| Plant
Molecular Physiology
St. John 503-B
3190 Maile Way
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-8384
Fax: (808) 956-3542
E-mail: dulal@hawaii.edu
doriv@hawaii.edu
Web: www.ctarm.hawaii.edu/pmp
Faculty
*D. Borthakur, PhD (Chair)--molecular genetics
of rhizobia, plant-microbe interaction,
biotechnology
*J. E. Bowen, PhD--mineral nutrition
*D. A. Christopher, PhD--photosynthesis, plant biochemistry, plant
molecular biology
*H. M. Harrington, PhD--biochemistry molecular biology of heat shock,
signal transduction in plants
*J. I. Stiles, PhD--plant molecular biology, genetics, agricultural
biotechnology
*H. Y. Yamamoto, PhD--plant biochemistry, photosynthesis
Cooperating Graduate Faculty
G. Goldstein, PhD--water relations, cropsvegetation environment
interactions
R. E. Paull, PhD--postharvest physiology and handling of tropical
fruits, flowers, and vegetables
C. S. Tang, PhD--natural products chemistry and biochemistry
Affiliate Graduate Faculty
H. Albert, PhD--plant molecular biology
M. M. Fitch, PhD--micropropagation and genetic transformation of papaya
F. C. Meinzer, PhD--plant physiology, water relations
P. H. Moore, PhD--sugar cane physiology
*Graduate Faculty
Degrees Offered: MS in botanical sciences
(plant physiology), PhD in botanical sciences (plant physiology)
The Academic Program
The faculty of the Department of Plant Molecular
Physiology (PMP) conducts research on the physiological, nutritional,
biochemical, and molecular biological processes that underlie
metabolism, growth, development, and biotechnology, especially as
related to tropical plants. The department offers graduate education
leading to the MS and PhD degrees in plant physiology as an option in
the botanical sciences graduate field of study. The plant physiology
option features an interdepartmental faculty and offers a challenging
instructional curriculum that stresses the fundamentals of plant
biology, chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and
biotechnology.
The department’s mission in basic research and an
active, internationally recognized faculty combine to provide students
with exciting graduate research opportunities. The degree programs are
research-intensive. Students develop an in-depth understanding of
contemporary research approaches and master state-ofthe-art laboratory
techniques and equipment. Many students are employed as research
assistants and conduct research as part of ongoing faculty grant
projects. Other alternative forms of support are also available to
highly qualified candidates. Students who choose the plant physiology
option are afforded the unique opportunity to participate in research at
the forefront of plant physiology and to make significant contributions
through scientific publications.
Graduate Study
The department offers the MS Plan A (thesis) and Plan
B (non-thesis) and the PhD in the plant physiology option of botanical
sciences (BTSC). Applications from prospective students must include GRE
scores for verbal and quantitative aptitude. Foreign applicants must
also submit TOEFL scores. The application deadline for fall admission is
February 1 (January 15 for foreign applications). All
applicants must have completed courses or equivalents in calculus,
physics, chemistry through organic and quantitative analysis, basic
biology or botany, genetics, biochemistry, and plant physiology and one
upper division course in either botanical sciences or in cellular or
molecular biology. While not a requirement, physical chemistry is also
highly recommended.
Admission to candidacy for all degree programs
requires the student to pass a general examination demonstrating the
ability to critically read and evaluate the literature in a given
subject area of plant physiology. Potential MS Plan A and PhD students
must also demonstrate the potential to organize and conduct research.
General requirements for all students also include at least two courses
from the PMP core and presentation of a minimum of one approved seminar
course each semester (excluding summer term).
A final examination is required for the MS Plan A
thesis or PhD dissertation and consists of two parts: (a) a public
presentation of the research, and (b) an oral examination/defense of the
thesis or dissertation.
Students who obtain degrees in the plant physiology
option may expect to find employment in academia, private industry, or
government agencies or continue their studies elsewhere.
Master’s Degree
The MS Plan A is a research degree including course
work and original research to be presented in the form of a written
thesis. This plan is designed for students who intend to progress to a
PhD degree program or for those who desire a career in research. Minimum
course requirements include 12 credit hours in thesis (BTSC 700) and at
least 18 additional credit hours approved by the candidate’s graduate
program committee. These shall include 6 credit hours in courses
numbered 400 to 798 but not PMP 699 or BTSC 200 and 12 credit hours in
courses numbered 600 to 798 excluding research methods courses, PMP 699
and BTSC 700. Students must enroll in at least 1 credit hour of BTSC 700
during the semester of graduation.
The MS Plan B is regarded as a terminal degree and is
intended for those who do not wish to pursue research as a career. Plan
B includes course work and a limited amount of directed research.
Students who intend to pursue a research career or enter a PhD program
should choose the MS Plan A program. Plan B requires a minimum of 30
credit hours including 18 credit hours in courses numbered 600 to 798,
excluding research methods courses and BTSC 700, and 12 credit hours in
courses numbered 400 to 798, excluding research methods courses and BTSC
700. All courses must be approved by the candidate’s graduate program
committee.
Doctoral Degree
The PhD program is designed to allow maximum
flexibility for research specialization in a particular area of plant
physiology, biochemistry, or cell or molecular biology. A major
component of the PhD program is the completion of an original research
project and dissertation. The dissertation research is expected to be a
significant contribution to plant science. Formal course requirements
for the PhD include selections from the PMP core and courses necessary
to fulfill the minimal requirements for residence--three semesters of
full-time work or the equivalent in credit hours. During the final
semester, the student must be registered for at least 1 credit hour of
BTSC 800. Other course requirements are determined by the student’s
temporary or permanent graduate program committee and include at least 2
credit hours of directed research (PMP 699) to be used as part of the
general examination. An oral comprehensive examination is required of
all PhD students to assess general competence in general botany,
cytology, anatomy, morphology, biochemistry, physiology, and specific
areas as determined by the student’s interest and graduate program
committee. |