phd in vegetable science

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Ph.D. Horticulture

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Horticulture program is designed to prepare students to become successful independent researchers to help meet the challenge of providing nutritious foods and sustaining an aesthetically-pleasing and healthy environment to support the health and well-being of the citizens of Texas and beyond. Our program provides an advanced science-based education for students through innovative teaching and directed horticultural research experiences. The program encompasses basic genetic, physiology, production, processing and utilization of horticultural products including fruits, vegetables, flowers, and landscape plants.

Ph. D. Program Details

For a PhD degree, a student with a Master’s degree must complete 64 hours, and a student with only a baccalaureate degree must complete 96 hours.

• Degree: Ph.D. in Horticulture
• Credit Hours: 36 total credit hours

NOTE: It is highly recommended that all graduate students in the Department of Horticultural Sciences have taken or will take 6 credit hours of 200, 300, 400, or 600 level HORT courses prior to admission. In the event that a student is deficient in HORT courses, the student’s committee can require the student to take an additional 6 credit hours of HORT (300, 400 or 600 level courses) as part of their degree  The courses must be approved by the Chair of the student’s Advisory Committee.  Any 300, 400, or 600 level courses may be applied towards the student’s Degree Plan with the Chair and Committee’s approval.  These 6 hours of HORT courses will be in addition to the 9 hour Master’s and 12 hour Doctoral requirement at the 600 level for all HORT graduate students.  If the student is deficient in the non-HORT supporting field courses (for example: chemistry, soils, plant physiology, etc.), the Chair will determine course prerequisites that need to be taken.

More information about the Department of Horticultural Science’s graduate faculty and their research can be found in Table 2 of the TAMU Graduate Horticultural Sciences Policy Handbook .

Degree requirements are posted in the official TAMU  Graduate Horticultural Sciences Policy Manual . Students must meet requirements set forth in the Texas A&M University catalog which is current in the year of their first registration, and the catalog is updated on an annual basis.  The official University Catalog for the current academic year can be accessed online.

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The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) had its genesis from establishment of an Agricultural School at Saidapet, Madras, Tamil Nadu, as early as 1868 and it was later relocated at Coimbatore.

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Ph.D (Hort) in Vegetable science

Vegetable crops established its credibility in improving income through increased productivity, generating employment and enhancing exports. Vegetable cultivation has also marked its significance with high yield potential per unit area and plays vital role in alleviation of malnutrition, high market price, processing, seed production, nursery seedling production, value addition, export, employment generation and livelihood improvement. Modern Vegetable Science deals with improved production technologies, breedimg, physiology, biochemistry, crop protection and other allied fields to impart specialized technologies in vegetables called Vegetable Science.

Why this programme?

• By studying Vegetable Science course Students could understand the scientific vegetable cultivation and advanced breeding methods.
• Gaining knowledge on development of new improved varieties and hybrids in vegetable crops
• Understanding the importance of neglected and underutilized vegetable crops
• It is an upcoming science with enormous scope in the various fields like, in its cultivation, processing industry, seed production & commercial nursery raising units and creates Entrepreneurships.

Study Programme

The Masters programme in Vegetable Science has been designed following the UGC guidelines. The course imparts:

• Vegetable science students an enabling environment for better learning
• Develop globally competitive human capacity in Vegetable science
• Promote research on frontier areas of Vegetable science for developing high performance and nutrient rich crop varieties
• Promote research on advanced cultivation techniques, Post harvest and value addition in Vegetable crops.
• Promote Self employment and Entrepreneurship of Vegetable Science students

Application and Admission

Interested in taking part in the programme of Vegetable Scinece? Find out more about the specific  Admission requirements and the application procedures . If you doubt whether admission is possible, feel welcome  to apply online . The Admission Committee will check your admissibility.

Future Career

• Assistant Director of Horticulture
• Assistant Professor
• ASRB Scientists
• ICAR KVK - Subject Matter Specialist (SMS)
• Research Associate’s and Research Fellow’s
• Vegetable Breeder’s in Private Sectors
• Farm Manager in Private Farms
• Fertilizer and seed companies
• Self Employment in High value Vegetable Crops under Protected cultivation (Green House, Poly House, Hydroponics, Aeroponics).

Master’s in Vegetable course

Master Courses

After admission the students undergo a set of courses that help them to understand the basic aspects in crop improvement, management and post harvest and value addition in Vegetable Crops as per the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) with a total credit load of 40 credits and 30 credits are exclusively earmarked for their Thesis Research.

Master’s thesis research

After completing the courses in the first year, the students start their thesis research. Each student is assigned to an experienced faculty, approved by the Dean of School of Post-Graduate Studies, who would guide the student on his/ her choice of research topic.

Student Experiences

I’m A. Fahima Fathima , a research scholar at the Department of Vegetable Science. Being enrolled to this campus gave me the chance to participate in a number of seminars, workshops, national and international conferences. We are fortunate to have eminent professors as our guides and faculty members so that we can carry out our research and learn more about our discipline. For conducting molecular research, our college is furnished with a multitude of facilities, including a molecular lab and a micro analytical lab. The chance to take advanced courses in topics like genomics and bioinformatics, cellular and chromosomal manipulations in crop improvement, vegetable production, and vegetable crop breeding have been provided to us. We are given labours who are really helpful to complete our work easily in order to complete our research in a timely manner, especially for field-related work

Myself G. Senthilvadivu studying Ph.D in Department Of Vegetable Science, Horticultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Coimbatore. During our course work we studied important Courses such as breeding for vegetable crops, biotechnology of horticultural crops which will pave way for our career opportunities in future. My thesis work is on Compatibility studies in brinjal with wild Solanum species for improving horticultural traits. As there is a special unit for brinjal grafting in TNAU orchard facilities such as controlled mist chamber for grafted plants and hardening unit is available readily to carry out my research work in proper time. Lab facilities with instruments such as soxhlet unit, rotary evaporator, simple microscope unit, gel electrophoresis unit, PCR are useful to carry out our biochemical and molecular analysis for our work.

Student Alumni

Myself  VaibhaoGurve completed Ph.D in Vegetable Science in HC & RI, TNAU, Department of Vegetable Science. My overall experience at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University to date has been amazing, and the college is having an amazing infrastructure and got second green campus award for its lush greenery. Your college has provided me with a number of opportunities to grow and explore my skills. The emphasis on sports along with education always helped me a lot. I have always found a positive and healthy environment and the professors are highly supportive. Most of my doubts were cleared after the classes get over.I am highly thankful to you for providing me with an opportunity to be a part of your college. It has added a number of values to my life.

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Horticulture and Agronomy Graduate Group

Phd program.

The Ph.D. program is structured to meet the needs of a diverse student body whose unifying characteristic is an interest in the application of biological principles to the solution of problems in crop production and resource management. Two primary objectives of the curriculum are to foster a sense of community among the students and to provide them with a breadth of knowledge about agronomic and horticultural principles and how they are used in a variety of practices.

