Interdepartmental Toxicology Graduate Program - M.S./Ph.D.

Student Selection Process and Statistics

The Interdepartment Toxicology Program oversees the Toxicology graduate (Ph.D. and M.S.) major at Iowa State University. All applications are reviewed in their entirety. We do not have minimum GRE scores, however we do require the scores. All domestic applications are reviewed upon receipt of the complete application. All international applications are reviewed during the month of February.

The process, after the complete application is received, is review by the Toxicology Supervisory Committee. If the Toxicology Supervisory Committee indicates that an application is acceptable, information on that student is provided to the toxicology faculty. Faculty then can indicate if they are interested in the student. If a faculty member or members indicate an interest in a domestic student, we will generally invite that student for an interview. After interviewing with faculty, a decision is made regarding admission. We admit students directly to labs to work with specific major professors and we admit students to participate in rotations. Students who participate in rotations can spend 4 to 8 weeks in a laboratory before deciding on a major professor and research project. Faculty members must indicate an interest in a student, domestic or international, before we proceed with admission.

Statistics as of September 2007

• 25 toxicology majors (and 4 toxicology minors)
• 11 female students; 14 male students
• 11 domestic students; 14 international students
• 2 Under-represented students
• International students are from: Cameroon, India, China, Trinidad, Ghana
• Fellowships: Three of our present graduate students are supported by either USDA National Needs Fellowships or George Washington Carver Fellowships.
• With the exception of one student, all are supported by either RAs or TAs or are employees of the University.
• One student is Ph.D./DVM track
• Graduation: On average five students graduate each year
• The students who joined our program in the Fall of 2008 are from Virginia Commonwealth University (VA), Iowa State University (IA), University of Ghana (Ghana), China Agricultural University, College of Veterinary Medicine (China), Saint Cloud State University (MN) and Tuskegee University (AL). Four students were admitted to work with specific faculty and 2 students are admitted to participate in rotations before deciding on a research project and major professor.