The thesis defense is judged by faculty from both the program and the student's department. The duration of the program is typically four or five years. The location of the laboratory where the student does research depends on the departmental affiliation of the mentor. Many of the faculty and instrumentation facilities are located in the Molecular Biology Building. A tradition of cooperation among MCDB faculty ensures access to equipment, techniques, and expertise in all departments necessary for planning and executing successful research.
Aid is in the form of graduate teaching and research assistantships.
Full or partial tuition credits may also be available from different departments. Health insurance for a graduate student on an assistantship is paid for by the Graduate College. Visit the Department of Residence web site for more information. Student Group ISU currently enrolls 26,845 students, including 4,364 graduate students. There are 1,360 international graduate students, representing eighty-nine countries.