yale biology phd acceptance rate

Yale University

Ranked in 9 program s and 10+ specialt ies

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Biological Sciences

Program and Specialty rankings

• # 6 in Biological Sciences  (tie)
• # 5 in Biochemistry / Biophysics / Structural Biology  (tie)
• # 7 in Cell Biology
• # 4 in Ecology / Evolutionary Biology
• # 6 in Genetics / Genomics / Bioinformatics  (tie)
• # 6 in Immunology / Infectious Disease
• # 7 in Molecular Biology
• # 6 in Neuroscience / Neurobiology  (tie)

Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Contact Information

PO Box 208084 , New Haven , CT 06520-8084

(203) 785-5663

[email protected]

Biostatistics

• # 13 in Biostatistics  (tie)

Department of Biostatistics Contact Information

60 College Street, P.O. Box 208034 , New Haven , CT 06520

(203) 785-2844

[email protected]

• # 11 in Chemistry  (tie)
• # 12 in Biochemistry  (tie)
• # 10 in Inorganic
• # 9 in Organic
• # 9 in Physical  (tie)
• # 5 in Theoretical

Department of Chemistry Contact Information

225 Prospect Street , New Haven , CT 06520-8107

(203) 432-3915

[email protected]

Computer Science

• # 21 in Computer Science  (tie)
• # 22 in Theory  (tie)

Department of Computer Science Contact Information

PO Box 208285 , New Haven , CT 06520-8285

(203) 432-1278

[email protected]

Earth Sciences

• # 14 in Earth Sciences  (tie)
• # 9 in Geophysics and Seismology  (tie)
• # 2 in Paleontology

Department of Geology & Geophysics Contact Information

PO Box 208109 , New Haven , CT 06520-8109

(203) 432-3161

• # 8 in Mathematics  (tie)
• # 13 in Algebra / Number Theory / Algebraic Geometry
• # 16 in Analysis  (tie)
• # 11 in Geometry  (tie)
• # 10 in Topology  (tie)

Department of Mathematics Contact Information

PO Box 208283 , New Haven , CT 06520-8283

(203) 432-4172

[email protected]

• # 9 in Physics  (tie)
• # 9 in Atomic / Molecular / Optical  (tie)
• # 19 in Condensed Matter  (tie)
• # 10 in Cosmology / Relativity / Gravity  (tie)
• # 10 in Elementary Particles / Field / String Theory
• # 8 in Quantum

Department of Physics Contact Information

217 Prospect Street , New Haven , CT 06520-8120

(203) 436-4809

[email protected]

Statistics (Department of Statistics)

• # 13 in Statistics  (tie)

Department of Statistics Contact Information

24 Hillhouse Avenue , New Haven , CT 06511

(203) 432-0666

[email protected]

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Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology

Graduate program, multidisciplinary graduate training.

The graduate program in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) is designed to provide students with diverse opportunities for acquiring a strong foundation in modern biology and applying it toward the generation of new knowledge through exciting research. 

The diverse research topics explored by our faculty and our location adjacent to several departments including the Departments of Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering, provide MCDB graduate students with opportunities to interact and collaborate in interdisciplinary collaborative projects , seminars  and courses .

MCDB Ph.D. students work directly with faculty who are leaders in the biological sciences including:

• Beckman Young Investigators
• Pew Scholars in Biomedical Research
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professors and Investigators
• National Academy of Sciences Members
• Nobel Laureate

Our graduates are highly successful, winning numerous graduate student awards and entering a variety of careers in academic, private, and public service in the biological sciences.

For further information, contact:

Professor Farren Isaacs Director of Graduate Studies Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology

Marylynn Visaggio Graduate Registrar Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology

Graduate Student Assembly:   https://gsa.yale.edu/

MCDB Student Reps: Ivy Lin Ting Xu

Doctoral Admissions

Our doctoral program offers scholars from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to pursue a highly individualized area of inquiry under the mentorship of a YSE faculty member. The research conducted by YSE PhD candidates spans global and disciplinary boundaries — and what’s more, it is fully funded. Learn more about how to join this vibrant and dynamic intellectual community.

On This Page

Faculty Who May Take on Doctoral Students

All applicants must identify and contact one or two faculty members who they think could serve as their major advisor.

How to Apply

The application deadline for admission to the fall class in a given year is typically the preceding January 2 of that year. Applications are submitted through the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) website.

Why YSE Doctoral Programs?

Research Independence and Funding

Doctoral students at YSE receive five years of guaranteed funding , independent of any faculty research grants, allowing doctoral students the intellectual freedom to explore the environmental issues that most inspire them.

