Department of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (DAES)

Admissions, Selection and Application

Admission to the IBS Ph.D. Program is determined by the six IBS faculty on the Student Selection Committee and by the IBS Deans Council. Admission decisions are then communicated to candidates by the IBS Program Office and the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. Candidates must have completed the B.S./B.A. and/or Master’s degree in areas related to Integrative Biosciences, including the biological, chemical, physical, health, food, nutritional, agricultural, environmental, or natural resource sciences. If deemed necessary, students may be required to take additional prerequisite courses.

Competitive candidates should have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 in all previous studies, a GPA of 3.4 in upper division courses, and completed GRE general and subject tests.

International students granted admission must consult with the Office of International Programs at Tuskegee University concerning legal documents needed to enter or remain in the United States for the duration of the program. Grades received from international programs of study must be translated into the U.S. scale by World Education Services. International students must also submit proof of financial support and TOEFL scores.

Required application materials include three strong letters of recommendation, official transcripts from each institution attended, GRE scores, a résumé or curriculum vitae documenting research or teaching experience, and a statement of interest detailing the applicant’s goals and potential research focus areas.

Applications to the IBS Ph.D. Program are received by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research, which ensures that applications are complete and forwards copies to the IBS Ph.D. Program Office. The IBS Program Office convenes a Student Selection Committee to review applications according to merit and make recommendations for acceptance to the IBS Deans Council. The IBS Deans Council makes the final decisions regarding selections. Annual reviews of the IBS Ph.D. Program are provided by both an Internal Advisory Committee and an External Advisory Committee.

Program specifics and academic requirements include core courses such as bioethics and graduate seminar, completion of at least one teaching assistantship, and demonstrated competencies in Bioethics, Biochemistry, Biotechnology/Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, and Biostatistics/Computational Methods in Life Sciences. Additional course requirements vary depending on the student’s educational background and intended focus area. Most courses required for degree completion are selected by the student’s co-advisors and advisory committee. All students are also required to spend the equivalent of at least one semester in a non-academic setting such as industry, a research institute, government agency, or non-government organization for real-world professional experience and to demonstrate leadership and communication skills.

Application forms for the IBS Ph.D. Program may be requested from the Tuskegee University Office of Admissions at 1-800-622-6531 or downloaded online. The application fee for the IBS Ph.D. Program is $35.00 and is non-refundable. Additional fees are required for international students using WES services as indicated on the application form. The deadline for application to the IBS Ph.D. Program is December 15.

Requirements to Complete the IBS Program

Core Academic Requirements

Students having earned advanced course credits elsewhere may request transfer consideration. The determination of the IBS faculty concerning the number of credits to be transferred is final. A mechanism for students to test out of core courses if a similar course has been completed elsewhere is not available. Completion of the IBS Core Curriculum is mandatory.

Residency Requirement: All IBS Fellows must satisfy a two-year residency requirement and must be present on a daily basis on Tuskegee’s campus for at least two years in order to qualify for the Ph.D. degree.

IBS Program Faculty & Leadership

IBS Program Faculty

1. Dr. Deloris Alexander, Cancer Biology, Immunology, Microbiology, Environmental Science
2. Dr. Ramble Ankumah, Environmental Science, Microbiology, Soil Science
3. Dr. Adelia Bovell-Benjamin, Food Science, Nutrition
4. Dr. Olga Bolden-Tiller, Animal Science, Reproduction
5. Dr. Conrad Bonsi, Plant Pathology
6. Dr. Chastity Bradford, Cardiovascular Disease
7. Dr. Michael Curry, Chemistry/Material Sciences
8. Dr. Norma Dawkins, Food and Nutritional Sciences
9. Dr. John Davidson, Microbiology
10. Dr. Marceline Egnin, Plant Genomics, Biotechnology, Plant Science
11. Dr. Cesar Fermin, Microscopy
12. Dr. Ebony Gilbreath, Reproductive Physiology
13. Dr. Hari Goyal, Biomedical Sciences
14. Dr. Thomas Graham, Pathobiology
15. Dr. Hadiyah Nicole Green, Nanotechnology, Engineering, Biomedical Sciences
16. Dr. Gerald Griffin, Neurovirology
17. Dr. Nar Gurung, Animal Sciences
18. Dr. Tsegaye Habtemariam, Epidemiology & Biomedical Informatics
19. Dr. Guohao He, Plant Biotechnology
20. Dr. Walter A. Hill, Agronomy, Food Systems, Environmental Science
21. Dr. Jacqueline Jackson, Plant Genomics, Molecular Biology
22. Dr. Jesse Jaynes, Protein Biochemistry
23. Dr. Kokoasse Kpomblekou-A, Environmental Science, Soil Science
24. Dr. Marcia Martinez, Immunology, Molecular Biology
25. Dr. Desmond Mortley, Plant Science, Environmental Science, Horticulture
26. Dr. Toufic Nashar, Biomedical Sciences
27. Dr. Chuck Okere, Animal Sciences
28. Dr. Ralphenia Pace, Nutrition, Food Science
29. Dr. Gopal Reddy, Immunology, Microbiology
30. Dr. C.S. Prakash, Plant Biotechnology
31. Dr. Albert Russell, Chemistry
32. Dr. Temesgen Samuel, Cancer Biology, Signal Transduction
33. Dr. Ayman Sayegh, Veterinary Anatomy, Gastroenterology
34. Dr. Sreenivas Srivastava, Lab Animal Medicine, Bacteriology
35. Dr. Berhanu Tameru, Mathematical Epidemiology & Bioinformatics
36. Dr. Amit Tiwari, Biomedical Sciences
37. Dr. Roberta Troy, Cancer Biology
38. Dr. Tim Turner, Cancer Biology
39. Dr. Barrett Vaughan, Food Systems, Environmental/Agricultural Engineering
40. Dr. Luther Williams, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry
41. Dr. Gemechu Wirtu, Animal Reproduction
42. Dr. William Witola, Parasitology, Animal Sciences
43. Dr. Abdela Woubit, Bacteriology, Nucleic Acids
44. Dr. Clayton Yates, Cancer Biology
45. Dr. Teshome Yehualaeshet, Molecular Biology, Food Microbiology
46. Dr. Robert Zabawa, Anthropology and Rural Development

