Washington State University at Vancouver

What you'll study

Doctoral candidates pursue advanced research projects within the laboratories of WSU Vancouver faculty. Research is supported by state-of-the-art facilities and is frequently interdisciplinary, spanning biological and environmental sciences. Students gain hands-on experience in laboratory research and typically combine research with teaching responsibilities as part of their training.

Entry requirements

Applicants must secure a faculty mentor at WSU Vancouver prior to applying; review faculty research pages and contact potential mentors to discuss fit. After a mentor invites an applicant to join the lab, the applicant must notify the natural sciences graduate programs coordinator and then complete the online graduate application. On the online form applicants should select WSU Pullman and explicitly name their intended Vancouver faculty mentor in the statement of purpose so materials route to the Vancouver campus. Required application materials include three letters of recommendation submitted electronically, transcripts (official electronic transcripts for U.S. institutions can be routed to grad.sch.transcript@wsu.edu; unofficial copies are acceptable for initial review), a statement of purpose identifying the target faculty mentor, and a current CV or resume. TOEFL scores are required only for international applicants and must be sent from ETS using Institutional Code 4705. To speed evaluation, applicants may email or mail PDF copies of application materials directly to the natural sciences graduate programs coordinator at the Vancouver campus address.

Career prospects

Graduates complete doctoral research that positions them for careers in academic research and teaching, and for scientific roles in medical, environmental and research institutions across the Pacific Northwest. The programme’s regional collaborations offer access to institutions and networks relevant to careers in plant biology and related environmental sciences.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

WSU Vancouver provides robust financial support for doctoral students, including multiyear stipends that combine teaching and research assistantships and full tuition waivers. These funding packages are integrated with the program to support sustained research training.