Marine Biology (MB)
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Information for the Marine Biology PhD program and Master's degree programs
The program offers two tracks, Marine Biology and Marine Chemical Biology:
Marine Biology (MB) is the study of marine organisms and their relationship with the physical and chemical dynamics of the marine environment. Faculty expertise encompasses several major areas of modern biology including evolutionary, ecological, organismic, physiological, biochemical, and genetic processes of marine animals and microorganisms.
Examples of current research activities include:
- Marine microbiology
- Algae biofuels and biotechnology
- Genomics, metagenomics, and bioinformatics
- Cell and developmental biology
- Physiology and biochemistry of marine animals
- Biomechanics and biomaterials
- Ecotoxicology
- Photobiology
- Parasitology
- Animal behavior and behavioral ecology
- Deep-sea biology
- Phylogeny and taxonomy of marine animals
- Biogeography or marine populations
- Evolutionary genomics and molecular ecology of marine organisms
- Biodiversity, ecology, and conservation of marine ecosystems
Studies ranging from spatial ecology of coral reef ecosystems to the role of the marine microbiome in food web dynamics are being investigated in over thirty independent research laboratories.
Marine Chemical Biology (MCB) is an interfacial discipline combining the fields of chemistry and biology to study and manipulate biological systems with the use of chemical, biochemical and genetic techniques and tools. Currently most of the investigations in the MCB track are focused on the discovery and application of marine microbial natural products and the study of biochemical processes utilized to create these unique molecules.
Marine natural products are amongst some of the most structurally novel in the natural world, and their chemical description is critical to developing their full biomedical and biotechnological value as well as exploring their functional roles in our natural world. Understanding the biosynthesis of these marine natural products by a combination of organic chemistry and recombinant biology approaches lays the foundation for the discovery and application of novel biosynthetic enzymes and the rational metabolic engineering of designer molecules. Some of these metabolites may have utility as biological reagents, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, biofuels, or other commodity chemicals. Innovative analytical methods are also being utilized to probe the sites of natural products’ biosynthesis in complex associations of marine species, including those involved in symbiotic relationships.
Potential advisors for prospective applicants
Prospective PhD and MS applicants should reach out to all potential advisors based on research interests to ascertain whether they are encouraged to apply. Additionally, PhD program applicants should be aware that funding for PhD students is usually supplied by individual advisors and that such funding is often very limited; hence, securing outside fellowships (e.g., the NSF GRFP) greatly increases the chance of admission. See here for more information concerning funding.
Educational Requirements for Admission
In addition to the general requirements for admission to the PhD program listed here , a major in one of the biological sciences (or equivalent), with basic course work in botany, microbiology, or zoology, as well as two years of chemistry, including organic chemistry, is required.
Training in one or more of the following areas is strongly recommended: cellular biology, molecular biology, comparative physiology, genetics, developmental biology, ecology, evolutionary biology, vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, microbiology, and/or botany.
MB Applicant evaluation criteria
Factors that are used to evaluate applicants include, but are not limited to, (1) Academic preparation; (2) Scholarly potential; (3) Diversity, equity, and inclusion contributions; (4) Alignment with the program (i.e., fit with the laboratories of prospective advisors); (5) Realistic self-appraisal; and (6) Long-term goals.
If an OBP applicant decides to submit the entirely optional general GRE scores, those scores will be used similarly to the GPA, alongside the applicant’s other materials to inform the holistic assessment of the applicant’s “scholarly potential.”
We reemphasize that a requirement for the acceptance of even excellent applicants is the interest and ability of the prospective main advisor(s) to take on the student; the ability of even an interested advisor to admit is ultimately contingent on the availability of funding, whether from internal or external sources.
Programs of Study for PhD
Students admitted to Ocean Bioscience Program (OBP) are assigned an advisor, who is a chair of the three-person guidance committee. Students are assigned to a curricular group based on their interests. Although students may change curricular groups near the beginning of the year, they must commit to a curricular group early on because this determines which departmental exam they will take. During the year, students may be supported in a variety of ways. After the first year, the guidance committee is dissolved and the research advisor, and eventually the dissertation committee, provide guidance.
Marine Biology Curriculum:
Graduate students are expected to gain research experience in one or more laboratories during their first year.
Graduate students are required to complete SIO core courses including SIO 210, Physical Oceanography, SIO 260, Marine Chemistry, and SIO 280, Biological Oceanography. In addition, students are also expected to enroll in SIOB 297 Marine Biology Seminar, the weekly marine biology seminar series, every quarter. In the spring term of their first year at SIO, students will take a departmental exam consisting of a presentation of their first-year research in the form of a paper and short talk to the curricular group, followed by a meeting with their first-year advisory committee. MB Ph.D. students also must take at least two graduate-level marine organismal courses or labs. A partial list of courses that fulfill this requirement include: SIOB 271 Marine Zooplankton, SIOB 274 Natural History Below the Tides, SIOB 277 Deep Sea Biology, SIOB 281 Marine Physiology, SIOB 282 Phytoplankton Diversity, SIOB 283 Phycology: Marine Plant Biology, SIOB 284 Marine Invertebrates, SIOB 287A Marine Microbial Ecology, SIOB 293 Applications of Phylogenetics, SIOB 294 Biology of Fishes, and SIOB 296 Marine Tetrapods.