Program Leadership

IBS Deans Council:

• Channa Prakash, Dean College of Arts and Sciences
• Walter A. Hill, Ph.D., Dean College of Agricultural, Environmental and Natural Sciences
• Ruby Perry, DVM, Ph.D., Dean College of Veterinary Medicine

A. Deloris Alexander, Ph.D.
Director, IBS Ph.D. Program
110 Campbell Hall
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, AL 36088
Office: 334-552-0690
Email: dalexander@tuskegee.edu

Candidacy, Dissertation and Graduation

Mentoring and Advisory Committees

Students admitted to the IBS Ph.D. program are assigned provisional advisors for initial guidance. By the end of the first academic year, students must identify two co-advisors and form a Student Advisory Committee responsible for facilitating the academic coursework plan and research design. The co-advisors must come from two different disciplines integral to the proposed dissertation research. The Student Advisory Committee consists of at least four faculty members, with at least two knowledgeable in the student’s research area, one from outside the research area, and at least three who are members of the IBS Ph.D. faculty.

Admission to Candidacy

• Completion of all coursework required for the Ph.D. program
• Passing a written qualifying exam
• Successful oral presentation of proposed research to the Student Advisory Committee
• Submission of an application for admission to candidacy

Oral Defense of Dissertation

Upon completion of the coursework and research for the program, the student, through the advisory committee, may request that the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research arrange a final oral examination. The Dean appoints a dissertation committee consisting of all Advisory Committee members and one member from outside the university. The student must submit a completed dissertation to each committee member at least two weeks before the examination date. Approval of at least four members of the dissertation committee is necessary to pass.

Changes and Review of Progress

Only the IBS Deans Council may approve changes in a student’s area of specialization, co-advisors, or Student Advisory Committee members, and such changes must be requested through the IBS Ph.D. Program Office. The Student Advisory Committee reviews progress at least once each semester and forwards a formal report to the IBS Ph.D. Program Office and the IBS Deans Council.

Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 are allowed one semester to raise the GPA to 3.0. Failure to do so results in expulsion from the program. Students who fail the qualifying examination after two attempts may apply for a terminal Master’s degree in an established program at Tuskegee University.

Submission of the Dissertation

Students must submit seven corrected copies of the dissertation signed by all members of the Student Advisory Committee and respective College Dean(s) to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.

Residency Requirement

IBS Ph.D. students are required to be located at Tuskegee University for at least two years during the course of doctoral study.

Time Limit for Graduation

All graduate credit submitted in fulfillment of requirements for the Ph.D. degree must have been earned within the six years immediately preceding conferral of the degree.

IBS-REU Program (Summer)

The Tuskegee University Integrative Biosciences Research Experiences for Undergraduates (IBS-REU) site provides a summer research program for undergraduates. The program was initiated in Summer 2009 through funding from the National Science Foundation. Since its inception, more than 40 undergraduate students from across the country have participated in this ten-week research program in integrative biosciences.

The IBS-REU site offers rising juniors and seniors in STEM majors, particularly Biology, Chemistry, Animal Sciences, Plant and Soil Sciences, Agricultural Economics, and related bioscience majors, a novel approach to conducting research by integrating multiple areas in the biosciences.

Tuskegee University is located in Tuskegee, Alabama, approximately 40 miles east of Montgomery and 20 miles west of Auburn. As a Historically Black College and University and an 1890 land-grant institution, Tuskegee enrolls more than 3,000 students and employs approximately 900 faculty and support personnel.

Curriculum

* Denotes a core class. All core classes are mandatory.

** Optional suggested courses.

IBSC 800 Research and Dissertation can be taken for 8–12 credit hours toward the IBS Ph.D. degree. Other 500-level research credits can also substitute. Additional 500-level and above courses may be taken toward the 60 credit hour requirement. Up to 30 of these credits may be transferred from previous graduate courses taken at Tuskegee University or another accredited college or university.