• Current Dissertation Titles
• Funding Information

Acclaimed Faculty

Working closely with some of the top experts in their fields is one of the advantages of a YSE doctoral degree. Our faculty are committed to mentoring the next generation of environmental leaders to tackle the world’s most urgent problems.

• YSE Faculty

Student and Alumni Spotlights

Stewarding Forests in the Face of Climate Change 

Forests help mitigate climate change because of their ability to remove and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but they become carbon emitters during wildfires. PhD student Reid Lewis '20 MF is researching how satellite data and machine learning models can help fire-prone forests become more resilient.

“When we make these forests more fire resilient, we can not only store more carbon, we can also help protect human communities, foster wildlife habitat, safeguard watersheds, and can use the process of restoration to partner with and empower Indigenous nations,” says Lewis.

• Master of Forestry — MF
• Doctor of Philosophy — PhD

Tracking Big Cats in the Sierra Madres Mountains

Siria Gámez tracks big cats — all the way up 80-foot trees.  A doctoral student in YSE's Applied Wildlife Ecology lab, Gámez had special training to set up camera traps in the tree canopy of the El Triunfo Biosphere to examine how jaguars, pumas, and other carnivores use vertical spaces in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountains in Mexico.

“This particular region of Mexico is quite understudied,” says Gámez. “We’re exploring how these animals survive in this three-dimensional forest structure.”

• Doctor of Philosophy — PhD Program

Investing in Urban Forests

As the state of Connecticut’s urban forester, Danica Doroski ’21 PhD is working with municipalities, nonprofits, and residents to grow and maintain urban forests. 

“Investments in urban tree cover is a vital environmental justice issue,” Doroski says. “Urban areas with fewer trees can be as much as 20 degrees hotter than surrounding rural areas. By increasing tree cover, we can keep our cities cooler, which translates to both health and energy benefits.”

• Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

Redefining Human-Wildlife Conflict

In the Tibetan Plateau, Yufang Gao ’14 MESc, ’23 PhD interviews, observes, and travels with Tibetan herders and Buddhist monks. He sets up camera traps and collects scat to analyze the diet of snow leopards. And he has hiked a mountainside 15,000 feet above sea level — all in pursuit of data for his dissertation focused on the quest for harmonious coexistence between people and large carnivores. What is needed for human-wildlife coexistence is a different perspective about conflict, Gao says. “Conflict,” he has found, “is part of coexistence.”

• Master of Environmental Science - MESc

Tracking Environmental and Infrastructure Damage in Ukraine

As co-leader of Black Marble, NASA’s light dataset, Eleanor Stokes '18 PhD is currently tracking the effects of Russian military strikes on Ukraine’s infrastructure and climate-induced natural disasters across the world. NASA’s Black Marble science team, which uses data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite aboard NASA’s Suomi NPP satellite spacecraft  to map  disaster impacts in vulnerable communities , was awarded the 2020 NASA Group Achievement Award for helping realize the vision of the  NASA-ESA-JAXA COVID dashboard  and enabling international partnership in a time of need.  “Humanity is facing major global risks from extreme weather and rising sea levels,” Stokes says. “It’s very important to have a satellite record that can speak to the human piece of the puzzle.

Tracking Forest Inventory

Richard Guldin ’76 MFS, ’79 PhD  has helped reinvent the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program by integrating new sampling designs, field procedures, and innovative software to create an annual inventory that has become a global model. His work earned him the Society of American Foresters’ Sir William Schlich Award.

• Master of Forest Science — MFS

In the News

Class of 2024: “You Will Be Leaders for Change”

YSE Class of ’24: Aishwarya Iyer Focuses on Underrepresented Voices in Energy Usage

Unique Research on Calving Impacts on Nutrient Cycle Earns 2024 Bormann Prize

Contact the doctoral program.

Elisabeth Barsa is the contact for students interested in the YSE doctoral program.

Elisabeth Barsa

Doctoral Program Coordinator

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• PhD/Master's Application Process

Who is Eligible to Apply? 

If you have completed your undergraduate degree (bachelor's or equivalent) or will have completed it prior to your intended matriculation date at Yale, you may apply to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS).

A Master's degree is not required to apply for a PhD at Yale, although some programs give preference to applicants with post-baccalaureate training. Consult your program of interest directly for information on how it evaluates applications.

We value diversity of all kinds at the Graduate School, and we encourage students from all backgrounds to apply if Yale is a good fit for your intellectual and professional goals. All are welcome to apply, without regard to citizenship or immigration status, socioeconomic level, race, religion, gender identification, sexual orientation, disability, etc.