After their first year, students are expected to enroll and actively participate in at least one seminar course (SIO 278, 296, or equivalent) per year that will provide in-depth knowledge and reading in selected areas, as well as practice presenting scientific material. Students frequently take additional SIO and UC San Diego School of Biological Sciences courses based on their research interests and general scientific education.
In addition to the seminar requirement discussed above, second-year students will present their research in a special Marine Biology mini-symposium, held in spring quarter; students in the second through fourth years are expected to participate in the research presentation class (SIO 291) each year.
Marine Chemical Biology Curriculum:
Graduate students are required to complete SIO core courses including SIO 210, Physical Oceanography, SIO 260, Marine Chemistry, and SIO 280, Biological Oceanography. In addition, students are required to enroll in SIOB 262 Marine Chemical Biology Seminar every quarter. In the spring term of their first year at SIO, students will take a departmental exam consisting of a presentation of their first-year research in the form of a paper and short talk to the curricular group, followed by a meeting with their first-year guidance committee.
Marine Chemical Biology graduate students are expected to gain research experience in one or more laboratories during their first year. Additional courses that are recommended as electives in this Track, the exact composition of which will be decided by discussion between the student and the student’s first year guidance committee, include CHEM 257, Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, SIO 242A-B, Marine Biotechnology I and II, SIO 264, Special Topics in Marine Natural Products Chemistry, and at least one of the following two courses: CHEM 254, Mechanisms of Organic Reactions and/or CHEM 258, Applied Spectroscopy. These are typically taken over the first two years of study. Additional electives, seminar courses, and special topics courses in graduate science and oceanography are available.
Second-year students will present their research along with students in the Marine Biology mini-symposium which is held in spring quarter.
Program of Study for MS
Required course work-.
- SIOC 210. Physical Oceanography (4 units)
- SIOG 260. Marine Chemistry (4 units)
- SIOB 280. Biological Oceanography (4 units)
- MB M.S. students also must take at least two graduate-level marine organismal courses or labs. A partial list of courses that fulfill this requirement include: SIOB 271 Marine Zooplankton, SIOB 274 Natural History Below the Tides, SIOB 277 Deep Sea Biology, SIOB 281 Marine Physiology, SIOB 282 Phytoplankton Diversity, SIOB 283 Phycology: Marine Plant Biology, SIOB 284 Marine Invertebrates, SIOB 287A Marine Microbial Ecology, SIOB 293 Applications of Phylogenetics, SIOB 294 Biology of Fishes, and SIOB 296 Marine Tetrapods
Elective course work-
Students may fulfill the remaining units of required course work through elective course offerings that may be recommended by the guidance committee.
Marine Chemical Biology Curriculum:
- SIOG 260. Marine Chemistry (4 units)
- SIOB 280. Biological Oceanography (4 units)
Students may fulfill the remaining units of required course work through elective course offerings selected in consultation with the students’ guidance committee. Typical recommended electives are below:
- Chem 257. Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry (4 units)
- SIOG 232. Ethical and Professional Science (2 units) or equivalent
- SIOB 242 A-B. Marine Biotechnology I and II (8 units)
- SIOB 264. Special Topics in Marine Natural Products Chemistry (3 units)
- Select at least one of the following: Chem 254. Mechanisms of Organic Reactions (4 units) and/or Chem 258. Applied Spectroscopy (4 units)
Research in Marine Biology
Marine Biology Faculty and Researchers:
- Octavio Aburto
- Andrew Allen
- Lihini Aluwihare
- Dahiana Arcila
- Douglas Bartlett
- Tarik Benmarhnia
- Ricardo Betancur
- Jeff S. Bowman
- Ronald Burton
- Dimitri Deheyn
- Terry Gaasterland
- Bill Gerwick
- Jack Gilbert
- Amro Hamdoun
- Ryan Hechinger
- Paul Jensen
- Linda Kelly
- James Leichter
- April Lukowski
- Deirdre Lyons
- Bradley Moore
- Richard Norris
- Brian Palenik
- Paul Ponganis
- Kim Prather
- Stuart Sandin
- Brice Semmens
- Jennifer Smith
- George Sugihara
- Jennifer Taylor
- Martin Tresguerres
- Daniel Wangpraseurt
- Lisa Zeigler
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