Areas of Emphasis Students will be aligned into one of five areas of emphasis - Agroecology, Crop Improvement, Crop Production Systems, Plant Physiology, and Post-harvest Biology/Physiology - and pursue projects in these cropping systems: Agronomy, Environmental Horticulture, Pomology, Vegetable Crops, Viticulture, and Weed Science.

A wide range of study areas can be pursued including: Biotechnology, Breeding and Genetics, Crop Physiology, Floriculture, Horticulture, Integrated Pest Management, Landscape Horticulture, Modeling and Quantitative Systems Analysis, Nursery Production, Plant Growth and Development, Plant Nutrition, Post-harvest Biology and Technology, Precision Agriculture, Revegetation/Restoration, and Water Relations. In addition, students can become involved in Designated Emphasis programs such as Biotechnology.  

Required and Recommended Courses The Ph.D. curriculum requires that all students take a series of lecture, seminar, and laboratory courses that develop a breadth of understanding of basic principles within their area of emphasis. Each student will consult with a Guidance Committee (graduate academic adviser, major professor supervising the student's research program, and one other faculty member) during the first, third, and fifth quarters in order to arrange a program of courses in the student's area of emphasis. Service as a Teaching Assistant is recommended, although not a requirement of the program.

In addition to completing any pre-requisite courses deficiencies, students will be required to take 16 units of graduate level Core Courses and a minimum of 3 courses (totaling at least 9 units) exclusive of seminar and research units (e.g., 290, 299) in his/her area of emphasis, of which 2 (minimum of 6 units) must be at the graduate level. Guidance Committee Report   - for first, third, and fifth quarter meetings with Guidance Committee.  

Ph.D. Core Requirements

In addition, PhD students must take another seminar class and give an exit seminar.  

Area of Emphasis Courses Your Guidance Committee will work with you to select the courses for your particular Area of Emphasis; see  Suggested Courses List by Course  and  Suggested Courses by QE Topic  for examples of courses that might be used. Other classes from the  UC Davis Catalog  may also be selected.

Qualifying Examination Upon completion of all coursework requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Horticulture and Agronomy, the student must pass an oral qualifying examination administered by a five-member faculty committee. The student may suggest committee members with the advice of her/his Graduate Adviser, but the committee is nominated by the Advising Committee and appointed according to Graduate Council procedures. The exam is designed to test the student's mastery of the breadth of Agronomy or Horticulture and expertise within their Area of Emphasis. The exam will consist of a presentation of the student's research proposal, followed by questions from the Core and Required Courses in the student's area of emphasis. More on Qualifying Exam  

Research Dissertation The focus of a Plan B Ph.D. degree is an original research project, culminating in a dissertation and a required exit seminar presentation before final action can be taken (dissertation signed). The research project is supervised, and the dissertation is evaluated and approved by a committee of three faculty members, chaired by the student's major professor.  

Time to Degree Students generally take 4 to 6 years to complete a PhD degree in the sciences at UC Davis, including students in Horticulture & Agronomy. The coursework usually only takes two to two-and-a-half years, but the length of research projects varies, depending on the type of research the student is doing. Sample timeline for PhD students

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Food Science and Technology Doctor of Philosophy

Thank you for your interest in the Department of Food Science and Technology at The Ohio State University. Food science is a dynamic field that integrates different disciplines towards a better understanding of our food supply . Our department offers both M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs in Food Science and Technology.  Students may study:

• Food chemistry
• Food safety and microbiology
• Sensory science
• Functional foods for health
• Food safety engineering
• Advanced food processing technologies
• Food packaging

Our facilities consist of well-equipped laboratories and three pilot plants for meat, dairy, and fruit and vegetable processing. Alumni of the graduate program have gone on to have careers in academia, industry and government.

To learn more about our department, please visit the Department of Food Science and Technology website .

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

International graduates of this major are approved by the Department of Homeland Security for three (3) years of work permission in the United States after graduation. Visit the Office of International Affairs website for more information.

If you have a disability and experience difficulty accessing this content, please contact [email protected] .

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Advances in Research on Vegetable Production Under a Changing Climate Vol. 1

• © 2021
• Shashank Shekhar Solankey 0 ,
• Meenakshi Kumari 1 ,
• Manoj Kumar 2

Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, India

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Department of Vegetable Science, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur, India

Division of Vegetable Crops, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, India

• This book presents up to date studies in Olericulture
• Contributions from expert researchers in the field
• Covers climate change, carbon sequestration, greenhouse gasses

Part of the book series: Advances in Olericulture (ADOL)

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Advances in Research Trends in Vegetables Under a Changing Climate: A Way Forward

Impact of climate change on perennial vegetables production and mitigation strategies, emerging obstacles of vegetable production due to climate change and mitigation strategies.

• Olericulture
• Climate change
• Mitigation Strategies
• Protected Structures
• Genetic mechanism

Table of contents (13 chapters)

Front matter, the role of research for vegetable production under a changing climate future trends and goals.

• Shashank Shekhar Solankey, Meenakshi Kumari, Manoj Kumar, Silvana Nicola

Challenges and Opportunities in Vegetable Production in Changing Climate: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies

• Shashank Shekhar Solankey, Meenakshi Kumari, Shirin Akhtar, Hemant Kumar Singh, Pankaj Kumar Ray

Genotypic Selection in Vegetables for Adaptation to Climate Change

• Shirin Akhtar, Abhishek Naik, Shashank Shekhar Solankey

Response of Solanaceous Vegetables to Increasing Temperature and Atmospheric CO2

• Durga Prasad Moharana, Ramesh Kumar Singh, Sarvesh Pratap Kashyap, Nagendra Rai, D. R. Bhardwaj, Anand Kumar Singh

Climate Change Impact on Cole Crops and Mitigation Strategies

• D. P. Singh, Meenakshi Kumari, H. G. Prakash

Impact of Climate Change on Root Crops Production

• Menka Pathak, Satyaprakash Barik, Sunil Kumar Das

Impact of Climate Change on Leguminous Vegetables Productivity and Mitigation Strategies

• Hemant Kumar Singh, Pankaj Kumar Ray, Shashank Shekhar Solankey, R. N. Singh

Impact of Climate Change on Bulb Crops Production and Mitigation Strategies

• Manoj Kumar, Meenakshi Kumari, Shashank Shekhar Solankey

Impact of Climate Change on Cucurbitaceous Vegetables in Relation to Increasing Temperature and Drought

• Randhir Kumar, K. Madhusudhan Reddy

Impact of Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gasses on Soil

• D. K. Verma, Shashank Shekhar Solankey

Effect of Green House Gases on Vegetable Production

• Meenakshi Kumari, Manoj Kumar, Shashank Shekhar Solankey, Saurabh Tomar

Impact of Heat on Vegetable Crops and Mitigation Strategies

• Pankaj Kumar Ray, Hemant Kumar Singh, Shashank Shekhar Solankey, R. N. Singh, Anjani Kumar

Impact of Drought and Salinity on Vegetable Crops and Mitigation Strategies

• Pallavi Neha, Manoj Kumar, Shashank Shekhar Solankey

Editors and Affiliations

Shashank Shekhar Solankey

Department of Vegetable Science, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur, India

Meenakshi Kumari

Manoj Kumar

About the editors

Bibliographic information.

