Graduate studies

Interested in graduate studies in biology?

Do you have a keen interest in research? Do you enjoy teaching?
Why not consider graduate studies in Biology at University of Waterloo?

We offer research based MSc and PhD programs as well as degrees in the Collaborative Water Program.

Potential research areas in the Department of Biology are listed below.

Bioinformatics, Systematics and Evolution

Research in Bioinformatics includes studies of protein folding and dynamics, DNA and protein sequence analysis techniques, and modeling of evolution and ecosystems. Much of modern evolutionary biology involves computational analyses of genome sequences. The area of systematics (traditionally taxonomy) is now also heavily reliant on bioinformatics analysis.

Topics include:

Environmental Genomics
Functional Genomics
Molecular Ecology
Neurobiology

View our faculty conducting research in bioinformatics, systematics, and evolution.

Ecology and Environmental Biology

The Department was founded largely in the area of aquatic research and field studies, and this research has spanned a wide geographical range as far reaching as the African Great Lakes and Canada’s North, as well as the Great Lakes and Grand River systems. There is also exceptional historic strength in environmental toxicology.

Topics include:

Aquatic Ecology
Environmental Genomics
Fisheries Biology
Integrated Water Resource Management
Molecular Ecology
Phytoremediation

View our faculty conducting research in ecology and environmental biology.

Microbiology

Another historical strength is in Microbiology with applications in environmental bioremediation and in studying microbial communities (metagenomics) and populations (Rhizobiales, extremophile physiology).

Topics include:

Environmental Genomics
Environmental Microbiology
Functional Genomics
Molecular Ecology
Molecular Microbiology
Plant-Microbe Interactions

View our faculty conducting research in microbiology.

Molecular Genetics

The Department has been active in Molecular Biology since the advent of recombinant DNA techniques. However, this has been strengthened by a series of hires in the 1990s and 2000s and the techniques of molecular biology now extend throughout research in the Department. The Department is taking a leading role in new research and training initiatives in Synthetic Biology, which the Department defines as the combination of Biology with the principles of Engineering to design and build organisms and biological systems with defined purpose.

Topics include:

Environmental Genomics
Functional Genomics
Metabolomics
Molecular Microbiology
Plant-Microbe Interactions

View our faculty conducting research in molecular genetics.

Physiology, Cell and Developmental Biology

The combination of animals and plants into a single field that incorporates cell and developmental studies emphasizes the commonalities across the living world. Encouragement of interactions between researchers using similar techniques and experimental approaches can lead to new research advances.

Topics include: