In August, the Stowers Graduate School welcomed 11 exceptional students to its Ph.D. program. Representing universities around the globe, the 2025 class is made up of early-career scientists who will gain the education, mentorship, and collaborative experience needed to become the next leaders transforming the field of biology.

Through rigorous coursework, hands-on experience, and mentored research in the labs of world-class investigators, the program equips students to tackle some of the most compelling questions in biology today. 
 
“I really love the nontraditional format here. Knocking out all the coursework in the first six months and then focusing fully on research,” said Madison Mitchell. “It allows us to dive deeply into our projects with the tools and mentorship we need to succeed.”

“The Stowers Graduate School was founded on the idea that future breakthroughs in biology depend on not just brilliant ideas, but brilliant education,” said Matt Gibson, Ph.D., President of the Stowers Graduate School. “We are excited to welcome this group of dynamic and curious minds into a community where collaboration, innovation, and scientific rigor are valued equally.”

Over the next year, the incoming class will engage in an intensive curriculum spanning topics from molecular genetics to evolutionary biology, followed by laboratory rotations that allow them to explore different research areas and collaborate with peers and mentors.  

“Two things really stood out to me: the variety of research organisms and projects across labs, and the kindness of the people here,” said Pritam Pathak. “The program is structured so you can rotate widely, explore, and ultimately pursue what excites you most.”