Book Title : Advances in Research on Vegetable Production Under a Changing Climate Vol. 1

Editors : Shashank Shekhar Solankey, Meenakshi Kumari, Manoj Kumar

Series Title : Advances in Olericulture

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63497-1

Publisher : Springer Cham

eBook Packages : Biomedical and Life Sciences , Biomedical and Life Sciences (R0)

Copyright Information : Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021

Hardcover ISBN : 978-3-030-63496-4 Published: 10 April 2021

Softcover ISBN : 978-3-030-63499-5 Published: 10 April 2022

eBook ISBN : 978-3-030-63497-1 Published: 09 April 2021

Series ISSN : 2367-4083

Series E-ISSN : 2367-4091

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : XVIII, 253

Number of Illustrations : 7 b/w illustrations, 22 illustrations in colour

Topics : Agriculture , Climate Change , Plant Genetics and Genomics

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The Department of Plant Sciences is an outstanding University Centre for research in plant and microbial sciences. It offers unrivalled research and training opportunities in the following areas of plant and microbial science:

• Cell function & responses to the environment
• Developmental biology & signalling
• Genetics and epigenetics
• Ecosystem function and conservation
• Evolution and diversity
• Microbiology & biotic interactions
• Plant pathology and epidemiology
• Systems and mathematical biology
• Enhancing photosynthesis
• Biotechnology and engineering

The Crop Science Centre is an alliance between the University of Cambridge’s Department of Plant Sciences and the crop research organisation NIAB. The Centre will serve as a global hub for crop science research and a base for collaborations with research partners around the world. 

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the University's principal research degree. A PhD in Plant Sciences takes three to four years of full-time study to complete and consists of research and courses as required under academic supervision. Applicants should contact a potential supervisor before proceeding with their PhD application. You can browse the personal/group pages of the  Research Group Leaders  to check details of their research.

The aim of PhD training is to develop both a deep theoretical and practical understanding through research into aspects of Plant Sciences, augmented by appropriate lecture courses delivered within the Department, or more generally across the Postgraduate School of Life Sciences.

The course provides training in a wide range of disciplines, which can include plant genetic engineering, plant development, plant molecular biology, plant biophysics, plant biochemistry, plant-microbe interactions, algal microbiology, plant ecology, crop biology, plant virology, plant epigenetics, epidemiology, plant taxonomy, plant physiology, eco-physiology and bioinformatics.

Having identified a research area of interest and contacted the appropriate supervisor, the first stage in developing an application should be to draft an appropriate research summary of the training to be undertaken.

Full-time PhD students must submit a thesis for examination by the end of their fourth year of study, although we encourage students and their supervisors to complete the thesis and submit within the period of funding support which, depending on the programme, may range from three to four years.

All postgraduate students attend induction and safety training courses in the Department.  

As well as undertaking their research, students will attend courses and lectures on some of the following: instrumentation, sequencing and database use, statistics, experimental design, analysing data, writing reports and a thesis, and how to give effective scientific presentations. Students are expected to take part in the Postgraduate School of Life Sciences' Researcher Development Programme . 

Students receive termly reports on their work.

Learning Outcomes

The primary outcomes from successfully completing a PhD include expertise in:

• specialist training in experimental or theoretical methods;
• an ability to analyse relevant literature and apply to the development of innovative research;
• capacity to develop and apply data abstraction and analytical procedures with an appropriate level of statistical validation;
• independence in designing and conducting original research, and preparing that data in a format suitable for publication in peer-reviewed journals;
• enhanced organisational skills, in terms of time management, good laboratory practices, safety and planning a specific programme of research.

The overall outcome should ensure that a PhD candidate is well-prepared to undertake additional independent research, whether as a continuation in their existing research field or applying their expertise and understanding in a new field. PhD candidates will also have a good grounding in the collation and organisation of research for reports or peer-reviewed papers, and so should be prepared either for a career in academia or more applied fields.

To assist in the delivery of these learning outcomes, assessment of an individual PhD candidate's progress is made via a standard series of review protocols including the drafting of a project proposal after four weeks, delivery of a seminar, and preparation of a thesis plan and outline four months in advance of the due submission date.

As a PhD student, you must keep a separate training log, in which you will record all seminars and lectures attended and given, training undertaken, the highlights of your research work, and your notes of discussions with your supervisor(s). This log will be quite distinct from your laboratory notebook(s) which should contain all the details of your research work.

The PhD thesis has a word limit set at 60,000 words (80,000 by special permission), exclusive of tables, footnotes, bibliography, and appendices. 

The PhD provides specialist training in scientific methodology relevant to the project subject area and based on the expertise of the supervisor and research group. This training also enables students from other scientific areas to proceed in a career in plant sciences and other allied areas. General training is also available and includes courses and lectures in instrumentation, sequencing and database use, statistics, experimental design, analysing data, writing reports and a thesis, and how to give effective scientific presentations. 

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the  Postgraduate Open Day  page for more details.

See further the  Postgraduate Admissions Events  pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Key Information

3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time, study mode : research, doctor of philosophy, department of plant sciences, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, lent 2024 (closed).

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Easter 2024 (Closed)

Michaelmas 2024 (closed), easter 2025, funding deadlines.

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.

Similar Courses

• Biological Science (Plant Sciences) by thesis MPhil

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Plant Science graduate program offers advanced study in applied plant biology, with a commitment to development of sustainable managed agroecosystems. Our graduate program offers opportunities for advanced studies in basic and applied research, leading to M.Sc. or Ph.D. degrees, in plant production, plant protection, plant biotechnology, plant physiology and biochemistry, and plant-environment interaction.

The program is enriched through collaborations with colleagues in graduate programs such as Food Science, Soil Science, Botany, Zoology. Collaborations include on-campus research centres such as the Biodiversity Research Centre, the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, the Wine Research Centre, and off-campus research agencies/institutions such as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Canadian Light Source, and other Canadian universities.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

Our graduate program offers students the opportunity to develop their graduate studies uniquely tailored to their professional goals and research interests in consultation with their research supervisor. The diversity of plant agriculture in British Columbia provides excellent opportunities for students to select a cropping system most suitable for their thesis research.  Students have the opportunity and are encouraged to develop their research programs through an interdisciplinary approach involving other departments on the campus.

Excellent facilities for thesis research are available on the UBC campus in the MacMillan Building, Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm , Totem Field Laboratory, UBC Wine Research Centre, the Michael Smith Laboratories, and the Horticulture Glasshouse. Some Plant Science graduate students also work with our Adjunct Professors, spread throughout the province of British Columbia.

One aspect that attracted me to the program was the opportunity to conduct research on the properties affiliated with the LFS faculty (such as the UBC Farm). Having easy access to outdoor research space and the site managers is a convenient way to get started with research ideas.

Jens Johnson

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, program instructions.

Before you apply, please make sure you meet/exceed the admission requirements and most importantly have a supervisor confirmed.

