery of the subject matter and skills in presentation, instruction, and organization.

Examination and Degree Requirements

A student will hold annual progress meetings with the advisory committee. Upon completion in Year 1 of the core curriculum requirements, a qualifying examination will be administered. This examination is designed to identify a student’s weaknesses and suitability to the program. The results of this examination will assist the advisory committee in developing a suitable curriculum for the student. Upon completion of the student’s program, the dissertation must be accompanied by at least one publication or manuscript suitable for publication in a refereed journal.