Program Admission

1. Submit your online application here. 

2. Once an application is complete, the file will be considered for admission and students deemed competitive by the MCLS admissions committee will be asked to participate in phone/video conference interviews. These typically occur two to three weeks after the admission deadline (see below). Please note that inquiries regarding the potential for acceptance will be addressed, but only after the MCLS admission committee meets to review all completed applications, approximately two to three weeks after the admission deadline.

3. Applicants that are chosen for admission to the MCLS program will then be asked to complete the final application step through the University of Wyoming Admissions Department. This latter step requires receipt of hard copies of official transcripts and test scores along with the completion of several additional forms. Students will then be officially notified by the Admissions Department of their acceptance into the MCLS program.

We encourage students to submit applications during the fall semester of each calendar year. For full consideration, applications must be completed by no later than January 1st. However, provided that additional slots are still available, we will continue to review new applications through the spring. For any additional questions regarding admissions and application status please contact mcls@uwyo.edu.

Things to consider when completing the online application:

• As an MCLS applicant you are NOT required to pay the processing fee and should ignore any solicitation to do so on the application website.

• Your resume/CV should list credentials including education, research, publications, and relevant work experience.

• Your personal statement should describe your motivation for pursuing a Ph.D. in the molecular sciences and your reasons for applying specifically to the MCLS program at the University of Wyoming.

• GREs are strongly recommended but are not strictly mandatory for admission. For most applicants, however, GREs will be an important criterion for judging student potential and are a necessary component of a competitive application. We therefore encourage all applicants to upload GRE transcripts and scores. For international students, TOEFL/IELTS scores are also strongly encouraged.

The MCLS program challenges students to develop a deep mastery of the foundational principles across key fields, including biochemistry and molecular biology. In addition to building a strong scientific base, students will engage in dynamic courses that integrate concepts from laboratory work, seminars, and specialized classes, creating a cohesive understanding of complex topics. A key focus of the program is honing the ability to critically analyze and interpret scientific literature. For students with a strong background in core areas, the program offers flexibility in course requirements. Typically, students will complete formal coursework within one to two years, ensuring a focused and immersive educational experience.

For more details, you can view or download this curriculum document or you can find more information in the University Catalog here.

A productive research experience that results in at least several high quality publications is the benchmark objective for all MCLS students. MCLS students are expected to develop the necessary skills to become creative, thoughtful, critical, and independent scientists. In addition, MCLS students will acquire practical and marketable skills and a functional knowledge base to facilitate future success at the postdoctoral, academic, and industry levels.

Rotations: Creative scientific exploration kicks off immediately with rotations in faculty laboratories of the students choosing. Students will carry out four eight-week rotations during which time they will sample diverse research settings, while learning universally valuable techniques in the molecular and cellular life sciences. Near the end of the fourth rotation (early spring), students will chose a lab for future dissertation research, with the consent of an academic advisor and the curriculum committee.

Dissertation research: Students will typically carry out the bulk of their research in a single laboratory, although collaborations between two or more laboratories are also feasible and encouraged, if appropriate. Although dissertation research is largely defined by individual effort on the part of the student, a number of mechanisms will aid MCLS students throughout their tenure including a handpicked dissertation committee, the committee on curriculum, and numerous student and faculty colleagues. As stated above, the primary emphasis will be on helping students towards the completion of well-defined, high-impact projects that result in publications in quality peer-reviewed journals. 

A typical MCLS student will adhere to the time course indicated below. Obviously, some variability will exist depending on many factors, the most important of which is the focused efforts of the student themselves.

Year 1:

• Complete required courses

• Carry out four laboratory rotations

• Choose a laboratory for dissertation research

• Pass a general knowledge assessment exam

• Begin dissertation research

• Choose an appropriate dissertation committee

Year 2:

• Complete additional elective courses

• Continue with dissertation research

• Gain experience as a teaching assistant

• Pass a qualifying exam

• Hold first meeting with dissertation committee

Years 3 - 4:

• Continue with dissertation research

• Hold annual meetings with dissertation committee

• Present research accomplishments before department

Year 5:

• Complete dissertation research with consent of advisor and committee

• Carry out thesis defense