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  • 2019 Dean's Award for Inclusive Excellence

    The Biology Ph.D. program received the 2019 Dean’s Award for Inclusive Excellence in Graduate Education. Irene Liao, Profs. Paul Manos (Chair) and Mohamed Noor, Julia Notar, Ariana Eily, Karla Sosa, Jonsthan Colen, Brandie Quarles, Lauren Carley.

  • Exploring Plant Diversity

    Students in the 2013 offering of "Plant communities of North Carolina" at the summit of Richland Balsam just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Duke students study plant diversity throughout the state.

  • Impact of Climate Change on Species Distribution

    Professor Bill Morris is measuring alpine plants for a long-term study of the effects of climate change on the abundance and geographical distribution of species.

  • The Scientist and Nature

    Renowned animal physiologist Knut Schmidt-Nielsen captured in bronze by artist Jonathan Kingdon. The work was commissioned by Stephen and Ruth Wainwright.

  • Under the Moon

    View to the top of the French Family Science Center atrium. The crown jewel of Trinity College of Arts and Sciences research buildings houses Biology, Chemistry and Physics laboratories. Completed in 2007 with a generous donation from Duke alum, Melinda French Gates.

In The News

Bill Morris head shot.jpg

Professor Bill Morris headshot

Professor Bill Morris Named a Fellow of the Ecological Society of America

You can blame the Boy Scouts for Dr. William Morris’ career. That wouldn’t be such an unusual origin story for an ecologist. What is...

Read more »

birding selfie.jpg

Katie Henson holding binoculars

Ph.D. Student Katie Henson selected for NSF's Graduate Research Fellowships Program (GRFP)

This year, 18 Duke Ph.D. students were selected as part of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). This competitive fellowship...

Read more »

See All News

Upcoming Events

Mon
12
Apr

Biology Seminar | Toby Kiers, Professor of Ecology & Evolution, Vrije University, Amsterdam | Flows, structure and trade strategies of underground fungal networks

Toby Kiers

Biology Superspeaker. Prof. Kier's presentations are filled with exciting science and often... Read More

Tue
13
Apr

UPE Seminar | Xiao Yang | Global scale studies of lakes and rivers leveraging decades of satellite images

Brittany Morgan

No abstract

Mon
19
Apr

Biology Seminar | Esra Uzun Mason, Associate Director, Duke International House | Intercultural Workshop II

Esra Uzun Mason

Session II will build on work done in the Session I on April 2.

See All Events

Undergraduate Program

Our undergraduate education produces young scientists and citizens who understand the scope and perspective of modern biology.

We support undergraduate scholarly endeavors, train students for an array of careers, and communicate to them the impact and significance of biology. We offer a broad range of learning opportunities, including traditional classroom experiences, hands-on learning in the field and the laboratory, independent study, and full student engagement in research. As a biology major, your career goals may include biological research, health professions, business, or education. 

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Photo of a group of students

Graduate Program

Duke Biology offers diverse training opportunities for students seeking a Ph.D. degree in biological sciences

Our Ph.D. program is highly flexible, allowing students to design the path that best fits their professional needs. Our students spend the majority of their time engaged in innovative research, and have the opportunity to interact and collaborate with researchers from a wide range of fields. 

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Research

Ranked among the top 10 Biology graduate programs by U.S. News & World Report, our faculty conduct more than $65 million in research each year for the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Energy, among others. Our faculty includes four National Academy of Science members. The Biology department supports more than 120 graduate students.

Many faculty research programs span multiple research areas and levels of biological organization, creating a dynamic training environment for graduate students interested in cross-disciplinary training. Our research builds bridges within Duke departments and beyond, with most faculty having close collaborations with multiple other Universities and Institutes nationally and internationally. 

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Diverse Biologists

Diversity Initiatives

One of the central aims of the Biology Department is to enrich and support our community. To this end, the Biology Department has two Diversity Committees — one comprised of faculty and another of graduate students —in order to promote equity, reduce bias, embrace and increase diversity, and build respect, inclusion, and cultural competency among all members of the department. We particularly seek to support and serve those community members who are underrepresented or feel marginalized. In addition to supporting this community, we strive to promote diversity by cultivating future communities comprised of exceptional individuals from all backgrounds and identities. We believe that working toward these goals within the department strengthens that effort by building upon the intimacy, trust, and honesty fostered among a smaller community of people that know, respect, and feel safe around one another.

Learn More

 

Biology

  • Biological Sciences Building
  • French Family Science Center

Campus Box 90338
Durham, NC 27708-0338
Phone: (919) 660.7372
Fax: (919) 660.7293

About the Department

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For Undergraduates

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For Graduate Students

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    • Search form

    • About Us
      • Diversity Initiatives
        • Action for Justice, Equity and Diversity (AJED) Committee
          • AJED 2020 annual report
        • Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism Committee (IDEA)
      • Outreach
        • Outreach Opportunities Across the Triangle
      • News, Events, Jobs
        • News
        • Events
        • Jobs
      • Departmental Leadership
      • Contact Us
    • Research
      • Areas of Research
        • Biophysics
        • Cell & Molecular Biology
        • Developmental Biology
        • Ecology & Population Biology
        • Evolution
        • Genetics
        • Genomics
        • Neuroscience
        • Organismal Biology & Behavior
        • Systematics
      • Centers/Research Groups
      • Facilities
        • Botany Plot
        • Field Station
        • Phytotron
          • GMO Policy
          • Pest Management Protocols
        • Research Greenhouses
    • Undergraduate
      • Learning Outcomes
      • For Prospective Students
        • Frequently Asked Questions
      • For Current Students
        • Advising
        • Guide for First-Year Students
        • Transfer Credit
        • Biology Majors Union
        • Awards
        • Graduation
      • Majors & the Minor
        • Major Requirements
        • Concentrations
          • Anatomy, Physiology & Biomechanics
          • Animal Behavior
          • Biochemistry
          • Cell & Molecular Biology
          • Ecology
          • Evolutionary Biology
          • Genetics
          • Genomics
          • Marine Biology
          • Neurobiology
          • Pharmacology
          • Plant Biology
        • Minor Requirements
      • Study Away Opportunities
      • Research & Independent Study
        • Independent Study
          • Finding a Research Mentor
          • Project Guidelines
          • Getting Registered
          • Writing Intensive Study
          • Independent Study Abroad
        • Job Opportunities
        • Summer Opportunities
      • Graduation with Distinction
        • Application & Deadlines
        • Supervisor & Faculty Reader
        • Thesis Guidelines
        • Honors Poster
        • Past Student Projects
    • Graduate
      • Degree Programs
      • Ph.D. Requirements
      • For Prospective Students
        • How to Apply
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • Financial Aid
      • Current Students
        • Milestones
        • Graduate School Fellowships
        • Useful Resources
        • Form Library
      • Living in Durham
      • Where Our Students Go
    • Postdoc
      • FAQ for postdocs
      • Fellowship Information
      • Duke Postodoctoral Association
      • Living in Durham
      • Directory
    • Courses
      • Areas of Biology
        • Biological Structure & Function
        • Ecology
        • Organismal Diversity
        • Electives
      • 2020 Fall
      • 2020 Spring
    • People
      • All People
      • All Faculty
      • Graduate Faculty
      • Graduate Students
      • Postdocs
      • Department Staff
    • Alumni
      • For Current Students
      • For Our Alumni
        • Assisting Duke Students
        • Contribute
      • Contact Us
      • Department Directory
      • Contact Leadership
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