Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does the OSU Interdisciplinary Ph.D Program in Nutrition (OSUN) differ from a traditional Nutrition Ph.D program?

The OSUN program has over 40 faculty members who are located in four different colleges: Education and Human Ecology; Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences; Medicine; and Veterinary Medicine. This gives students a very diverse and experiential learning experience. Faculty members offer research opportunities in molecular and cellular nutrition, nutritional biochemistry, clinical nutrition, and applied and experimental animal and human nutrition.

2. Do you accept students every quarter?

Students are accepted every quarter, but Autumn quarter is preferred.

3. What are the minimum admission requirements?

Doctoral degree applicants to the OSUN Ph.D. Program should have a baccalaureate or Master's degree in nutrition or a related biological science. To be considered for admission, applicants are expected to meet the following minimum criteria:

• cumulative point hour ratio of 3.30 in previous course work (students can petition a GPA below 3.30 but above a 3.0 for undergraduate coursework);
• GRE taken within the previous 5 years with minimum scores of at least 500 on both Verbal and Quantitative sections, a combined score of at least 1100, and a minimum score of 3.5 for the Analytical Writing section; and,
• if from a country where the primary language is not English, a TOEFL score of at least 600 on the paper version or 100 on the internet based version (IBT), and an 8.0 on the IELTS is preferred. Although a Master's degree is preferred, students with an exceptional record in a baccalaureate program and experience in a research setting may be admitted directly into the Doctoral Program.

4. When does my application need to be turned in?

Applications need to be turned in by the last working day of November for International students and January 1 for U.S students.

5. How do I apply for a fellowship?

All students who meet the University Fellowship guidelines that are established by the Graduate School and have turned their application in by the above deadlines will be evaluated by the Graduate Studies Committee and entered into the Fellowship competition held by the Graduate School. Any student awarded a fellowship will be notified by the Graduate School and also by the OSUN program. Learn more information about University Fellowships.

6. When will I be notified about an admission decision?

The admissions committee meets in January and February after all applications are received. Notification will generally occur by the end of March, with some decisions occurring later as funding opportunities arise.

7. How many years will it take to graduate?

The average length of time it has taken for an OSUN student to complete his/her Ph.D has been 5 years. The time to completion will vary, however, based on advisor and research projects, with some students taking 3 years or less.

8. What are the job opportunities when I finish my degree?

Most students continue on in a post-doctoral position in internationally recognized institutions, but some secure their first position in industry. Here is a partial listing of positions taken after graduation. For a complete listing, contact the Program Manager at osun@osu.edu.

• Post-doctoral Fellow, OSU Medical Center
• Nutritional scientist, Gerber Foods
• Assistant Professor, Louisana Tech University
• Post-doctoral Fellow, Stanford University
• Post-doctoral Fellow, NIEHS/NIH
• Development Manager, Cargill Innovation
• Senior Nutrition Scientist, Mead Johnson Nutritionals
• Post-doctoral Fellow, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
• Assistant Professor, Mahidol University - Thailand
• Private Consultant, Mexico

9. What types of financial aid are available?

OSUN supports first-year students with a graduate associateship that includes a stipend, their fees and tuition, and 85% of their health insurance. Students who do not come into the program with a faculty advisor may rotate through as many as three research programs before finding a permanent advisor. It is imperative that students work with their advisors or the Director to find financial support after the first year. Forms of support are graduate research associateships (GRA), graduate teaching associateship (GTA), or fellowships awarded on a competitive basis through OSU, the experiment station, respective colleges, or departments of each student. Grants or fellowships also might be available from national organizations.

10. What are the responsibilities of a GRA and a GTA?

A graduate research or teaching associate has the responsibility to work 20 hours a week for the unit appointing the associateship. GRAs typically will work in a research setting to collect, analyze, and interpret data and subsequently writing reports. In contrast, GTAs typically work with a professor and assist with duties associated with teaching or administering a class. For complete information on graduate associateships, please see the Graduate School handbook at http://www.gradsch.ohio-state.edu/Depo/PDF/Handbook.pdf.