The University of Alabama at Birmingham is Alabamaʻs premier research institution with research grants and awards topping $700 million in 2023, with an academic medical center ranking high nationally for its diverse student and employee population, as well as its high-performing undergraduate and graduate programs. The Department of Biologyʻs graduate program ranks as the top biological sciences program in the state and ranks high nationally according to the 2019 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools Rankings. In Fall 2023, the Department of Biology moved into the new Science & Engineering Complex, a state-of-the-art facility equipped to train the next generation of leaders in the sciences. 

The UAB Biology Department, within the College of Arts & Sciences, is the place for you! At UAB, our scientists provide world-class training to undergraduate and graduate students. We offer hands-on research activities for our students, including a broad range of laboratory opportunities and the possibility of fieldwork in remote sites such as the Bahamas, Costa Rica, the Galapagos islands, and Antarctica. Our graduate students have gone on to distinguished careers in many fields and have won national prizes for their research. 

Why Biology? Biology is a field of science that is dynamic and ever-changing. Whether related to the environment or to issues of human health and disease, new challenges are numerous and will require knowledgeable and engaged science-minded and competent professionals. Graduate students pursuing a graduate degree in Biology at UAB may specialize in research activities at all levels of biological organization, with emphasis on biomedical sciences, health aging, food security, science policy, bioinformatics and Big Data modeling, global change ecology, evolution, and environmental sciences. 

The Biology Department Graduate Program offers both Masterʻs (thesis and non-thesis options) and doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees that are inherently multidisciplinary. Since scientific problems encountered today are multifaceted and require multidisciplinary approaches, students in the Biology graduate program are expected to acquire a broad background in the physical and life sciences. Students are expected to gain competency in several of the following areas: ecology, evolution, physiology, cell biology, developmental biology, genetics/molecular biology, microbiology, systems biology/computational biology, and organismal biology. (Ph.D. students gain competency in 5 of the 9 areas, while M.S. students gain competency in 4 of the 9 areas.)

Additionally, UAB Biology offers a Graduate Certificate in Science Policy. This 15-credit hour certificate program gives students the important tools necessary to identify, analyze, and propose solutions to complex issues at eh intersection of science, technology, ethics, and policy. 

The Birmingham area offers big city amenities with small town charm and hospitality. At your fingertips, you will find some of the nationʻs best dining, night life, and attractions, as well as breathtaking natural beauty and year-round outdoor activities.