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Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Genetics

For information on the applications, please visit the Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences website.

For application criteria: https://fbe.metu.edu.tr/en/molecular-biology-and-genetics

Be sure to contact the instructor you want to work with before applying.

Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Genetics

The objective of the graduate program is to train the students to carry out advanced and high-technology research in areas. The program covers molecular biology applications such as molecular genetics, ecological and evolutionary genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, cancer biology, plant sciences, molecular biophysics, biomaterials, molecular pharmacology and toxicology, biomedical techniques, biotechnology, neurophysiology, and ecology.

Course List

Compulsory Courses
Course Code Course Name METU Credit Contact (h/w) Lab (h/w) ECTS
BIOL558 Bioethics and Research Methods 0 0 2 10.0
GENE600 Ph.D. Thesis 0 0 0 130.0
GENE601 Seminars in Molecular Biology and Genetics I 0 0 2 10.0
h/w: hours per week
7 elective course(s)* approved by the Department of Biological Sciences. Total minimum credit: 21

Rules and Regulations for Ph.D. Qualifying Exam (QE)

The Qualification Exam includes a written project proposal followed by a brief written exam (considered as the written exam) and an oral defense (considered as the oral exam). The project proposal should be independent of the candidate’s research project and independent of any ongoing/past/under preparation projects of the candidate’s lab.

Both student and advisor must write a signed declaration that the proposed topic has no overlap with the PhD research topic or ongoing lab grants.

The exam is designed to assess the Ph.D. candidate's ability to come up with an independent hypothesis-derived research question. The Qualification Exam is conducted in English in its entirety and is held twice a year, in May and November.

  • March / Sept: Students submit the names of potential jury members (5 from ODTÜ, 4 from outside) to the committee (esyildiz@metu.edu.tr).
  • March / Sept: Committee evaluates the jury members and informs student (within 2 days).
  • April / October: 4 weeks later, student submits project proposal. Proposal sent to jury (3 from ODTÜ, 2 from outside). The jury members grade the proposal and generate two questions that are sent to the committee.
  • May / November: The candidate takes a closed-book written exam based on the two questions sent by the jury members. The jury members submit evaluations (grade out of 100).
  • May / November: Committee informs student. Pass grade: 70/100. Oral exam held in last week of May/Nov.

The evaluation includes critical assessment of the written project proposal and oral exam.

Written Project Proposal Evaluation (Total 100 points)
  • Background and Literature Review - 25 points
  • Scientific and Technological Excellence - 20 points
  • Methodology - 30 points
  • Work-Time Schedule - 5 points
  • Risk Management - 10 points
  • Overall quality - 10 points

Two questions on the proposal will be set by the jury members and the student will answer in a closed book exam. The answers to these questions will be evaluated by the jury members. Minimum passing grade is 70/100.

Oral Examination

The oral examination evaluates theoretical background and analytical skills. The jury independently grades the exam.

If mean grade is < 70/100, the student fails. If a student fails only the oral exam, they may submit the same proposal for the next round.

  • Length & Format: Max 10 pages (Arial, 11pt, 1.5 spacing). Excludes timeline and references.
  • Duration: 3 years.
Required Sections:
  1. Abstract of the Project
  2. Background and Literature Review
  3. Scientific and Technological Excellence
  4. Methodology
  5. Risk Management
Qualification Committee Members
  • Prof. Dr. Sreeparna Banerjee
  • Prof. Dr. Çağdaş Devrim Son
  • Prof. Dr. Meryem Beklioğlu
  • Prof. Dr. Tülin Yanık
  • Assist. Prof. Dr. Didem Ambarlı

Ph.D. Thesis Proposal Defense (TPD) Workflow

Download Guidelines (PDF) 

Mandatory Timeline: A student who successfully passes the Comprehensive Exam must appoint a Thesis Steering Committee (TIC) within 1 month and take the oral proposal defense no later than 6 months following the exam.

Step 1

Committee Setup

Appointed within 1 month after comprehensive exam.

Step 2

Report Submission

Delivered at least 15 days prior to the oral defense.

Step 3

Oral Proposal Defense

Conducted within maximum 6 months following the exam.

Step 4

Institute Notification

Decision submitted to Institute within 3 business days.

Decision & Procedural Workflow

Committee Appointment & Oral Defense Setup (Max. 6 Months) The written Thesis Proposal Report must be distributed to members at least 15 days prior. 1ST THESIS PROPOSAL DEFENSE REVISION* Revision Granted (1 Month) Amends proposal and re-defends. 2ND PROPOSAL DEFENSE REJECTED ✓ APPROVED ✓ APPROVED ✕ REJECTED Initial Defense Rejection May change advisor/topic (New TIC) Advisor & Thesis Topic Changed? Yes New Advisor / Topic Re-defends within 6 months. No Same Advisor & Topic Re-defends within 3 months. REPEAT PROPOSAL DEFENSE ✓ APPROVED Second Rejection Academic Dismissal 1. Committee decision & abstracts (EN/TR) submitted to Institute (Within 3 Business Days). 2. Steering Committee meets biannually (January–June and July–December). 3. Formal defense report forms (30-B) forwarded by Department (EABD) to Institute. 4. Documents reviewed and endorsed by Institute Director or Deputy Directors. 5. Certified records delivered to Registrar's Office (ÖİDB) for transcript registration.

Procedural Guidelines & Responsibilities

1. Student Obligations & Defense Scenarios
  • Oral Proposal Defense: Once appointed, the student defends their thesis proposal orally before the committee within maximum 6 months.
  • Revision Outcome: A student granted a revision must amend the proposal and re-defend within 1 month. Granted exclusively during the first defense.
  • Rejection & New Topic/Advisor: May select a new advisor/topic. In this case, the defense takes place within 6 months.
  • Rejection & Same Topic: If continuing with the same advisor and topic, the defense must occur within 3 months.
  • A student whose thesis proposal is rejected for the second time is dismissed from the graduate program.
2. Committee Schedule & Administrative Processing
  • Periodic Progress Meetings: The Thesis Steering Committee convenes twice per calendar year (January–June and July–December periods).
  • Written Report Submission: The candidate submits a written progress report to committee members at least 1 month prior to each meeting.
  • Department Administration: Report forms (30-B) and summary attachments are submitted by the Department to the Institute.
  • Institute Endorsement: Endorsed records are communicated to the Registrar's Office (ÖİDB) for permanent transcript entry.
Academic Calendar Notice: Comprehensive exams, proposal defenses, and biannual review meetings must strictly adhere to the deadlines announced in the official Academic Calendar.

Formation of Ph.D. Thesis Defense Examination Committee

The following rules for the formation of thesis defense committees were accepted by the University Graduate Committee.

Ph.D. Examination Committee Composition
  1. Thesis defense examination committees consist of 5 members. The members include the thesis supervisor and two “thesis advisory committee” members, one of whom must be from another university. For the remaining two, one of the members must be from another university.
  2. The co-supervisors could attend the thesis advisory committee meetings, and defense examinations as observers only but cannot participate in decision-making.

All the members must hold academic positions (at least instructor position with Ph.D. degree).

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