University of Florida · Department of Microbiology and Cell Science (UF/IFAS)

Distance Ph.D. in Microbiology and Cell Science – Microbial and Cellular Data Science

PhDPhDDoctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Cell Science

Overview

A research PhD in Microbiology and Cell Science with a concentration in Microbial and Cellular Data Science, delivered online and asynchronously; it requires 60 credits beyond the MS, qualifying examinations and a dissertation. Departmental stipends are not available.

Official program name: Distance Ph.D. in Microbiology and Cell Science – Microbial and Cellular Data Science
Awarded degree: Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Cell Science
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Degree level: Doctoral — research doctorate
University: University of Florida — Department of Microbiology and Cell Science (UF/IFAS)
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Administering location: Gainesville, FLWhere the university or its administering campus is located. Study is online; this is not a residency requirement and does not decide whether you may enroll from your state.
Subject: Biology Data Science & Analytics
Specializations: Microbial and Cellular Data Science
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Required credits: Minimum 60 credits beyond the M.S. degree
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Duration: Full time 4–6 years; part time 7–8 years (estimated)
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Teaching language: English (not separately stated)

Why this program is listed

Research PhD offered 100% online through distance education.

Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026

We list online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from institutionally accredited US universities. Eligibility rules

Online format and attendance

“Online” is not one format. Delivery, campus visits, practical placements and class schedule are shown separately, each only as the university states it.

Academic delivery: Fully onlineAll coursework is online and the institution states no required on-site activity for this program.
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Campus visits: Campus visits: not verified
Practical placement: Placement requirement: not verified
Class schedule: Asynchronous
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Study intensity: Full-time, Part-time
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026

The program page does not say whether campus visits or placements are required. Ask the university before you apply — missing information is not “no requirement”.

Curriculum

Dissertation

Written and oral qualifying examinations and an original research dissertation
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026

Other

Students assist their mentors with teaching for two semesters
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026

Specializations, concentrations and tracks

Microbial and Cellular Data Science
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026

Admissions

Required, optional, waived and not-required items are shown exactly as the university states them. Anything not listed is not verified — not “not required”.

Prior degree: RequiredBachelor's degree with minimum 3.5 GPA; master's degree of at least 30 credits in the life sciences with minimum 3.5 GPA
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Minimum GPA: RequiredMinimum 3.5 — Minimum 3.5 GPA for entry
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Statement / essay: RequiredPersonal statement addressing three prompts
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Recommendation letters: Required3 letters — Three letters of recommendation
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Résumé / CV: RequiredCV or resume
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Application fee: Required$30 — $30 application fee
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Transcripts: RequiredUnofficial transcripts from every college attended
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026

Tests

Entrance and English-language test policy: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate admission chances.

Start dates and deadlines

Dates are shown with the term the university printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.

Application deadline
March 1, 2027 · for Fall 2027
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Upcoming

Tuition and fees

Each amount keeps its student category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-term and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other, and tuition is not the full cost of attendance.

Category	Amount	Basis and year
In-state — Florida residents	$484.48	per creditEstimated tuition$29,068.80 = 60 credits × $484.48 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, books, travel for any required visits or placements, transfer credit reductions and rate changes. Not the full cost of attendance.Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Out-of-state — Non-Florida residents	$635.75	per creditEstimated tuition$38,145 = 60 credits × $635.75 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, books, travel for any required visits or placements, transfer credit reductions and rate changes. Not the full cost of attendance.Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026

Scholarships and financial aid

Awards published by the university for this program or for online students at this level. Loans must be repaid and are not scholarships; financial aid availability does not make a program “fully funded”. Scholarships & funding guide

Departmental stipends Assistantship
Departmental stipends are not available for Distance Ph.D. students.
Source: microcell.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026

Accreditation, authorization and licensure

Three separate questions: is the university accredited, can it enroll students from your state online, and does the program meet licensure requirements where you live?

Institutional accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) — accreditedSource: ope.ed.gov · verified October 10, 2026

Programmatic accreditation

No programmatic accreditation verified for this program. Institutional accreditation does not imply it.

State authorization

The University of Florida has been an approved NC-SARA member institution since January 22, 2018. Official pageSource: pfs.tnt.aa.ufl.edu · verified October 10, 2026

International applicants

Not verified for this online program.

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages below. Last verified October 10, 2026.

microcell.ufl.edu/doctoral/distance-phd/ — Official program page, verified October 10, 2026
DAPIP — SACSCOC institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026
pfs.tnt.aa.ufl.edu/state-authorization-status/ — Official disclosure page, verified October 10, 2026

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Key facts

Online format
Fully online · Asynchronous
In-person requirements
In-person requirements not verified
Subject
Biology · Data Science & Analytics
Length
Full time 4–6 years; part time 7–8 years (estimated) · Minimum 60 credits beyond the M.S. degree
Tuition
$484.48 per creditIn-state — Florida residents
Next deadline
March 1, 2027 (Fall 2027)
Administering location
Gainesville, FL

Check state authorization for your state before applying. Details

Official program page

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