Please review the list of faculty members in the program and contact the ones with the same research interests as you direclty to check their availability/interest in accepting you.

1) Check Eligibility

Minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 90

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 6.5

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

Prior degree, course and other requirements

Prior degree requirements.

Students admitted to the Ph.D. degree program normally possess a M.Sc. degree in plant science or a related area, with clear evidence of research ability, and a strive for research excellence. Transfer from the M.Sc. to the Ph.D. program is permitted under Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies regulations.

2) Meet Deadlines

May 2025 intake, application open date, canadian applicants, international applicants, deadline explanations.

Deadline to submit online application. No changes can be made to the application after submission.

Deadline to upload scans of official transcripts through the applicant portal in support of a submitted application. Information for accessing the applicant portal will be provided after submitting an online application for admission.

Deadline for the referees identified in the application for admission to submit references. See Letters of Reference for more information.

3) Prepare Application

Transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Science (PhD)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Research Information

Research highlights.

Research topics focus on plant-environment interactions, plant-pathogen interaction, pollination ecology, agro-ecology, crop production and breeding, irrigation management, disease protection, and plant physiology, biotechnology, biochemistry and imaging.

Research Focus

Specific areas of specialization include:

• pollination biology; insect physiology; insect ecology and behaviour; natural insecticides
• weed biology, ecology, and control; invasive species biology
• fruit physiology and metabolism; plant nutrition; plant-plant interaction; biotic and abiotic stressor resistance
• crop stress physiology; plant anatomy; structure-function relation; water relations; irrigation management
• horticulture; vegetable culture; ornamental horticulture; post-harvest physiology
• plant biochemistry; tissue culture; genetic engineering; plant, fungal, and viral molecular genetics
• plant-microbe interaction; bacterial and fungal diseases; plant virology; biological control of pests and diseases
• cereal and pathogen genomics; host-pathogen interactions; genetics of disease resistance
• plant breeding; phenotyping; plant imaging; trait selection
• rangeland ecology and wildlife habitat studies

Program Components

Appropriate coursework may be selected in consultation with the student's supervisory committee. All doctoral students are required to successfully complete a comprehensive examination. The major requirement for the Ph.D. is completion of a research dissertation meeting the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies requirements.

Research Facilities

Plant Science teaching and research facilities are located in the H.R. MacMillan Building, in Food Nutrition and Health Building, and in the UBC Biotech Laboratory. Research facilities include: the UBC Farm, the UBC Botanical Garden, greenhouses and the Totem Field Plant Science Field Station (UBC Plant Care Services), a controlled environment-facility (walk-in and reach-in growth chambers), and modern analytical laboratories.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial support.

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

All newly admitted graduate students in the research-based PhD program will be supported by a minimum funding package of $24,000/year for 4 years provided they maintain good academic standing.

The funding package may consist of internal or external award, scholarship, teaching or research assistantship, or any combination of the above. Students are expected to be proactive in applying for awards and scholarships.

Average Funding

• 3 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 3 students was $5,947.
• 8 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 8 students was $17,537.
• 9 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 9 students was $13,407.
• 2 students received external awards. Average external award funding based on 2 students was $18,833.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

16 students graduated between 2005 and 2013. Of these, career information was obtained for 13 alumni (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016):

Sample Employers in Higher Education

Sample employers outside higher education, sample job titles outside higher education, phd career outcome survey, career options.

Plant Science graduates (M.Sc., Ph.D.) generally opt for a teaching and/or research career. Some also work for government agencies (Agri-Food Canada, B.C. Ministry of Agriculture), agri-industry, or do consulting work in plant science.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Science (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

• Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Carrillo, Juli (Plant-insect interactions; Agroecology; Invasive species; evolution; Ecology; community ecology; Environmental Change; Plant evolution; Population Ecology)
• Castellarin, Simone (Enology and viticulture; Horticultural crop growth and development; Crop physiology; Fruit ripening; Secondary metabolism; Environmental stresses; Viticulture)
• Jovel Ayala, Eduardo (Ethnobotany, mycology, natural product chemistry and Aboriginal health)
• Knipfer, Thorsten
• Kronstad, James (Bioinformatics; Immunology; Microbiology; Plant biology; Mycology; Fungal diseases of plants; Genomics and Proteomics; Medical Mycology; Molecular Genetics; Pathogenesis of infectious diseases; Plant-Microbe Interactions)
• Riseman, Andrew (plant breeding; plant genetics; horticulture; roots; stress physiology, Plant breeding, intercrop interactions, nutrient use efficiency, root physiology, biotic/abtioic stressor)
• Sargent, Risa (Plant biology; Biological control; community ecology; evolutionary ecology; Floral trait evolution; Flowering plants; Herbivory; Pollinator-mediated interactions)

Doctoral Citations

Sample thesis submissions.

• Anthocyanin accumulation and cuticular wax deposition in blueberries : Impacts on fruit surface color and water loss

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Science in Plant Science (MSc)

Same Academic Unit

• Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Animal Biology (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Human Nutrition (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science (PhD)
• Graduate Certificate in Aquaculture (GCAQUA)
• Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE)
• Master of Food Science (MFS)
• Master of Land and Water Systems (MLWS)
• Master of Science in Applied Animal Biology (MSc)
• Master of Science in Food Science (MSc)
• Master of Science in Human Nutrition (MSc)
• Master of Science in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems (MSc)
• Master of Science in Soil Science (MSc)

Further Information

Specialization.

Plant Science covers topics related to plant production, plant protection, biotechnology, plant physiology and biochemistry, and plant-environment interactions. Specific areas of specialization include:

• plant-microbe interaction, bacterial and fungal diseases, plant virology, biological control of pests and diseases, insect physiology, natural insecticides, insect ecology and behaviour, and weed biology, ecology, and control, invasive species biology pollination biology
• plant nutrition, plant growth analysis, plant-plant interaction, biotic and abiotic stressor resistance, and environmental plant physiology
• vegetable culture, ornamental horticulture, plant breeding, and post-harvest physiology
• plant biochemistry, tissue culture, genetic engineering, and plant, fungal, and viral molecular genetics
• cereal pathology, host-pathogen interactions, genetics of disease resistance, plant imaging, cereal and pathogen genomics, resistance breeding.

UBC Calendar

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Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

Jonathan Beutler

First and foremost, I was inspired by the scope of the dissertation project that I am proud to be working on at UBC. I believe that the advent portable sequencing platforms will play an important role in advancing global disease biology by helping us to deploy widespread genomic monitoring for more...

Steven Bristow

I had a few ideal criteria when trying to decide where to do my PhD and UBC met all of them. I wanted to try working with new types of crops/styles of production, work in a new climate, and I had hoped to be able to do a PhD outside the United States. The climate in BC is much more temperate, less...

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• Soil Science, PhD

The UW–Madison Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences is one of the oldest, largest, and most prominent soil science departments in the United States. It is globally renowned for its excellence in soil research and education. The department's mission is to provide instruction, research, and extension leadership in soil chemistry, physics, biology, and pedology to economic and sustainable land use. Programs are designed to improve basic understanding and practical management of soil resources in natural, agricultural, and urban ecosystems, and to serve local, state, national, and global interests. The department implements the Wisconsin Idea to the extended community and provides all generations with an appreciation of soil as a key natural resource and thorough understanding of the scientific basis of the environment and agriculture.

