Biology

M.Sc, Ph.D

The Biology Department at Queen’s is one of the largest departments on campus with approximately 100 graduate students supervised by 32 faculty with research opportunities in a range of disciplines including Animal Physiology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Ecology, Evolution & Behaviour, and Plant Sciences.

Our students have the opportunity to work in leading-edge laboratory facilities, including the Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Lab (PEARL) and the Queen’s University Biology Station (QUBS).

Our faculty are world leaders in several research fields, including many Canada and Queen’s Research Chairs, and winners of national and international awards for research and teaching excellence. In 2004, Dr. John Smol was named Canada’s top scientist as the recipient of the Herzberg Gold Medal.

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"My experience with research at Queen’s started when I was still an undergraduate student. In my fourth year of study, I began an honours thesis project studying the recovery of lakes in New York State from acid rain under the supervision of Dr. Brian Cumming. I enjoyed the subject area and work environment so much that I eventually decided to pursue a master’s of science in biology at Queen’s. Since then, I’ve been able to participate in local and international research conferences, as well as publish articles in prominent scientific journals. I sincerely hope that the work I accomplish at Queen’s will be useful to both researchers and policy-makers assessing environmental changes in North American lakes."

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Degrees Offered / Length of Program

• M.Sc.: 2 years
• Ph.D.: 4 years

We offer the option to transfer from M.Sc. to Ph.D. for students who show exceptional promise in their research.

Method of Completion

• M.Sc.: 4 single-term courses with minimum standing of 70% in each; research thesis and defence
  
• Ph.D.: research thesis and defence (Some courses may be required)

Cross Disciplinary Aspects

Our students have many opportunities to collaborate with other departments, including Geology, Psychology, Neuroscience, Biochemistry and Mathematics & Statistics.

Travel Opportunities

One-third of our students do field work or go overseas at some point in their studies. 

Supervisors and Fields of Study

We recommend that you contact a professor whom you think will be suitable to supervise the research that interests you. Although it is not strictly necessary, successful applicants tend to contact potential supervisors in advance. To initiate the application process, we suggest you send an e-mail, outlining your interests, skill, and relevant background. The best time to start corresponding with potential supervisors is in November or December of the year before you would like to begin graduate work.

Animal Physiology: with an emphasis on an integrative approach to physiological questions, incorporating molecular, cellular and whole animal analyses where appropriate.

• Supervisors: Craig Hawryshyn, Peter Hodson, Christopher Moyes, R. Meldrum Robertson, Bruce Tufts, Yuxiang Wang

Cell & Molecular Biology: with a focus on eukaryotic organisms and an interest in developmental and biochemical problems.

• Supervisors: William G. Bendena, Peter T. Boag, Ian Chin-Sang, Victoria Friesen, Craig W. Hawryshyn, Kenton Ko, Christopher D.Moyes, William C. Plaxton, Sharon Regan, Laurent Seroude, Wayne A. Snedden, Virginia K. Walker, Paul G. Young

Ecology, Evolution & Behaviour: encompassing a broad range of research spanning molecular ecology, population genetics and phylogenetics, behaviour and the evolution of animal and plant reproductive systems.

• Supervisors: Lonnie Aarssen, Shelley E. Arnott, Peter T. Boag, Linda Campbell, Christopher G. Eckert, Victoria L. Friesen, Paul Grogan, Craig W. Hawryshyn, Stephen C. Lougheed, Paul Martin, Robert Montgomerie, Christopher D. Moyes, William Nelson, Laurene M. Ratcliffe

Plant Sciences: employing leading-edge approaches to answer some of the most pressing questions in plant biology

• Supervisors: Lonnie Aarssen, Christopher G. Eckert, Kenton Ko, Daniel Lafebvre, William C Plaxton, Sharon Regan, Wayne Snedden

Employment Opportunities

Graduates from our program find work in government (Agriculture Canada, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of the Environment, etc.), academia (teaching, researchers) and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries (research, lab techs etc.).

Funding Information

• Master’s: Minimum $22,200
• Ph.D.: Minimum $22,200

Students may also apply for internal awards and external funding including OGS, NSERC, CIHR, and the Graduate Deans’ Doctoral Field Travel Award. Entering graduate students who win federal government tri-council awards are automatically provided a one-time $5,000/$7500 top-up award by Queen’s.

Academic Prerequisites

• M.Sc.: Upper second class standing (B+ - 75% - 3.3/4.3 GPA) in an Honour’s Bachelor Arts & Sciences program.  Some students may need to take additional courses.
• Ph.D.: M.Sc. in Biology or direct entry from B.Sc. for exceptional candidates

Test Requirements

If required, international students TOEFL score of 550 (paper based) or TOEFL iBT minimum scores of: writing (24/30); speaking (22/30); reading (22/30); listening (20/30), for a total of 88/120. Applicants must have the minimum score in each test as well as the minimum overall score.

Program Profiles

• Casper Christiansen - Ontario Trillium scholarship allows for further research on climate change...
• Niraj Kumar - his search to do a PhD lead him to Queen's...
• Samantha Klaus - languages or frog calls..
• Kathryn McCleary - a typical day in the artic...
• Cheryl Wison - exhiliarating experiences doing field work
• Sarah Brisbin (alumnist) - worming her way into Med School...
• Scott Taylor - had travelled alot prior to coming to Queen's....
• Gary Armstrong - may be dyslexic, but just won the Governor Generals gold medal award.