169 Best Natural Sciences PhD Degree Programs for 2024

We offer PhD and MS degrees in 6 programs: Atmospheric Sciences, Marine Biology & Ecology, Environmental Science & Policy, Marine Geosciences, Meteorology & Physical Oceanography, and Ocean Sciences. We offer highly competitive stipend rates, tuition, and health insurance coverage for our incoming PhD students as part of a fully-funded 5-year Graduate Assistantship. Finally, as part of our revitalized connections across colleges and to take advantage of our unique research facilities, we offer an MS degree in both Ocean Engineering and Sustainable Business. Our graduate students also take advantage of nearby NOAA facilities including the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, and the National Hurricane Center. PhD Assistantships can be found here: https://graduate.earth.miami.edu/admissions/phd-assistanships/index.html GRE not required!

Saint Louis University’s chemistry Ph.D. program offers specializations, including traditional areas of analytical, physical, organic and inorganic chemistry, as well as cross-disciplinary areas of materials and biological chemistry. Students must complete intensive research culminating in a dissertation.

Geoinformatics is a field of study involving the science and technology dealing with the acquisition, storage, processing production, presentation, and dissemination of geoinformation using the theory and practical implications of geodesy within information science infrastructure. The core of geoinformatics is geospatial analytics, a branch of data science that focuses on developing cutting-edge technologies supporting processes of acquiring, analyzing, and visualizing geospatial Big Data. Advances in various location-aware technologies, (e.g., GPS, the Internet of Things (IoT), mobile sensors, remote sensing), and ever-increasing time-stamped, location-based data from sensors as diverse as satellites, drones, and smartphones have created unprecedented demand and opportunities for code-savvy geospatial professionals with the ability to automate processing, visualizing and finding patterns in both structured and unstructured data.

Graduate work in chemical and biomolecular engineering provides an opportunity for students to further their studies and research. Our graduate program uses cutting edge tools, and resources so that we can contribute to shaping new methodologies for chemical and biomolecular engineering research. We help provide coursework and guided research for the M.S. and Ph.D. students. This exposure allows students to have core principles augmented that students receive as undergraduates. Their research gives unparalleled experience in problem solving, a key component to challenging issues of today for a better tomorrow.

The Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials offers graduate studies leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in polymers and coatings science. The departmental research bridges between basic and applied research in the field of polymers and coatings.

The Cellular and Molecular Biology program at North Dakota State University program provides interdisciplinary training of graduate students in the areas of biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology.

The Department of Microbiological Sciences offers graduate study leading to Ph.D. degrees in Microbiology. Faculty in the department have expertise in microbiomes, microbial genomics, biotechnology, synthetic biology, molecular biology, virology, immunology, microbial physiology, and discipline-based education research. The Ph.D. in Microbiology is an outcomes-based program focused on developing research project leaders.

The Department of Biological Sciences offers graduate study leading to Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The Doctor of Philosophy degree is available in Biological Sciences, Genomics, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Environmental and Conservation Sciences, and STEM Education.

The Department of Plant Sciences offers graduate studies leading to the M.S. degrees in Cereal Science, Plant Sciences, and Horticulture, and to a Ph.D. degree in Cereal Science or Plant Sciences, with an optional Program of Emphasis in Plant Breeding and Genetics. Specialized academic and research training in Plant Sciences is available in plant breeding and genetics, weed science, biotechnology, and field and forage crop production and management. Areas of specialization in Horticulture and Forestry include breeding and genetics, biotechnology, physiology, propagation, sports and urban turfgrass management, and production and management of horticultural crops such as woody plants, potatoes, vegetables, and herbaceous ornamentals. Areas of specialization in Cereal Science may involve research in the areas of carbohydrates, enzymes, legumes, and other northern-grown crops; barley malting and brewing; wheat milling, baking, and pasta processing. Each study area is designed to provide students with comprehension of the discipline and of relevant regional and global-community social issues. The Department of Plant Sciences is located in Loftsgard Hall, which provides a state-of-the-art facility for interdisciplinary research in plant sciences, ranging from basic studies and biotechnology to the more traditional applied areas. Facilities for cereal science research are located in Harris Hall. These facilities include analytical laboratories for grain quality research, baking, milling, malting and brewing, and pasta and noodle processing. State-of-the-art greenhouses and extensive growth chamber facilities are also available, as are 100 acres of field research land adjacent to the Plant Science Complex. An additional 500 acres of research land are located near the North Dakota State University campus. A horticultural farm only 25 miles west of campus has an extensive arboretum. Excellent supporting disciplines located nearby, or in the Plant Science Complex, include Soil Science, Botany, Food Safety, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology. The Department of Plant Sciences encourages interdisciplinary research, and students frequently tailor their research program to meet their interests by working with faculty in one or more of the supporting disciplines. Graduate student numbers per faculty member are limited, so the student gets adequate personal attention and works closely with their adviser in research. The final selection of the adviser will be made on the basis of the student's interest, availability of space in the researcher's laboratory, and a common desire of the student and professor to work together.