Requirements for All PhD and Master's Degree Applicants

You will need to provide the following with your application for admission:

• A statement of academic purpose. You will find the prompt for the statement of purpose in our Application Question FAQs . 
• A list of all the prior colleges or universities you have attended, accompanied by unofficial transcripts from each school. Unofficial transcripts should be uploaded with your application. Official or paper transcripts are not needed at this time. 
• Three letters of recommendation. Enter the names of your recommenders directly in the application and they will receive a link to upload a letter on your behalf. 
• $105 application fee or fee waiver. 
• Standardized tests . GRE requirements vary by program. TOEFL or IELTS are necessary for most non-native English speakers. 
• Resume/CV . 
• Some programs have additional requirements, such as a writing sample . You can find information about any specific requirements on the program's website. 

Where Do I Begin?

Decide whether you will apply for a PhD or a terminal Master’s (MA, MS) in one of the programs available at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences . (Note that you will earn one or more Master's degrees en route to a PhD.) Learn about the program: its faculty, course offerings, and resources. Read the faculty's research publications. If you can identify and articulate why the program is a good fit for you and show how your preparation and interests align well with it, you will have a strong application.

A note to students applying to one of Yale’s professional schools or programs:

• If you are applying for a PhD in Architecture, Environment, Investigative Medicine, Law, Management, Music, Nursing, or Public Health; for an MS in Public Health; or for an MA in Music, be sure to use the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences PhD/Master's application.
• If you are applying for any other degree at one of the University’s professional schools (Art, Architecture, Divinity, Drama, Environment, Global Affairs, Law, Management, Medicine, Music, Nursing, and Public Health), visit that school’s website for further instructions. Those programs have separate admissions policies and processes that are administered by the professional schools, not GSAS.

Application deadlines vary by program, so please see Dates & Deadlines for information about your program of interest. 

All new students matriculate in the fall. The admissions process begins nearly a year in advance of matriculation.

Some PhD and Master’s degree programs require Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Check your program's standardized testing requirement before you apply. 

In addition, applicants whose native language is not English may need to take an English Language test (TOEFL or IELTS).

The application for Fall 2024 entry is closed. The application for Fall 2025 entry will be available starting in mid-August 2024. 

Be sure to complete and submit the application before your program's application deadline. 

Your application fee or an approved fee waiver is due upon submission of your application. 

Your letters of recommendation do not need to be received before you will be able to submit your application. However, since programs begin reviewing applications shortly after the respective application deadline, please be sure that your letters of recommendation are submitted promptly.

What Happens After I Submit My Application?

The faculty admissions committee in each department and program begins reviewing applications shortly after their application deadline. Led by the director of graduate studies (DGS) or director of graduate admissions (DGA), the committee will recommend students for admission to the Graduate School. Once confirmed by the deans of the Graduate School, the admissions office will release final decisions to applicants.

Unlike undergraduate admissions, the admissions office and staff of the Graduate School maintain the application, the application process, and other administrative transactions, but the admissions staff does not review applications or make admissions decisions. That responsibility is handled by the faculty of each department or program.

Most admissions decisions are provided between February and early March. You will receive an email notification when your admissions decision is available.

If you are accepted for admission, you will need to decide if you wish to accept our offer by April 15. We abide by Council of Graduate School's April 15 Resolution , regarding graduate financial support. 

Ready to apply? Begin your application today.

PhD/Master's Applicants

• Why Choose Yale Graduate School?
• Dates and Deadlines
• Standardized Testing Requirements

Non-Degree Program Applicants

Looking for non-degree programs? In some cases, it is possible to enroll at the Graduate School as a non-degree student. Non-degree students receive a transcript and many of the benefits of being a Yale student, but do not earn a degree upon completion of their enrollment. We offer three types of non-degree programs.

• Non-Degree Programs

Department of Anthropology

Biological anthropology.

Yale’s Ph.D. program in Biological Anthropology offers graduate training across a wide array of topics, including the evolution of humans and other primates; primate morphology, ecology and behavior; human evolutionary biology and reproductive ecology; biocultural anthropology; global health; paleoarchaeology; and evolutionary genomics. Faculty in biological anthropology also work with graduate students in the MD/ Ph.D.  Program and the Combined  Ph.D.  in Anthropology and the School of the Environment.

Resources and Common Connections:

Yale Biological Anthropology Laboratories

Biological Anthropology “Brown Beer” Colloquium Series

Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies

Yale Peabody Museum

MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

Yale School of Public Health

Yale School of the Environment

Jackson School of Global Affairs

Yale Institute of Global Health

Council on Archaeological Studies

Department of Statistics and Data Science

Ph.d. admissions.

