PhD in Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology

You can research functional genomics, ecological genetics, gene expression profiling at the whole-genome scale, and genetic improvement of trees for sustainable biofuel.

Discover and characterize genes affecting wood biomass yield and quality with Victor Busov. Research the evolution of adaptive and species-specific characters with Oliver Gailing. Use combinatorial approaches to identify genes that regulate biological traits with Hairong Wei. The College has long-standing research collaborations with forest biotechnology industries and has received over $10 million in research funding from government agencies.

Our 6,500 square feet of lab space and 2,000 square feet of greenhouse space provide ample opportunities for research. Our facilities include DNA sequencing and microarray labs, metabolome and genome profiling labs, tissue culture and tree transformation labs, and ecological genomics labs. Study comparative gene expression and conduct genomic analysis using functional genomics instrumentation in our molecular biology facilities.

Michigan Technological University began as the Michigan Mining School in Houghton in 1885. Established by the state of Michigan to train mining engineers to better operate the local copper mines, the school started with four faculty members and 23 students on the second floor of a building on Montezuma Avenue in Houghton. The building, operated as the Houghton Fire Hall for decades, is now a nightclub and restaurant.

The Michigan Mining School and the subsequent Michigan College of Mines trained nationally and internationally recognized mining engineers. Our first president, Marshman E. Wadsworth (1887-98), oversaw creation of a strong faculty, movement to our present campus location, and a college mission.

At Michigan Technological University, our 7,000+ crazy smart students build and launch nanosatellites, make prosthetic ankles better, and connect robots with kids. This year alone, Michigan Tech undergraduates will spend 126,000 hours working alongside faculty mentors on paid research. Our 18 centers and institutes are armed with $80.4 million in research expenditures. Huskies go on to earn the ninth highest starting salaries in the country at $65,000 (median). It's a future like no other.