Biophysics is an inter-disciplinary PhD program in the biosciences. It brings together students from diverse backgrounds (from biology to biochemistry, chemistry, physics, bioengineering, computational biology, neuroscience, cell biology, and so on) who are interested in research at the cross-section between these disciplines.
Our broad inter-departmental program consists of approximately 60 faculty trainers from departments that belong to five different colleges (Letter & Science, Agriculture & Life Sciences, Engineering, and the Schools of Medicine and Pharmacology). This highly collaborative environment offers a spectrum of opportunities that include, for example, protein structure/function and engineering, nucleic acid and membrane biophysics, neuroscience, virology, as well as synthetic and system biology applied to both bacterial and eukaryotic organisms. These areas of research share the common goal of understanding biological systems in physical and mechanistic terms, the use of cutting-edge quantitative instrumental methods, and, frequently, the integration of computation and machine learning. Please find an overview of our research areas on our website.
UW-Madison is a center of excellence in structural biology, with major instrumentation facilities such as the National Magnetic Resonance Facility, the CryoEM Research Center, and the Midwest Center for Cryo-Electron Tomography. Trainers who participate in these centers offer outstanding research opportunities to students who want to become experts in the application and/or development of structural biology.
In addition, many other accessible facilities and instrumentation in our trainers’ laboratories provide advanced training in spectroscopy, microscopy and single-molecule imaging, high-throughput methods, and the integration of experimental and computational methods applied to the analysis and modeling of macromolecules and biological systems.
Biophysics is an inclusive and collaborative community whose goal is to prepare students of diverse backgrounds with rigorous interdisciplinary and quantitative training for a future in research and teaching in academia, industry, and alternative careers. The program is flexible in its formal course requirements, emphasizing excellence in research. For this reason, the coursework can be tailored to the specific research interests and the diverse backgrounds of each student.
For more information, please visit the Biophysics Graduate Program website.
Admissions
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.
Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.
| Fall Deadline | December 1 |
| Spring Deadline | The program does not admit in the spring. |
| Summer Deadline | The program does not admit in the summer. |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not required but may be considered if available. |
| English Proficiency Test | Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not exclusively in English, must provide an English proficiency test score earned within two years of the anticipated term of enrollment. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241. |
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
Evaluation Philosophy
The Biophysics Admissions Committee will carefully evaluate the potential of candidates to be successful in the Biophysics program by taking all components of the application into consideration. Applications will be reviewed holistically, and all aspects of training will be taken into account, including research experience, letters of recommendation, personal statement and academic transcripts.
Applicant Considerations
To qualify for admission to the program, an applicant must complete a bachelor's degree at a recognized, accredited college or university, or a comparable degree from an international institution. Biophysics is a broadly interdisciplinary program. We encourage applications from students from a wide variety of undergraduate training experiences in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, computer science, computational biology, bioengineering, cell and molecular biology, neuroscience, or other biological or medical sciences. A successful candidate will have substantial prior research experience. Some level of experience in one or more of the biological disciplines through coursework or prior research is also highly beneficial.
Biophysics at the University of Wisconsin Madison is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community and strongly encourages candidates from underrepresented groups to apply. Applicants are encouraged to include in their statements information about how their background and life experiences shaped their interests in pursuing a research-oriented career and will make them successful in this program.
Application Materials
A complete application (Graduate School website) includes:
- A resume or CV.
- Reasons for graduate study (address, in narrative essay form, your research experiences, reasons and goals for graduate study, and how earning a PhD will help you achieve your goals).
- Transcripts must be submitted from each institution that you have attended and listed on your graduate school application (undergraduate and graduate). Records from international institutions must be in the original language with an official English translation. Copies of transcripts must be uploaded to the online application.
- Three letters of recommendation:
- Qualified references include faculty and/or supervisors, who have familiarity with your intellectual, academic, and research-oriented capabilities, accomplishments, and personality. Recommendations are included as part of your online application.