The Ph.D. program admits only a small number of new students each year.  We received more than 300 applications for the Fall 2024 cohort; in general, we hope to make 15-18 offers and obtain an entering class of about six to eight students.

All applications for this program should be submitted directly to the Yale Graduate School Office of Admissions through the online application page.

Application requirements and guidelines

Scores from the GRE General Test are now optional.  A GRE Subject Test is also optional, although the Mathematics Subject Test is not recommended for students whose undergraduate major was not Mathematics. 

All applicants should have a strong mathematical background, including advanced calculus, linear algebra, elementary probability theory, and at least one course providing an introduction to mathematical statistics. An undergraduate major may be in statistics, mathematics, computer science, or in a subject in which significant statistical problems may arise.

For those whose native language is not English, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are required. A strong command of English is essential for success at Yale.  This requirement is waived only for applicants who, prior to matriculation at Yale, will have received a baccalaureate degree or its international equivalent with three years of residency from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction.

The offer of admission typically includes full tuition ($48,300 in 2023-24) and a generous stipend (roughly $40,300 for 2023-24) for five years.  Consult the Graduate School’s financial assistance page (UPDATE NEEDED) for additional detail on living costs and funding.

For incoming students whose TOEFL scores fall below the level required to satisfy the Graduate School’s Oral English Proficiency Standard, the Graduate School provides a stipend for support during a three week Immersive English Program , held late in summer on the Yale campus.

Tuition and Living Costs  (UPDATE NEEDED)

Yale Computational Biology and Bioinformatics

Computational Biology and Biomedical informatics (CBB) is a rapidly developing interdisciplinary field that requires an understanding of computational and informatics methods applied to a specific domain (e.g., health or biological systems). It represents a  data science  perspective applied to the biomedical domain.

Our program has research  foci  at the interface of informatics and biomedicine, genomics, and computational modeling of biological systems. In particular, the systematic acquisition of data made possible by genomics, proteomics, electronic health records, biosensors, and imaging technologies has created a tremendous gap between available data and their biomedical interpretation. Given the rate of data generation, it is recognized that this gap will not be closed with direct experimentation. Computational and statistical approaches to understanding biological and biomedical systems also provide an essential vehicle to help close the gap. These activities include modeling biomedical and biophysical processes, large-scale database development, data mining, machine learning, and high-performance computing.

Yale has an  interdepartmental  CBB Ph.D. program. The advantage of such a program is that CBB students complete the CBB curriculum while being able to perform dissertation research in the laboratory of a faculty member in any relevant department at Yale; students do not have to satisfy the Ph.D. requirements of their research adviser’s department.

We welcome your interest in Yale’s CBB program.

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Immunobiology Student Awarded the Prize Teaching Fellowship

We are thrilled to announce that Immunobiology Graduate Student, Novak Yang, a third-year PhD candidate in Dr. Lieping Chen’s laboratory in the Department of Immunobiology, has been awarded a Prize Teaching Fellowship for teaching in 2023-2024. This award recognizes his outstanding contributions to the university’s central mission and is one of the highest honors a graduate student can attain at Yale. Novak received his BS in Biology and MS in Cancer Biology and Translational Oncology degrees at Emory University, and was the first to accomplish this in a “3+1” timeline at Emory. Prior to joining Yale, Novak was trained by Dr. Haian Fu and Dr. Andrey Ivanov at the Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, with a primary focus on cancer-associated protein-protein interactions and high-throughput drug discovery. He has multiple first-author and co-author publications, and is the recipient of American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) Travel Award and Program Committee Blue Ribbon Pick, and Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) Tony B. Academic Travel Award. Novak was recruited to Yale Immunobiology in 2021 as a Gruber Science Fellow. His research focuses on the discovery of actionable targets in the tumor microenvironment that drive the resistance to current immunotherapies, and pre-clinical development of innovative therapeutic strategies that normalize anti-tumor immunity for cancer patients. In formal recognition of this honor, Novak will receive an award of $3000. In the academic year of 2023-2024, Novak taught BIOL101: Biochemistry and Biophysics, led by Dr. Michael Koelle and Dr. Edgar Benavides, and BIOL103: Genetics and Development, led by Dr. Michael O'Donnell and Dr. Edgar Benavides. For 101, he was a section TF that led two discussion sections and also did 1-on-1 mentoring for a group of students. For 103, he was mainly teaching 1 discussion section and helping the students with their final project.

Congratulations Novak!