IB is a unique interdisciplinary Ph.D. program where biology is at the interface of research that cuts across traditional departmental boundaries.
Today’s job market and research pursuits demand the ability to work on interdisciplinary teams. The questions being addressed require multidimensional approaches that can be accomplished only by working with a broad knowledge base. Thus, people who can interface with diverse scientists and engineers are highly sought after, both in private industry and in academic settings.
The IB Ph.D. program is specifically designed so that Ph.D. students work in interdisciplinary teams from the inception of their studies, both learning how to work and communicate with colleagues across an array of disciplines. Students and their faculty mentors design personalized coursework and research training experiences that draw from expertise across various disciplines both on and off-campus, encouraging novel approaches to bio-based research challenges.
IB complements other bio-related graduate training opportunities at UA, such as those in the College of Polymer Science & Engineering, the School of Nursing, and the College of Engineering.
Philosophy and rationale for the Integrated Bioscience Program
Biological problems rank among the most pressing that face our society by virtue of their scientific importance and because of their consequences for national health, the economy, and environmental stability. Although reductionist biology has been successful in dissecting the diversity of life, most major advances in understanding complex systems have been made by interpreting results across levels of biological organization (molecular to ecosystem levels) and crossing the boundaries between biology and other disciplines.
Importantly, major discoveries and new products and solutions in bioscience become possible because of recent advances in other fields of science and math. The study of complex biological systems is best approached by incorporating many perspectives, bringing together a diversity of complementary disciplines to unravel the complexity that is biology. Therefore, the 21st century will likely be known as the era of integrated science, engineering, and innovative technology and those trained to work across traditional disciplinary lines will be the most successful in this new age.
Integrated Bioscience research areas
Biogeochemistry and Environmental Bioscience
Biological Materials
Biomimicry
Bioinformatics
Biomedical Science and Bioengineering