PhD Field of Plant Biology

Revealing fundamental principles of plant biology and evolution

Graduate study in Cornell's Integrative School of Plant Science is organized into five Graduate Fields providing unparalleled opportunities to connect disciplines, creatively solve problems, and integrate complex systems, preparing graduates for diverse careers and futures as leaders in science and society.

Programs in the Field of Plant Biology range from the molecular/genetic investigation of fundamental plant processes and mathematical modeling of plant development to study of plant diversity and evolution. Most of the faculty advisors in the Field of Plant Biology are affiliated with the Section of Plant Biology in the School of Integrative Plant Science. The Graduate Field of Plant Biology encompasses a broad range of topics.

Before you apply

If you are considering applying to one of the SIPS MS/PhD graduate fields for the Fall 2025 application period, please contact the individual field faculty whose program you're most interested in to confirm whether they have funding for new students in the coming year. Funding for students is very limited, and we don’t want you to apply to programs where there is no option for support.

Apply to the Graduate Field of Plant Biology

Development, organelle biology, evolution and diversity, or systems biology - our students are making breakthroughs in many important research areas of plant biology

Program metrics, demographics and outcomes

Select the graduate field of interest from the pull-down menu on the linked page

Contact Us

Karin Jantz
Graduate Field Coordinator
233 Emerson Hall
Phone: 607-255-4075
Email: kpg2 [at] cornell.edu (kpg2[at]cornell[dot]edu)

Adrienne Roeder
Director of Graduate Studies
239 Weill Hall
Phone: 607-255-4467
Email: ahr75 [at] cornell.edu (ahr75[at]cornell[dot]edu)

More information about graduate study in Plant Biology

See these links for information specific to MS/PhD studies in the Field of Plant Biology

Learn more about graduate study in SIPS

Five interrelated Graduate Fields are associated with the School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS) with many resources common to all