Plant Biology

The Interdepartmental Plant Biology (IPB), previously Interdepartmental Plant Physiology Major (IPPM), educates scientists in basic plant biology, including but not limiting to plant molecular biology, plant cell biology, plant physiology, and plant organismal biology and provides training in the most state of the art methods and technologies. Graduate study in IPB, leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. Degrees, is offered through eight participating departments: Agronomy, Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology (BBMB), Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE), Chemistry, Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology (EEOB), Genetics Development & Cell Biology (GDCB), Horticulture, and Plant Pathology. Research conducted by the faculty and students of the major represents basic plant biology. The experimental approaches represented in the major span the range of complexity from molecular studies, to cellular, organismal and the ecological level (crop monocultures and natural populations). Although IPB graduate students are themselves involved in basic plant biology research, the research focus of the faculty in the major includes both basic and applied approaches. This mix of basic and practical research orientations helps foster a stimulating environment for graduate training.