Other IBS Ph.D. Program requirements include:

Teaching requirement: All IBS Fellows must teach one course approved by their co-mentors.

Internship requirement: All IBS Fellows must complete one semester-long internship approved by their co-mentors.

All IBS Fellows must complete qualifying exams, including a comprehensive written exam and a dissertation committee exam.

Submission of the dissertation proposal to the IBS Deans Council by the end of the summer of the third year.

Application to candidacy by the end of the summer of the third year.

Professional courtesy, strong academic progress, and funding availability are required for successful progression.

Approval of dissertation research and document by the IBS Deans’ Council.

Successful defense of the dissertation research.

The IBS Ph.D. Program requires all fellows to have at least two co-mentors, and all program components must be approved by the IBS Deans Council.

Why IBS?

“The IBS PhD Program’s benefits to Tuskegee are beyond economical assessment and calculations. It cannot be assessed in terms of dollars spent or gained, position vacancies, and infrastructure upgrades. The IBS program, in itself, is a valuable asset, a part of STEM infrastructure, a cornerstone for graduate studies, and a long-term investment in future leaders and pioneers in all STEM fields.

All IBS fellows are working on top-notch research projects throughout the campus and beyond, generating tomorrow’s science discoveries and achievements. IBS fellows are tutors, advisors, near-peer mentors, and models to graduate and undergraduate students. Within the next 20 years, IBS program graduates will be key leaders in government, universities, and decision-making institutions nationwide and around the world. This is a unique program in every aspect.

IBS graduates are Tuskegee’s future generation of educators, researchers, faculty members, and administrators that believe in, embrace, and value Tuskegee’s history, mission, and legacy. Investing in your students is never a wasted investment, and Mother Tuskegee’s investment in the IBS program is no different.”

— Amged Dafalla, Entering Class of 2010, Summer 2014

IBS Courses

IBS Core Curriculum Course Offerings

IBSC 540. Introduction to Bioinformatics. 1st Semester Lec/Lab 3 hours 40 minutes, 4 credit hours. Graduate-level course introducing concepts in bioinformatics including fundamentals of biology, database and information handling, programming, and biocomplexity.

IBSC 600. IBS Lab Rotation I. 1st Semester Lec. 2 hours, 1 credit. Students work in a lab 20–40 hours per week for 4–8 weeks and participate in supervised research.

IBSC 601. Research Ethics in Bioscience. 1st Semester Lec. 2 hours, 3 credits. Focuses on ethical issues in bioscience, including concerns related to race, ethnicity, and minority bioscientists.

IBSC 602. Responsible Conduct of Research. 1st Semester Lec. 3 hours, 3 credits. Covers ethical issues related to fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism in bioscience research.

IBSC 603. Integrative Biochemistry I. 1st Semester Lec/Lab 4 hours, 4 credit hours. Covers cell chemistry, structure and function, proteins, and nucleic acids.

IBSC 604. Integrative Biochemistry II. 2nd Semester Lec/Lab 4 hours, 4 credit hours. Continuation of IBSC 603 covering metabolism, energy generation, cell cycle, inheritance, and genetics.

IBSC 605. Integrative Cellular, Molecular, Organismic, System, Populational, and Ecological Bioscience I. 1st Semester Lec/Lab 4 hours, 4 credit hours. Integrative project-based study of biological systems.

IBSC 606. Integrative Molecular, Cellular, Organismic, System, Populational, and Ecological Bioscience II. 2nd Semester Lec/Lab 4 hours, 4 credit hours. Continuation of IBSC 605.

IBSC 607. Transitions I: From Core to Dissertation. Provides tools to help students transition from the core curriculum to dissertation research.

IBSC 608. Transitions II: From Dissertation to Post Docs & Beyond. Helps students prepare for interviews, jobs, and postdoctoral fellowships.

IBSC 609. IBS Lab Rotation II. Additional supervised research experience for graduate students.

IBSC 610. Integrative Biosciences Graduate Seminar I. Familiarizes students with research conducted by IBS faculty and supports co-mentor selection.

IBSC 611. Integrative Biosciences Scientific Communications. Covers grant writing, presentation development, public speaking, and communicating science.

IBSC 650. Integrative Lab Techniques. Hands-on lab course designed to prepare students for dissertation research using current research practices.

IBSC 700. Special Problems in Integrative Biosciences. Advanced topics selected across broad bioscience and interdisciplinary fields.

IBSC 710. Integrative Bioscience Literature Review. Directed-study course on research methods and critical review of current bioscience literature.

IBSC 752. Integrative Bioscience Continuous Registration. Zero-credit continuous enrollment course for dissertation-stage students who have completed all requirements except defense.

IBSC 754. Integrative Biosciences Candidate for the Degree Only. Zero-credit course for students who have completed all degree requirements and are awaiting degree conferral or commencement.

IBSC 800. Research and Dissertation. 1–12 credit hours. Course for students completing dissertation research under the direction of major professors.