Students in the program will perform advanced study, training and research in areas that focus on functional genomics, high-throughput phenotyping, and computation analysis of genomic and phenomic data. This will lead to an understanding of the many -omics fields interact to understand how a phenotype is expressed.

The doctoral program in astrophysical sciences and technology focuses on the underlying physics of phenomena beyond the Earth and on the development of the technologies, instruments, data analysis, and modeling techniques that will enable the next major strides in the field.

Color science research at RIT encompasses such diverse fields as medical data visualization, computer graphics and animation, art conservation, spectral and spatial measurements of materials, color printing, digital photography, motion picture and television, and modeling of our perceptions for use in defining color quality.

The Ph.D. in imaging science signifies high achievement in scholarship and independent investigation in the diverse aspects of imaging science. Students contribute their fundamental body of knowledge in science and engineering that is associated with this field of study.

RIT’s cognitive science Ph.D. provides an interdisciplinary study of the human mind that combines insights from psychology, computer science, linguistics, neuroscience, augmented reality, and philosophy. Students in the Ph.D. in cognitive science conduct research on human perception, cognition, action, and language with a focus on the representation and processing of information within biological and computational frameworks.

The Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN) is much more than an academic unit. Our dynamic institution lives at the intersection of research and execution, the catalyst for breakthrough innovations that create high-impact academic, industry, and government research outcomes. We offer rigorous academic programs, as well as cutting-edge facilities and equipment that can help you achieve your own breakthroughs. JSNN has six research focus areas —nanobioscience, nanometrology, nanomaterials (with special emphasis on nanocomposite materials), nanobioelectronics, nanoenergy, and computational nanotechnology. Our mission is to forge partnerships with scientists and researchers from industry, academia, and government, working together to create impactful scientific research that drives change. Whether you’re looking to further your education or create a dynamic research collaboration, JSNN is here to partner with you. Come and explore the possibilities with us.

The Ph.D. in Chemistry degree program (75 semester credit hours minimum beyond the baccalaureate degree) focuses on innovation and problem-solving in interdisciplinary, cutting-edge research areas such as organic and inorganic materials, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and polymer chemistry.

The Ph.D. program in cognition and neuroscience offers advanced study and research training for students seeking to become leading scientists and scholars in the field. Research in cognition and neuroscience encompasses all aspects of cognition, including studies of perception, memory, reasoning, decision-making, neuroplasticity, and neuro-engineering.

The Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering program prepares individuals to perform original, leading-edge research in the broad areas of communications and signal processing; mixed-signal IC design; digital systems; power electronics; microelectronics and nanoelectronics; optics; optoelectronics; light-wave devices and systems; RF and microwave systems; biomedical applications of electrical engineering; VLSI design; power electronics; renewable energy; vehicular technology, control theory, robotics, and wireless communications.

The Ph.D. Geosciences degree program provides a curriculum that is designed to be relevant to many of today’s career prospects, as well as the opportunity to interact in a research context with faculty. The Ph.D. in Geosciences degree emphasizes research in distinct specialties in geosciences and is designed to prepare students for positions in the energy or environmental professions in industry or government, or for positions in academia.

The mission of the Ph.D. in Geospatial Information Sciences degree program is to cultivate innovative researchers capable of advancing the frontiers of knowledge in the geospatial information sciences through improved theories, new technologies, innovative methodologies, sophisticated quantitative analyses, and integrative applications.