The Department of Plant Biology at the University of Illinois has enjoyed a long tradition of identifying, training and graduating many of the world's top plant biologists. Our graduate students have gone on to highly successful and productive careers at universities and in the private sector the world over. Our graduate training program offers a diverse yet individually tailored and focused opportunity for students to develop expert-level skills in current research methodologies, critical thinking and ancillary professional attributes essential to a successful and satisfying career in plant research at the molecular, physiological and/or ecological levels. In consultation with their research advisors and graduate committees, our masters and doctoral students craft programs of study and research that involve novel collaborations with faculty and students in related disciplines of, among others, Crop Sciences, Animal Biology, Entomology, Geology, Natural Resources, and units in our sister school of Molecular and Cellular Biology.Our mission is to conduct basic and translational research and training in plant biology that integrates across temporal scales and levels of biological organization. We occupy a unique position on campus as the only department that explores the biology of plants from the biochemical and molecular to the ecosystem scale. Candidates for the Ph.D. are expected to complete a minimum of 96 hours of graduate coursework and research. A formal evaluation (the Two-Year Review) of the student's academic progress is made prior to the end of the second year of study (end of Stage I). Departmental approval must be obtained at this juncture in order to continue in the graduate program. A Preliminary Examination is taken during the second year (if the student entered with an M.S. degree) or the third year (if the student entered with a B.S. degree) (end of Stage 2). This consists of an oral examination of general knowledge in three of nine broadly-defined areas of plant biology and defense of a written research proposal on the thesis research topic prepared by the student. Experience in teaching is considered a vital part of the graduate program and is required as part of the academic work of all Ph.D. candidates. The final stage (Stage 3) of the program consists of preparing an acceptable thesis based on independent research designed in consultation with a faculty advisor and approved by a graduate faculty thesis committee. A final oral examination, in which the student defends the thesis, a public seminar, and deposit of an approved thesis complete the program.