Soil science entails understanding soils and applying the principles of physics, chemistry, mathematics, and biology to the sustainable management of soil and the environment. Soil science deals with the effects of climate change and its interaction with the soil, with scarcity of water resources, and the increase of food production to feed 9 billion people. The link between soils and biodiversity as well as the effects of soils on biofuel production is widely researched in the Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences.

The department is committed to integrated programs of instruction, research, extension, and outreach that address societal goals of responsible stewardship of soil and water resources.

The importance of soils in crop production, environmental issues, turf and grounds management, soil conservation, global climate change, carbon sequestration, rural and urban planning, and waste disposal are integrated into the department's course offerings and research programs. Graduate study in soil science provides the basic and applied scientific training needed for teaching, research, and other professional work in the agricultural, earth, and environmental sciences. The department office provides information concerning career placement and available vacancies.

Graduates from the department occupy leading positions in industry, government, education, and research in agriculture, natural resources, and environmental science throughout the world. Of the more than 1,000 alumni of the department's graduate program, many are deans, directors, chairs, faculty, and staff at universities in the U.S. and other countries, or in leading positions in government, regulatory agencies, research institutions, agribusinesses, chemical industries, and recreational and conservation organizations.

The number of graduate students enrolled in the program over the past 10 years has averaged 20 per year, with about half pursuing master's degrees and half pursuing doctorates. International students generally comprise about 30% of the total. Department faculty also direct additional graduate students in multidisciplinary research in soils-related programs.

Faculty Research

Research in the department focuses on an improved understanding of the soil, as well as on interactions between soil and the people of Wisconsin. The faculty have extensive and long-term experience and knowledge about the soils of Wisconsin, their genesis, properties, and management. The department has an exciting suite of research activities ranging from the molecular level to the global. Research focuses on topical themes like climate change and soil changes to land use effects of biofuel production to DNA fingerprinting of soil life.

Many field research projects on soil and water problems are conducted in cooperation with state and federal agencies, agribusinesses, municipalities, and private farmers. The department cooperates closely with the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center, and the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service in conducting soil surveys and addressing problems of groundwater shortages and contamination. Relationships between soils and forests are studied at tree nurseries and in state, private, and commercial forests throughout the state in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the pulp and paper industry.

Through a long commitment of our staff to international agriculture, the department has assisted in the creation of agricultural colleges in several developing countries and has attracted outstanding international graduate students. Current research involvement includes Brazil, Chile, China, Trinidad-Tobago, Spain, Australia, Argentina, and Antarctica.

Many department faculty have been recognized nationally and globally for their contributions to soil science. Three of only four soil scientists appointed to the National Academy of Sciences are from the UW–Madison Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences. Several faculty members have received local and national academic, professional-society, trade-association, and industrial prizes and awards for teaching, research, and extension education and serve on important state, national, and international committees. Many faculty members have been recognized for their contributions by election to honorary fellowship in the Soil Science Society of America, the American Society of Agronomy, and allied professional societies.

Our faculty are heavily involved in cooperative interdisciplinary research undertakings with scientists and organizations within and beyond the university, such as UW–Madison's Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center, Environmental Chemistry and Technology Program, and other science departments, state agencies, environmental consulting and service companies, agribusinesses, and trade organizations.

Research Facilities

Research in the department can be conducted in the field, in the laboratory, and behind the desktop, but is commonly conducted in a combination. The department is equipped with all necessary laboratory, computing, and field facilities for graduate training and research. State-of-the-art scientific instrumentation includes soil moisture tension apparatus; flame-emission and atomic-absorption spectrophotometers and gamma-ray spectrometers; neutron activation analysis equipment; an inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-emission spectrometer and an ICP-mass spectrometer; thin-layer, high-performance liquid, gas, and ion chromatographs; low-mass isotope ratio mass spectrometer; micro-respirometers; micro-titer-plate counters; infrared and ultraviolet spectrophotometers; phase-contrast, polarizing and epifluorescence microscopy and photomicrography equipment; eddy correlation systems for heat, moisture, and CO2 fluxes; ground-penetrating radar; high-resolution digital imaging; dynamic light scattering and particle electrophoresis equipment; flow field flow fractionation; and accelerated solvent extractor. Field equipment includes a truck-mounted hydraulic soil probe with well-drilling capabilities; a plot-field harvest combine; various production field equipment (planters, tillage equipment, rainfall simulator); differential-global position system; and particle counter.

Excellent data collection, data logging, computing, and networking facilities are available for basic research and graduate training. In addition to computing facilities maintained by individual researchers for their students, the department makes available to its graduate students a computer graphics facility for the production of sophisticated graphic output.

Specialized facilities are available for research in molecular biology, modern environmental microbiology, in vitro toxicology and bioassays, and contaminated-site remediation. Soils graduate students and faculty have shared access to major advanced physicochemical, x-ray, and electron microscopy analytical equipment through the Materials Science Center, National Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison, National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratories, and other UW–Madison science and engineering departments. Facilities, vehicles, machinery, and instrumentation are available for conducting field experiments at ten strategically located UW Agricultural Research Stations and the O.J. Noer Turfgrass Research and Education Facility. Fieldwork for agricultural production and environmental protection is supported by daily information from the CALS agricultural weather station network as well as soils, crops, land-use, and natural resources analysis using land information systems and geographic information systems.

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 .

Suggested Preparatory Coursework

A foundation in the basic sciences is essential for graduate study in soil science. Continuing undergraduate students are encouraged to select undergraduate courses carefully if they are considering advanced degrees in soil science. The program recommends applicants complete the suggested preparatory coursework (or equivalent) listed below. Admission without this suggested preparation is possible but may delay the completion of graduate studies. If this preparatory coursework has not been completed prior to admission, a student’s examination committee and/or advisor may require this coursework be completed during the PhD program depending on the student's academic, research, and career goal needs.

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

Financial support is usually available to qualified students in the form of research assistantships, mostly funded from research grants; final decision for granting a research assistantship rests with the professor(s) supervising the research. Any assistantship for at least one-third time qualifies a student for remission of tuition (though students may be responsible for other administrative fees). The department does not offer teaching assistantships. A number of Graduate School fellowships are available to new students with outstanding records. The deadline for application for these competitive fellowships is early January of each year. The department selects the most qualified applicants and forwards their dossiers to a campus-wide selection committee. Support for graduate assistantships is available through two Wisconsin Distinguished Fellowships (the W.R. Kussow/Wisconsin Turfgrass Association and the Leo M. Walsh/Wisconsin Fertilizer and Chemical Association), the C.B. Tanner Agricultural Physics Award Fund, and the Charles and Alice Ream Soil and Water Protection Research Fund. In addition, there are two awards given annually to outstanding incoming graduate students, the O.N. Allen Graduate Fellowship for Agriculture and the Kelling Soil Fertility Award.

