Graduate Faculty

701-231-7087

Marc D. Anderson , Ph.D.
Iowa State University , 1995
Field: Plant Responses to Environmental Stress
Department: Biological Sciences

Marc L. Bauer, Ph.D.
University of Kentucky , 1996
Field: Digestive Physiology, Nutrition
Department: Animal Sciences

Eugene S. Berry, Ph.D.
Northeastern University, 1983
Field: Animal Virology (ss(+) RNA Viruses), Genetic Variation, Mechanisms of Pathogenesis and Virulence
Department: Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences

Peggy R. Biga, Ph.D.
University of Idaho , 2003
Field: Comparative Growth and Nutritional Physiology
Department: Biological Sciences

Lynn S. Dahleen, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota-St. Paul, 1989
Field: Plant Molecular Genetics and Mapping, Tissue Culture, Transformation
Department: USDA, Plant Sciences

Glenn Dorsam

Michael Edwards, Ph.D. (adjunct)
Cornell University , 1983
Field: Molecular Plant Virology
Department: Plant Pathology

Thomas P. Freeman , Ph.D.
Arizona State University , 1968
Field: Electron Microscopy, Cell Ultrastructure
Department: Plant Pathology

Jeffery E. Gerst, Ph.D.
University of Nebraska , 1973
Field: Animal Physiology and Neurophysiology/Neuroendocrinology
Department: Biological Sciences

Anna T. Grazul-Bilska, Ph.D.
University of Agriculture and Technology , Poland , 1983
Field: Animal Embryology and Reproductive Physiology & Endocrinology, Assisted Reproduction Technology
Department: Animal and Range Sciences

Kendra Greenlee, Ph.D.
Arizona State University , Tempe , 2004
Field: Insect Physiology and Immunology, Body Size Effects on Respiration and Metabolism
Department: Biological Sciences

Bin Guo, Ph.D.
State University of New York at Buffalo , 1999
Field: Cancer Cell Biology, Apoptosis, Molecular Pharmacology
Department: Pharmaceutical Sciences

Carrie Hammer, DVM, Ph.D.
Iowa State University , 2003
Field: Equine Physiology, Neonatal Physiology and Immunology
Department: Animal Sciences

Shahryar Kianian, Ph.D.
University of California-Davis , 1990
Field: Plant Genetics and Genomics. Germplasm Enhancement
Department: Plant Sciences

S. Derek Killilea, Ph.D.
National University of Ireland , Galway, 1972
Field: Metabolic Regulation
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Catherine M. Logue, Ph.D.
University of Ulster, 1996
Field: Microbiology, Foodborne Pathogens of Production Animals, Pathogenesis, Drug Resistance and Genomics
Department: Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences

Kasey Maddock-Carlin, Ph.D.
Iowa State University , 2005
Field: Meat Science and Muscle Biology
Department: Animal Sciences

Sanku Mallik, Ph.D.
Case Western Reserve University , 1992
Field: Bio-Organic Chemistry, Drug Delivery Using Liposomes and Nanoparticles
Department: Pharmaceutical Sciences

Phillip E. McClean, Ph.D.
Colorado State University , 1982
Field: Plant Molecular Genetics
Department: Plant Sciences

John McEvoy, Ph.D.
University of Ulster , 2002
Field: Cryptosporidium – Molecular Epidemiology and Mechanisms of Invasion
Department: Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences

Steven W. Meinhardt, Ph.D.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1984
Field: Biochemistry of Plant Interactions, Purification Characterization, and Mode of Action of Fungal Toxins
Department: Plant Pathology

Stephen O'Rourke, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1995
Field: Vascular Pharmacology/physiology, Regulation of Vasomotor Tone, Smooth Muscle-Endothelial Cell Interactions
Department: Pharmaceutical Sciences

Chung S. Park, Ph.D.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , 1975
Field: Maternal Nutrition and Epigenetic Control of Mammary Developmental and Mammary Cancer
Department: Animal Sciences

Birgit Pruess
Ruhr-Universitat Bochum , Germany , 1991
Field: Bacterial Physiology and Global Gene Expression
Department: Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences

Jack B. Rasmussen, Ph.D.
Michigan State University, 1987
Field: Fungal Disease Interactions, Mode of Action and Role in Disease of Pathogen-Produced Toxins
Department: Plant Pathology

Dale A. Redmer, Ph.D.
University of Missouri - Columbia, 1983
Field: Animal Physiology, Reproductive Physiology, Fetal Growth, Placental Function, Ovarian Function, Vascular Growth Department: Animal Sciences

Katie Reindl, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University , 2006
Field: Cancer Cell Biology, Cell Migration and Metastasis, Cell Cycle Control, Extracellular Matrix Interactions
Department: Biological Sciences

