The Ultimate Ph.D. Experience
The PhD program in Chemistry and Chemical Biology at UC Davis has over 200 graduate students engaging in research across five research tracks: analytical, chemical biology, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. We encourage and support graduate research that transcends traditional academic boundaries by bringing together faculty from departments across campus, including the School of Medicine, College of Engineering, College of Biological Sciences and the Genome Center.
The PhD program traditionally takes about five years to complete. First year incoming students have a three week orientation prior to the beginning of fall quarter where they take ACS exams, meet their fellow cohort and continuing students, attend trainings and presentations, and meet faculty. In the fall of their first year, students do lab rotations in three labs to identify a lab they would like to research in. In their second year, students take their qualifying exam. During their third year, students continue their research and present it in the Third Year Seminar course. Students continue to research and write their dissertation in the subsequent years.
"Grad school is going to be stressful wherever you go, so you should choose somewhere you feel supported. I have friends and faculty here I can always rely on."
- Joya Cooley, Graduate Student