PhD in Department of Biological Sciences

Biological sciences examine living organisms across scales, from molecules and cells to organisms and ecosystems, using methods drawn from genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Researchers in this field ask questions about how organisms develop, function, adapt, and interact with their environments, often combining laboratory experimentation with computational and quantitative analysis. The Department of Biological Sciences at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), located in Yuseong-gu, South Korea, offers a doctoral program in this discipline with instruction delivered in English. Doctoral candidates typically specialize in an area such as molecular biology, genetics, neuroscience, or ecology, conducting original laboratory or field research under faculty supervision that forms the basis of a dissertation. Because modern biology increasingly relies on large datasets and computational tools, doctoral training often includes methods for analyzing genomic, proteomic, or imaging data alongside traditional wet-lab techniques. Graduates from biological sciences doctoral programs pursue careers in academic research, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, government research institutes, and science policy or communication roles. The program spans four years, with intakes beginning in September and March (February for MBA cohorts). Being situated within a national science and technology institute gives doctoral students in biological sciences access to strong computing, engineering, and materials science resources, useful for interdisciplinary projects such as bioengineering or computational biology. Since instruction and research supervision are conducted in English, applicants are expected to meet the university's English proficiency requirements along with the scientific background typical for doctoral admission.