- A $75 non-refundable application fee. The application fee covers an application to three different graduate programs at UW-Madison. We encourage you to apply for the programs that best encompass your research interests, but you need to keep in mind that you will need to submit all application materials by the first program deadline. The UW Graduate School offers a limited number of application fee grants to eligible students.
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are NOT required as part of the application submitted to the Biophysics Program. You can choose to include scores if you wish, but a lack of scores will not impact consideration of your application.
Candidates must meet the general requirements of the UW–Madison Graduate School, including an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 in the last 60 semester hours. For more information, please visit the Prospective Students page on the Biophysics program's website.
Funding
Graduate School Resources
Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Program Resources
The Biophysics Graduate Degree Program offers a yearly stipend in the form of traineeships or research assistantships to all PhD candidates and assists those with outstanding records in competing for university and national awards (fellowships). The program guarantees a full stipend for all its PhD candidates who remain in good standing. In addition to the stipend, all students receive tuition remission and are eligible for comprehensive health insurance.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Major Requirements
Mode of Instruction
| Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | No | No | No |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.
Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.
Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.
Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information.
Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.
Curricular Requirements
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 51 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 32 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 26 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244. |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203. |
| Other Grade Requirements | Degree requirements are not satisfied from courses in which a grade of BC or below is obtained for the Biophysics core courses. In the event of an unsatisfactory grade, the student must repeat the course and obtain a grade of B or better if they want to count the class towards their degree course requirements. |
| Assessments and Examinations | Students are required to complete an oral preliminary exam. The oral exam should be completed no later than the end of the student’s third fall semester in the program. This exam consists of an oral defense of a written research proposal. The format of the research proposal is based on the format for an NIH F31 predoctoral grant application. If the student feels they need more time to complete the oral exam, they must request an extension from the Biophysics Office. |
| Language Requirements | No language requirements. |
| Graduate School Breadth Requirement | No doctoral minor or graduate/professional certificate required. |
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required by the time oral prelim is taken: | ||
| CHEM 665 | Biophysical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 668 | Biophysical Spectroscopy | 3 |
| Biophysics Advanced Electives | 6 | |
| Students must take at least 6 credits of advanced electives from at least two different categories using the following list of classes (alternative classes may be substituted with approval from the Biophysics Program Curriculum Committee): | ||
| Structure | ||
| Protein and Enzyme Structure and Function | ||
| Mechanisms of Action of Vitamins and Minerals | ||
| Organic Analysis | ||
| Introductory Quantum Chemistry | ||
| Microbiology at Atomic Resolution | ||
| Purification and Characterization of Protein and Protein Complexes | ||
| Modeling | ||
| Computational Modeling of Biological Systems | ||
| Chemical and Statistical Thermodynamics | ||
| Mathematical Methods for Systems Biology | ||
| Molecular Biology | ||
| Prokaryotic Molecular Biology | ||
| Eukaryotic Molecular Biology | ||
| Neuroscience | ||
| Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience | ||
| Spectroscopy/Microscopy | ||
| Microscopy of Life | ||
| Biomedical Optics and Biophotonics | ||
| Topics in Chemical Instrumentation: Introduction to NMR | ||
| Selected Topics in Physical Chemistry (Topic: Spectroscopy of Individual Molecules and Particles) | ||
| Advanced Topics (Topic: Advanced Topics in NMR) | ||
| Bioinformatics and Computational Biology | ||
| Computational Modeling of Biological Systems | ||
| Advanced Bioinformatics | ||
| Bioinformatics for Biologists | ||
| Ethics Course | 1-3 | |
| Advanced Topics (Resp Conduct of Research) | ||
| Seminar Courses | ||
Students are required to participate in seminar courses for the duration of their studies. Initially, all students are required to enroll in CHEM/BIOCHEM 872 (Topic: Macromolecular and Biophysical Chemistry) for both fall and spring semesters. Once a student has successfully achieved dissertator status, they are eligible to enroll in alternative seminars with permission from the program. | ||