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, 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

Required courses.

Students who take SOIL SCI/​F&W ECOL  451 Environmental Biogeochemistry may count it as either Soil Chemistry or Soil Biology credits, but it cannot count towards both categories.

 All PhD candidates must present at least two seminars in SOIL SCI 728 . One of the seminars must be on the student's prospectus.

 All candidates pursuing a Soil Science PhD shall complete a minimum of 1 credit of SOIL SCI 799 . A written plan for satisfying this requirement shall be prepared by the student in conjunction with the advisor and approved by the Certification Committee. The type and level of effort required to earn one or more degree credits in SOIL SCI 799 shall be in accordance with the guidelines and standards set forth by the CALS Curriculum Committee and approved by the UW Divisional Committees in the Spring Semester 1981.

 PhD candidates are required to enroll in at least 1 credit of SOIL SCI 990 every 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 .

With program approval, students are allowed to count up to 12 credits of graduate coursework taken during graduate study at other institutions. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a doctoral degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements. Students may petition the department for an appeal of the ten-year limit on a case-by-case basis.

Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison

With program approval, students are allowed to count up to 7 credits of graduate coursework numbered 300 or above from a UW–Madison undergraduate degree. The coursework may also count toward the 50% graduate coursework requirement if the courses are numbered 700 or above. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a doctoral degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements. Students may petition the department for an appeal of the ten-year limit on a case-by-case basis.

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

With program approval, students are allowed to count up to 15 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as a UW–Madison University Special student. The coursework may also count toward the 50% graduate coursework requirement if the courses are numbered 700 or above. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a doctoral degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements. Students may petition the department for an appeal of the ten-year limit on a case-by-case basis.

Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.

Advisor / Committee

The Doctoral Committee, chosen by the student and major professor, is a committee of four or more members representing more than one graduate program, three of whom must be UW-Madison graduate faculty or former UW-Madison graduate faculty up to one year after resignation or retirement. At least one of the four members must be from outside of the student’s major program or major field (often the minor field) and approved by the Certification Committee. A minimum of two must be from the Soil Science faculty. At least three committee members must be designated as readers. Representation of the Minor Department (see Graduate Minor Requirements in the handbook) is at the option of the Minor Department, but the Department of Soil Science recommends that the Minor Professor be on the Committee.

The required fourth member of the Doctoral Committee, as well as any additional members, all retain voting rights. They may be from any of the following categories, as approved by the executive committee: graduate faculty, faculty from a department without a graduate program, academic staff (including emeritus faculty), visiting faculty, faculty from other institutions, scientists, research associates, and other individuals deemed qualified by the Executive Committee (or its equivalent) provided the individual has a PhD degree or its equivalent.

It is the responsibility of the student and the Major Professor to form a Doctoral Committee and schedule a meeting before the end of the second semester (not including summer sessions) of PhD graduate work.

A student who does not meet deadline requirements in this document will not be allowed to register in the subsequent semester until a written plan for meeting the requirements has been approved by their major advisor and the department Certification Committee.

Credits Per Term Allowed

Time limits.

Prospectus: The written prospectus and the prospectus seminar must be completed by the end of the third semester (not including summer sessions).

Preliminary exam: Students who obtain their MS degree in the department and who continue in the department for their doctorate must take the preliminary examination by the end of the fourth semester (not including summer sessions) of PhD graduate work. Candidates who are approved to retake a failed examination must have passed by the end of the fifth semester.

Candidates for the PhD degree who obtained an MS or MA degree elsewhere, must take the Preliminary Examination by the end of the fourth semester (not including summer sessions) of PhD graduate work. Candidates who are approved to retake a failed examination must have passed by the end of the fifth semester.

Candidates who do not adhere to this deadline must show justification for the delay to the department certification committee.

Final oral exam and deposit of dissertation: A candidate for a doctoral degree who fails to take the final oral examination and deposit the dissertation within five years after passing the preliminary examination may by require to take another preliminary examination and to be admitted to candidacy a second time.

Grievances and Appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

• Bias or Hate Reporting  
• Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
• Office of the Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs
• 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)

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences: Grievance Policy  

In the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), any student who feels unfairly treated by a member of the CALS faculty or staff has the right to complain about the treatment and to receive a prompt hearing. Some complaints may arise from misunderstandings or communication breakdowns and be easily resolved; others may require formal action. Complaints may concern any matter of perceived unfairness.

To ensure a prompt and fair hearing of any complaint, and to protect the rights of both the person complaining and the person at whom the complaint is directed, the following procedures are used in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Any student, undergraduate or graduate, may use these procedures, except employees whose complaints are covered under other campus policies.

• The student should first talk with the person at whom the complaint is directed. Most issues can be settled at this level. Others may be resolved by established departmental procedures.
• If the complaint involves an academic department in CALS the student should proceed in accordance with item 3 below.
• If the grievance involves a unit in CALS that is not an academic department, the student should proceed in accordance with item 4 below.
• If informal mediation fails, the student can submit the grievance in writing to the grievance advisor within 10 working days of the date the student is informed of the failure of the mediation attempt by the grievance advisor. The grievance advisor will provide a copy to the person at whom the grievance is directed.
• The grievance advisor will refer the complaint to a department committee that will obtain a written response from the person at whom the complaint is directed, providing a copy to the student. Either party may request a hearing before the committee. The grievance advisor will provide both parties a written decision within 20 working days from the date of receipt of the written complaint.
• If the grievance involves the department chairperson, the grievance advisor or a member of the grievance committee, these persons may not participate in the review.
• If not satisfied with departmental action, either party has 10 working days from the date of notification of the departmental committee action to file a written appeal to the CALS Equity and Diversity Committee. A subcommittee of this committee will make a preliminary judgement as to whether the case merits further investigation and review. If the subcommittee unanimously determines that the case does not merit further investigation and review, its decision is final. If one or more members of the subcommittee determine that the case does merit further investigation and review, the subcommittee will investigate and seek to resolve the dispute through mediation. If this mediation attempt fails, the subcommittee will bring the case to the full committee. The committee may seek additional information from the parties or hold a hearing. The committee will present a written recommendation to the dean who will provide a final decision within 20 working days of receipt of the committee recommendation.
• If the alleged unfair treatment occurs in a CALS unit that is not an academic department, the student should, within 120 calendar days of the alleged incident, take his/her grievance directly to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. The dean will attempt to resolve the problem informally within 10 working days of receiving the complaint. If this mediation attempt does not succeed the student may file a written complaint with the dean who will refer it to the CALS Equity and Diversity Committee. The committee will seek a written response from the person at whom the complaint is directed, subsequently following other steps delineated in item 3d above.

Financial support is available to qualified MS and PhD students in the form of research assistantships. Most assistantships are funded through research grants, and the final decision rests with the professor(s) supervising the research. A research assistantship for at least one-third time qualifies a student for remission of all tuition. The department offers a limited number of teaching assistantships. Graduate School fellowships are also available.