Lawrence P. Reynolds, Ph.D.
Iowa State University , 1983
Field: Factors Influencing Fetal and Placental Growth and Development in Compromised Pregnancies
Department: Animal Sciences & Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy

Jane Schuh, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University , 2002
Field: Immunology of Chronic Airway Remodeling, Cellular Differentiation in Pulmonary Disease, Animal Modeling of Allergic Airway Disease (Asthma)
Department: Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences

Jonathan Sheng, Ph.D.
State University of New York at Albany , 1998
Field: Drug Metabolism, Molecular Pharmacology/Toxicology
Department: Pharmaceutical Sciences

Mark A. Sheridan, Ph.D.
University of California-Berkeley , 1985
Field: Control of Growth, Development, and Metabolism
Department: Biological Sciences

Jagdish Singh, Ph.D.
Banaras Hindu University , 1982
Field: Novel Drug Delivery Systems for Protein, Vaccine and Gene
Department: Pharmaceutical Sciences

Robert B. Sparks, Ph.D.
University of South Dakota , 1972
Field: Molecular Biology
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

D. K. Srivastava, Ph.D.
Banaras Hindu University , India , 1980
Field: Enzyme Mechanisms and Regulation
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Kimberly Vonnahme, Ph.D.
University of Wyoming , 2003
Field: Reproductive Physiology, Fetal and Placental Growth
Department: Animal Sciences; Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy

Program Description

North Dakota State University offers an interdisciplinary program leading to the Ph.D. degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology (CMB). The program includes a series of required CMB core courses; additional elective courses; written and oral preliminary examinations; a doctoral dissertation based on independent, original research in the area of cellular and molecular biology; and an oral defense of the dissertation.

The departments participating in this program and the cellular and molecular biology-related research areas in each department are listed below:

Animal Sciences
Animal reproduction, endocrinology, lactation, cell and tissue culture, gene expression

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Metabolic regulation, protein structure and function, membrane structure and function, enzymology, molecular biology, gene structure and function, cell culture

Biological Sciences
Plant cell and tissue culture, photosynthesis, polysaccharide biosynthesis, plant Golgi structure/function, evolutionary biology, phytochrome; animal physiology, neurophysiology/neuroendocrinology, gene regulation, signal transduction, and endocrinology.

Cereal and Food Sciences
Enzymology, protein, and carbohydrate chemistry

Entomology
Cell and organ culture, regulation of cell development

Food and Nutrition
Lipid and protein metabolism, enzymes, cell membranes

Pharmacy
Cell cycle Regulation, apoptosis, signal transduction, cancer

Plant Pathology
Cell and protoplast culture, cloning, disease resistance screening, host/parasite genetics

Plant Sciences
Plant cell culture, selection and transformation, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, cell manipulation, chromosome manipulation, gene regulation

Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences
Immunology, virology, bacterial genetics, pathogenic mechanisms, bacterial physiology

Admissions Requirements

The Cellular and Molecular Biology Ph.D. program is open to qualified graduates of universities and colleges of recognized standing. To be admitted with full status to the program, the applicant must

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree from an educational institution of recognized standing.
2. Have adequate preparation and show potential to undertake advanced study and research as evidenced by academic performance and experience.
3. At the baccalaureate level, have earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) in all courses of at least 3.0 or equivalent. Students with a previous graduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 or equivalent may be admitted in full standing. Applications can be submitted directly to The Graduate School at any time.

Official transcripts (transcripts having an appropriate seal or stamp) of all previous undergraduate and graduate records must be received by The Graduate School before the application is complete. When a transcript is submitted in advance of completion of undergraduate or graduate studies, an updated transcript showing all course credits and grades must be provided prior to the initial registration at North Dakota State University.

Three letters of recommendation are required before action is taken on any application. Personal reference report forms are available from The Graduate School.

The general test score from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) must be submitted.

If possible, applicants should identify at least one cellular and molecular biology faculty member with whom they wish to study.

International students must also demonstrate a proficiency in English by obtaining a minimum score of 525 (paper test) or 193 (computer test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). International students who wish to obtain appointments as teaching assistants must attain a TOEFL score of 600 (paper test) or 247 (computer test); pass an oral examination of their linguistic abilities in English; and demonstrate English writing skills by at least one of several ways, for example, scoring 5.0 or above on the Test of Written English.

The following undergraduate courses have been identified as required for graduate work in the CMB program:

Biology
One year of general biology with laboratory and one course in genetics are required. Cellular biology or cellular physiology, animal or plant physiology, and microbiology are recommended.