| Selected Topics in Macromolecular and Biophysical Chemistry | ||
| Specialty Courses | ||
To fulfill the remainder of required credits, students can take specialty courses. It is recommended to take courses in areas such as biotechnology, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, molecular biology, or physics. Students should consult with their Thesis Advisor and thesis committee members about appropriate specialty courses to take pertaining to individual training goals. | ||
| Research Credits | ||
Students are expected to register for 990 research credits every semester. These are the courses in which students will be conducting their independent research. First semester students will register for 990 research credits in the department of the Biophysics Program Director. Once a thesis lab is chosen, these credits will be conducted in the thesis advisor's home department. | ||
| Total Credits | 51 | |
Advanced Electives Requirement
To meet the 6-credit minimum, all elective courses must be at least 2 credits. That means that students can, for example, take two 3-credit courses, three 2-credit courses, or one 2-credit and one 4-credit course to satisfy this requirement. The above list of courses were approved as elective course options by the Biophysics Steering Committee. If you are interested in a different course to count as an elective course towards your Biophysics graduate degree, the course needs to be approved by the Curriculum Committee. To request a course approval, please use this form (you will need a syllabus from the course and a short paragraph detailing why the class is relevant to your research).
Ethics Requirement
Students are required to take an ethics course that covers all of the items considered necessary by the NIH for ethical and professional scientific training. It is strongly recommended that students take the ethics course during their first year. The recommended ethics course is: BIOCHEM 729 Advanced Topics (Responsible Conduct of Research). The Biophysics Program also conducts a mandatory ethics refresher seminar for all students that is held at the end of every spring semester.
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Major-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW–Madison
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Probation
Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.
Advisor / Committee
All students are required to have an advisor by the end of their first semester in the program. Thesis committees must be formed at the end of a student's first year in the program. The committee consists of at least four other faculty members and the student's advisor and faculty must represent at least two different departments on campus. After gaining dissertator status, students are required to hold yearly progress report meetings with their committee until graduation.
Credits Per Term Allowed
15 credits
Time Limits
Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.
Grievances and Appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
Students should contact the department chair or program director with questions about grievances.
Other
Fall semester enrollment only. First semester, program-sponsored lab rotations lead to thesis lab selection and research assistantship through the thesis advisor.
Professional Development
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
Learning Outcomes
- Articulates challenges, frontiers and limits with respect to theory, knowledge or practice within the field of study.
- Formulates ideas, concepts, designs, and/or techniques beyond the current boundaries of knowledge within the field of study.
- Creates research, scholarship or performance that makes a substantive contribution.
- Demonstrates breadth within their learning experiences.
- Communicates complex or ambiguous ideas in a clear and understandable manner.
- Evaluates the implications of the discipline to broader social concerns.
- Fosters ethical conduct and professional guidelines.
People
Program Leadership
Director
- Dr. Alessandro Senes, Professor, Department of Biochemistry
Associate Director
- Dr. Silvia Cavagerno, Professor, Department of Chemistry
Faculty Trainers
Our broad inter-departmental program consists of approximately 60 faculty trainers from departments that belong to five different colleges (Letter & Science, Agriculture & Life Sciences, Engineering, and the Schools of Medicine and Pharmacology). This highly collaborative environment offers a spectrum of opportunities that include, for example, protein structure/function and engineering, nucleic acid and membrane biophysics, neuroscience, virology, as well as synthetic and system biology applied to both bacterial and eukaryotic organisms. These areas of research share the common goal of understanding biological systems in physical and mechanistic terms, the use of cutting-edge quantitative instrumental methods, and, frequently, the integration of computation and machine learning. Please find an overview of our research areas on the program’s website.
Staff
Graduate Program Manager
- Michael Sullivan