Researchers in a lab

Graduate Groups

Graduate groups combine the talents and skills of faculty from a broad range of research areas to allow learning from a network of diverse scholars to afford students opportunities outside traditional department structures. 

  • Animal Behavior (ANB)
  • The Davis campus has a distinguished history of teaching and research in the life sciences including animal behavior. The Animal Behavior Graduate Group is an interdepartmental program in which faculty members from several departments, schools, and colleges participate. Members of the Group employ a wide range of animal species in their research as well as a diversity of theoretical and methodological approaches.
    Degrees Offered:

    M.S. Plan II 
    under special circumstances only
    Ph.D. Plan C 

  • Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (BMCDB)
  • Students gain advanced knowledge of biochemistry; molecular biology; cell and developmental biology; as well as interdisciplinary approaches that combine biology, genetics, chemistry, physics, engineering, math and/or computational approaches. Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching in fundamental biological problems at the organismal, cellular and molecular levels. Please note: While an M.S. degree may be obtained while pursuing a Ph.D. degree, only Ph.D. applications will be accepted.
    Degrees Offered:

    M.S. Plan I 
    under special circumstances only
    M.S. Plan II 
    under special circumstances only
    Ph.D. Plan B

  • Biophysics (BPH)
  • Students gain advanced knowledge of the physical laws governing the properties and interaction of biomolecules and cells; structural biology; membrane dynamics; ion transport; electron transfer; nuclei acid; applied optics; computational biology; cellular regulation; and imaging. Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching in biophysics.
    Degrees Offered:

    M.S. Plan I
    under special circumstances only
    M.S. Plan II
    under special circumstances only
    Ph.D. Plan B

  • Integrative Genetics and Genomics (IGG)
  • Students in Integrative Genetics and Genomics experience an unsurpassed breadth of research and instructional opportunities from the most fundamental to applied aspects of genetics. They gain advanced knowledge of the application of genomic, molecular, and classical genetic approaches to study model organisms, a broad range of native and agricultural species, humans, and companion animals. Our graduates leave our program with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching in genetics.
    Degrees Offered:

    M.S. Plan I
    M.S. Plan II
    Ph.D. Plan B

  • Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology (MCIP)
  • The MCIP Graduate Group offers a comprehensive program of courses and outstanding research opportunities leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, and it participates in joint Ph.D./M.D. and Ph.D./D.V.M. programs. The campuswide nature of the group provides the program with exceptional diversity and accommodates students with a broad spectrum of interests, including interdisciplinary approaches. These include the general areas of cellular/molecular physiology and systemic physiology as well as the more specialized cardiovascular physiology, comparative physiology, endocrinology, exercise physiology, neurophysiology, reproductive physiology, and the physiology of domestic animals.
    Degrees Offered:

    M.S. Plan I
    M.S. Plan II
    Ph.D. Plan B

  • Neuroscience (NSC)
  • Students gain advanced knowledge of molecular biophysics of channels and receptors through motor control; neuroethology; retinal organization; development of visual systems; cortical organization; and cognitive functions. Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching regarding nerve cells and the ways they are organized to form nervous systems that mediate behavior.
    Degrees Offered:

    M.S. Plan I 
    under special circumstances only
    M.S. Plan II 
    under special circumstances only
    Ph.D. Plan B

  • Plant Biology (PBI)
  • The Plant Biology Graduate Group at UC Davis offers interdisciplinary training in plant biology. The vertical organization of research in the group allows students to study plants at levels of inquiry ranging from molecules to populations. Although research training is focused primarily on acquiring basic knowledge, a diverse plant science community on campus allows opportunities for exposure to and participation in research with applied goals.
    Degrees Offered:

    M.S. Plan I 
    under special circumstances only
    M.S. Plan II 
    under special circumstances only
    Ph.D. Plan B

  • Population Biology (PBG)
  • Students gain advanced knowledge of population growth; structure and dynamics; population interactions; community ecology; food webs; biogeography; behavioral and physiological ecology; life history strategies; systematics; evolution; population and quantitative genetics; and genomics. Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching in ecology, evolution, population genetics and systematics.
    Degrees Offered:

    M.S. Plan I
    under special circumstances only
    M.S. Plan II
    under special circumstances only
    Ph.D. Plan B

***Only the Integrative Genetics and Genomics and Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology graduate groups allow admission into M.S. programs. All other CBS graduate groups allow students to exit a Ph.D. program with an M.S. if they choose not to complete a Ph.D.