Notre Dame’s Department of Biological Sciences ranked 13 in the first Top 25 Grad Biology Programs ranked by Graduate Programs, a student-based service that provides ratings and reviews of programs across the country. The rankings are based on reviews posted by more than 40,000 students in more than 1,300 graduate programs in the year that ended Sept. 30.
"We are extremely pleased to see our biology graduate program ranked so highly by the graduate students themselves,” said Gary Lamberti, chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. “Our emphasis continues to be on providing the support and environment that allows our graduate students to excel in their research and teaching, and prepares them fully for their scientific careers.”
New Jersey-based Graduate Programs collects rankings on 15 categories, including academic competitiveness, career support, financial aid, student diversity, social life, and quality of network and compiles them into an overall ranking for each department.
Dean Greg Crawford said the recognition is especially important because it reflects students’ own evaluation of their experience. “It is so wonderful that our biology students value their education and experience at Notre Dame,” he said. “It testifies to our faculty’s passion for graduate student training and the outstanding camaraderie in the department.”
Graduate Programs provides financial aid and other information as well as student-based rankings. Its Graduate Programs Foundation awards scholarships to some students who participate in its Rate and Review Program.