PhD in Synthetic Biology

Synthetic Biology at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), located in Nam-gu, South Korea, is a doctoral program taught in English focused on designing and engineering biological systems for specific purposes rather than only studying naturally occurring ones. Doctoral research in this field typically covers genetic circuit design, metabolic engineering, protein and pathway engineering, and the tools used to construct and test new biological functions in cells, drawing on molecular biology, genetics, and engineering design principles together. Dissertation projects might involve engineering microorganisms to produce useful compounds, designing genetic circuits that perform a specific biological function, or developing new tools for building and testing synthetic biological systems, depending on a student's laboratory and research focus. Coursework at the doctoral level builds a foundation in molecular biology and engineering design methods, while laboratory research develops the genetic engineering and testing skills central to the field. Because synthetic biology treats biological systems as something that can be designed and built rather than only observed, doctoral candidates are trained to combine biological knowledge with an engineering mindset toward problem-solving. The coursework phase runs two years, with entry offered in the middle of February or the beginning of September, suiting international applicants with a background in biology, biochemistry, or bioengineering. Graduates typically pursue research careers in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, agricultural biotechnology firms, or academic and government research institutes. POSTECH's interdisciplinary science and engineering campus supports the kind of design-oriented biological research this program is built around.