• Professional Development

Take advantage of the Graduate School's  professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

UW–Madison offers a wealth of resources intended to enrich your graduate studies and enhance your professional skills. Starting your very first year on campus, it is expected that you will take full advantage of the career and professional development resources that best fit your needs and support your goals. Since our alumni thrive not only in academia but also in industry, corporate, government, and non-profit arenas, we strive to be in tune, holistic, and innovative in our approach to meeting the diverse professional development needs of our students. By actively participating in these professional development opportunities, you will build the skills needed to succeed academically at UW–Madison and to thrive professionally in your chosen career.

• Learning Outcomes
• Articulates research problems, potentials, and limits with respect to theory and practice in soil science.
• Formulates ideas, concepts, designs, and/or techniques beyond the boundaries of soil science knowledge.
• Articulates testable hypotheses and conducts research that makes a substantive contribution to soil science.
• Communicates clearly in ways appropriate to the field, in oral and written forms, for scholarly and general public audiences.
• Fosters ethical and professional conduct, adhering to accepted standards such as that of the Soil Science Society of America.

Dr. Francisco Arriaga

Applied Soil Physics, Soil and Water Management and Conservation: Conservation agriculture systems; development of conservation tillage practices that enhance soil quality, soil hydraulic properties, and plant water use through the adoption of cover crops and non-inversion tillage for traditional cropping systems.

Dr. Nicholas Balster

Soil Ecology, Plant Physiological Ecology, and Education: Energy and material cycling in natural and anthropogenic soils including forests, grasslands, and urban ecosystems; stable isotope ecology; environmental education; nutrition management of nursery soils; tree physiology, production and response; ecosystem response to global change; urban ecosystem processes; invasive plant ecology; biodiversity.

Dr. Phillip Barak

Soil Chemistry and Plant Nutrition: Nutrient cycling; nutrient recovery from wastewater; molecular visualization of soil minerals and molecules; soil acidification.

Dr. Zachary Freedman

Soil microbiology, ecology and sustainability: Effects of environmental change on biogeochemical cycles; community ecology and trophic dynamics; forest soil ecology; soil organic matter dynamics; sustainable agroecosystems; bio-based product crop production on marginal lands.  

Dr. Alfred Hartemink

Pedology, Digital Soil Mapping: Pedology; soil carbon; digital soil mapping; tropical soils; history and philosophy of soil science.

Dr. Jingyi Huang

Soil Physics, Proximal and Remote Sensing, Soil Monitoring and Management, Digital Soil Mapping: Application of proximal and remote sensing technologies for understanding the movement of water, heat, gas, and solutes in soils across different spatial and temporal scales; application of physical and empirical models for monitoring, mapping, and managing soil changes due to natural processes and human activities.

Dr. Inna Popova

Environmental soil chemistry; understanding and mitigating the response of soil systems to the increased pressure of organic contaminants; application of biopesticides; development of novel separation and analyses methods for contaminants in environmental matrices.

Dr. Natasha Rayne

Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management: Manure placement, timing, and nitrogen credits; Organic soil amendments and nutrient cycling; Climate-smart and site-specific nitrogen management; Improvement of nitrogen use efficiency in cereal crop production.

Dr. Matthew Ruark

Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management: Soil fertility and management of grain biofuel, and vegetable crops; cover crop management; agricultural production and water quality; sustainability of dairy cropping systems; soil organic matter management.

Dr. Douglas Soldat

Turfgrass and Urban Soils—Turfgrass, urban soils, nutrient management, water resources, soil testing, landscape irrigation; soil contamination.

Dr. Thea Whitman

Soil Ecology, Microbiology, and Biogeochemistry: Soil microbial ecology; organic matter decomposition and carbon stabilization; global environmental change; stable isotopes; linking functional significance of microbial communities with ecosystem processes; fire effects on soil carbon and microbes; management and policy.

Dr. Xia Zhu-Barker

Soil Biogeochemistry, Land Management, and Environmental Sustainability:  Nitrogen and carbon biogeochemical cycles; greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions; nitrate leaching and runoff; innovative manure and nutrient utilization; composting; climate change mitigation and adaptation; ecosystem services and carbon markets; dairy environmental sustainability; novel methods in isotopic techniques; mechanistic exploration of soil-plant-microbe interactions; process-based modelling. The specific research topics include:

• Microbial and abiotic processes involved in the production and consumption of nitrogen and carbon gases (N 2 O, NO X , NH 3 , CO 2 , CH 4 )
• Land management practices (e.g., compost, fertilizer, cover crops, irrigation, and tillage) that change soil health, nitrogen use efficiency, crop productivity, nitrogen losses, carbon turnover.
• Process oriented modelling of carbon/nitrogen turnover in agricultural ecosystems.
• Environmental changes on the sustainability and resilience of agricultural ecosystems especially dairy production systems.
• Requirements

Contact Information

Soil and Environmental Sciences College of Agricultural and Life Sciences soils.wisc.edu

Carol Duffy, Graduate Admissions [email protected] 608-262-2633 Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences 1525 Observatory Dr., Madison, WI 53706

Julie Garvin, Graduate Coordinator [email protected] 608-262-2239 Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences 1525 Observatory Dr., Madison, WI 53706

Doug Soldat, Director of Graduate Study [email protected] Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences 1525 Observatory Dr., Madison, WI 53706

Graduate School [email protected]

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/images/cornell/logo35pt_cornell_white.svg" alt="phd in vegetable science"> Cornell University --> Graduate School

Integrative plant science m.p.s. (ithaca), field of study.

Integrative Plant Science

Program Description

The Master of Professional Studies in Integrative Plant Science is a one-year, STEM-designated, course-based master's degree program ideal for career-focused students. Students engage with foremost experts in plant and agricultural sciences while exploring one of our fourteen concentrations, which examine fundamental and applied aspects of plants, soils, microbes, and their interactions within natural and managed ecosystems.

A hallmark of the MPS program is the balanced portfolio of technical knowledge, analytical skills, and professional development built into the curriculum, designed to equip students with the skill set and knowledge necessary for careers in industry, government, or non-profit agencies.

Though similar to a Master of Science (MS) degree in its academic rigor, the MPS degree differs from a traditional MS degree in its structure and focus. An MS prepares students for a research-based career, with students developing an original research thesis over the course of two or three years. In contrast, the MPS degree is a one-year, course-based program, designed to impact knowledge and skills in a given area of concentration. Instead of a thesis or research project, MPS students complete a capstone project which allows them to apply their knowledge and skills in a practical manner.

Contact Information

124 Plant Science Building Cornell University Ithaca, NY  14853

Concentrations by Subject

• cannabis science and industry
• climate change and agriculture
• controlled environment agriculture
• field crop sciences
• geospatial applications
• hemp science
• plant biotechnology
• plant breeding
• plant protection
• plant systems
• public garden leadership
• soil science
• viticulture

Visit the Graduate School's Tuition Rates page.

Application Requirements and Deadlines

Spring: October 30

Fall: February 15

Applications may be submitted after the deadline upon request if space is available.