Chemistry
One year of general chemistry with laboratory and two sequential terms of organic chemistry with laboratory are required. Biochemistry is recommended.

Mathematics
Two terms of life sciences calculus are required.

Physics
Two sequential terms of general physics with laboratories (above the concept level) are required.

In addition, introductory courses in computer science, statistics, and technical writing are recommended.

Deficiencies in required courses may be made up within the first year of resident study without graduate credit.

Financial Assistance

Financial support, if required, is usually provided by the department in which the student will carry out research. In reviewing each application, the Steering Committee will contact the faculty member(s) identified by the applicant to determine if financial support is available. Students seeking financial support also can contact either the CMB faculty member(s) with whom they wish to study or the chair of the CMB Steering Committee.

Degree Requirements

By the end of the first academic year, the student will select an academic adviser from among the CMB faculty and arrange for the appointment of a Graduate Advisory Committee. This committee will consist of at least four members of the graduate faculty. This includes the student's major adviser, at least one additional CMB faculty member, and an appointee of The Graduate School. One committee member must be from outside the student's academic college.

The plan of study will be prepared by the student, in consultation with the major adviser, by the end of the first year in residence. The plan shall be approved by the student's Graduate Advisory Committee, the CMB Program Director, the department chair, the academic dean, and The Graduate School dean. The plan of study must be filed in The Graduate School prior to scheduling the comprehensive written examination.

The Graduate School requires the plan of study for the Ph.D. degree to include not less than 90 semester graduate credits. Of this total, not less than 27 credits must be in courses other than seminar or research credits. Of the 27 course credits, 15 must be at the 700-789 level. The CMB program requires students to complete a series of 7 courses totaling 21-23 semester credits in 4 core areas. The student will complete additional elective courses to fulfill The Graduate School requirement of 27 semester credits in academic courses. An overall GPA of 3.0 or better must be maintained.

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Courses Offered

1. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (all are required)

Bioc 701, 702 Comprehensive Biochemistry I and II
Bioc 673 Methods of Biochemical Research

2. Cellular Biology

Bot/Zoo 720 Advanced Cell Biology, required
Biol 722 Current Topics in Cell and Molecular Biology, optional

3. Molecular Biology

Bioc 674 Methods of Recombinant DNA Technology, required
One of the following is required:
Bioc 719 Molecular Biology of Gene Expression and Regulation
Micr 783 Advanced Bacterial Genetics and Phage
PlSc 731 Plant Molecular Genetics

4. Technique Courses (one is required)

Bot 680 Plant Tissue Culture
PPth 756 Techniques in Electron Microscopy
PlSc 684 Plant Tissue Culture and Micropropagation
Micr 645 Animal Cell Culture Techniques

 

The core courses will normally be completed by the end of the second year in residence. These courses must be completed before the student takes the preliminary written examinations, whereas the elective courses may be taken at any time during the program prior to defense of the dissertation. The elective courses will normally be classes offered by the department in which the student is doing research or other departments participating in the CMB program. Each student is expected to attend all CMB seminars and present at least one seminar per year throughout the program.

Examination

1. Written Preliminary Examination covers the first three core areas (biochemistry and molecular biology, cellular biology, and molecular biology) and is normally taken at the end of the second year in residence. The written preliminary examination must be passed before the comprehensive oral examination can be scheduled.
   
2. Comprehensive Oral Examination shall be taken no later than the end of the third year in residence. This examination will be based on a non-dissertation research topic that will be submitted in the format of a National Institutes of Health or National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellowship research proposal. After successful completion of the comprehensive oral examination, the student will be formally admitted to candidacy for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. At least one academic semester, and preferably two semesters, shall elapse between the preliminary oral examination and the oral defense of the research-based dissertation.

Dissertation Research

A short proposal describing research suitable for preparation of a dissertation in Cellular and Molecular Biology shall be prepared and submitted to the student's Graduate Advisory Committee and the CMB Steering Committee for review and approval. The dissertation must show originality and demonstrate the student's capacity for independent research. It must embody results of research that constitutes a definitive contribution to knowledge.

In addition to the defense of the dissertation in the final oral examination, the candidate will present a final public seminar based on the dissertation research.

Program Administration

This interdisciplinary graduate program is administered by the CMB Steering Committee. The committee is composed of five CMB faculty members representing five different academic departments. Steering Committee members, who serve overlapping three-year terms, are elected at a yearly meeting of the CMB faculty. A committee chair/program director is elected annually by the committee.

The duties of the Steering Committee include 1) review of each CMB student's plan of study, proposed research topic, and general progress; 2) review of applications for membership in the CMB faculty; and 3) implementation of the CMB program by established procedures.