Requirements Summary:

• Complete  Cornell’s Online Graduate School Application
• Unofficial copies of your college and university transcripts
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
• Résumé or CV
• The  English Language Proficiency Requirement  for all applicants (Cornell does not accept PTE Academic scores or any other alternatives. An application cannot be considered complete until Cornell receives official scores from ETS or IELTS Academic.)

Learning Outcomes

• Describe plant biology at genetic, molecular, physiological, and organismal levels to integrate plant functionalities in a hierarchical manner, from individual cells to the biosphere.
• Apply major concepts and principles from multiple areas of life science to create plant-related solutions to problems such as access to food, agriculture in a changing climate,and pest challenges.
• Contribute to the application of the plant science knowledge base toward critical problems in national and worldwide industries and economies.
• Formulate original questions about plants into empirically testable hypotheses, collect and analyze data obtained from original research, and apply experimental data to advance the field and solve real-world problems.
• Discuss natural and managed ecosystems at local, regional, and global levels and evaluate their effects on environmental sustainability and human health and well-being.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the ethical principles and global consequences associated with past, present and future advances in plant science, demonstrate an appreciation for the range of cultures, values and perspectives of living in a global community, and engage in actions that reflect civic responsibility.
• Identify suitable career paths requiring skills of plant science and communicate information about the breadth of issues in plant science to diverse audiences in oral and written formats.
• Deliver a high quality problem-solving capstone project such as an action project, the development of a plan to address a pertinent problem, the development of novel outreach materials or methodologies, or the development, execution, or analysis of research data appropriate to the profession.

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Ph.D. in Horticulture (Fruit Science)

• About Course

Ph.D. in Horticulture is a doctorate degree program in horticulture. It is a specialized degree that provides students with the necessary skills and knowledge to conduct research and write a thesis. Students learn about the biology, genomics, and plant breeding of fruits and vegetables. A Ph.D. in horticulture opens up a variety of career options. It is an ideal degree for individuals who want to study a specific area of horticulture.

The program is three years long. It is a multidisciplinary degree program that teaches the science of plant production and propagation. It focuses on crops and fruits of all kinds. The course covers crop farming, physiology , genetic engineering, and plant breeding . In addition to plant and fruit science, the degree also teaches the skills to manage agricultural operations. This is a hands-on Ph.D. program that requires extensive field experience.

The program teaches students to conduct original research, apply current science, and integrate horticulture systems concepts across several disciplines. Students learn how to apply the scientific methods and integrate horticultural systems concepts from various fields. The program also provides hands-on experience through teaching assistantships and extension outreach assistantships. The degree is recognized by the industry for its focus on the application of practical knowledge in the field.

Eligibility:

Candidates who want to take admission in Ph.D. must have a post-graduate degree in Horticulture or its relevant subject with at least 55% marks from a recognized university and must have passed the national level entrance examination or university level entrance examination. National level entrance exams like UGC NET / UGC CSIR NET / GATE / SLET or University entrance exams consist of written tests and personal interviews.

Benefits of Ph.D. in Horticulture (Fruit Science)

A Ph.D. in horticulture with an emphasis in fruit science can lead to a number of lucrative career opportunities. The program is designed to produce highly skilled individuals in the field. Graduates of the program can enter a variety of industries including consulting, research, and government agencies. They are often offered positions with leading recruiting firms. A Ph.D. in horticulture can also lead to employment with the government.

A Ph.D. in horticulture with a focus on fruit science can open up a variety of careers. The Ph.D. degree in horticulture focuses on the study of different types of plants and their physiology and genetics. Students will also learn about the production and decoration of orchard farms. The program can develop students with a wide range of technical skills and leadership qualities.

The program offers students a specialized knowledge of plants and the principles of landscape gardening. Once they graduate, they can pursue careers as gardeners, horticulture engineers, and advisors. If they wish to become a teacher, horticulturists can explore this field. This exciting field is also popular with children, as the demand for fruits and vegetables increases every year.

Career and future scope of Ph.D. degree in Horticulture with Fruit science specialization

Graduates with a Ph.D. degree in horticulture with a concentration in fruit science will have a broad range of options. Many positions require research-based expertise, and students may work with other scientists and engineers in the field to develop new products. A Ph.D. in fruit science will enable them to apply their knowledge to a variety of industries, including agriculture, forestry, and viticulture.

With an advanced degree, horticulturists can work in a variety of industries, from agriculture to biotechnology. In the food industry, horticulturists can work in the public or private sectors, earning more money and more benefits than their counterparts. A doctorate in horticulture will also allow students to contribute to the field of nutrition, which will only increase as the population continues to grow.

After completing a Ph.D., horticulturists can pursue positions in a variety of industries, including the public and private sectors. Those who work for government organizations will enjoy higher salaries and various benefits. In the private sector, horticulturists can work in the food and nutrition industry, as the world's population continues to increase, and many people are seeking more nutritious diets.

Course Duration:

The Ph.D. Horticulture courses are a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 5 in duration. This depends on the university offering the course.

Course Fees:

The average fee for Ph.D. Horticulture degree is between INR 50000 and INR 500000.

Eligibility

A master's degree with Horticulture from any recognized agriculture university in education + the candidates should have cleared the Entrance test conducted by the respective university

Type of Course

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Sea Beet: A Nutritious and Versatile Vegetable Explained by Nutrition Professionals

Benefits by livia dickson chen, phd in nutrition · 11 years of experience · brazil.

• Sea beet helps combat cancer and tumors. The juice and decoction are used to help in fighting off tumors, leukemia , and other forms of cancer such as breast cancer , esophagus cancer, cancer in glands, head, intestines, leg, lip, lung, prostate, rectum, spleen, stomach, and uterus. Some bioactive compounds such as betacyanin and anthocyanin are important in the exchange of substances of cancer cells. The oxidation of amines and choline presents in sea beet produces betaine, whose absence induces tumor. Also, sea beet helps to normalise hormone levels. Some types of cancer such as breast cancer are related to hormonal imbalance, so the possible hormonal regulation of sea beet is beneficial.
• Sea beet helps with thyroid health. Sea beets are source of iodine, an essential mineral for proper functioning of the body, as it is essential for the formation of hormones T3 and T4, which are thyroid hormones related to cell metabolism, in addition to being related to growth and development.

→ See side effects of Sea beet from this expert

→ Love Sea beet? Get nutritional facts, tips from health experts, and more

Benefits by Luciana M. Cherubin

Bachelor in nutrition · 5 years of experience · argentina.

• Sea beet helps in the normal function of the thyroid. Edible seaweeds are some of the most sources of iodine, and sea beets are one of them. Iodine is important for the normal functioning of the thyroid.
• Sea beet promotes regular bowel movement as it is high in fiber.

Benefits by Cagla E. Kayma

Bachelor of science nutrition and dietetics · 7 years of experience · uk.

• Sea beet can significantly lower blood pressure after only a few hours of consumption. Sea beets are full of vitamins, minerals and medicinal plant compounds, they are low in calories and high in fiber, folate, manganese and dietary nitrates.

This is for information purpose only, and should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. These are opinions from an external panel of individual doctors, and not to be considered as opinion of Microsoft. Please seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns.

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