2025 Call for MS and PhD Programs in Plant Biotechnology and Integrative Biology
Open Call
INTRODUCTION
Cinvestav (The Center for Research and Advanced Studies) is a Mexican governmental scientific research institution affiliated with the National Polytechnic Institute. The institute is divided in 10 research centers that are dedicated to research and post graduate training within specific research areas. Our campus hosts two research centers: the Unidad Irapuato that includes the Department of Genetic Engineering and the Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, and the Unidad de Genómica Avanzada. The campus has a permanent staff of 51 professors and ~ 220 students and offers master’s and Ph.D. programs within areas of genetics, genomics, epigenetics, biotechnology, bioinformatics, plant biology, evolution, synthetic biology, biochemistry and microbiology. The campus is located in Irapuato, Guanajuato.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree, for students wishing to pursue a Master’s or Ph.D. degree, respectively.
- A minimum average grade equivalent to 8.0 in the Mexican grading system (8/10 ); please consult the webpage to see the equivalent of this grade with respect to your country’s grading system.
- Basic knowledge of Spanish is required given that all courses in the master’s program are conducted in Spanish.
- GRE General examination dated after August 1st 2023.
HOW TO APPLY FOR ADMISSION
In the case of NOT having results for the GRE exam please arrange to take the GRE.
Important: Because of visa processing times and regulations, foreign applicants for the doctoral program will begin studies one semester after they apply (i.e. in March 2026), while foreign applicants to the master’s program will begin two semesters after they apply (i.e in August 2026).
Apply for admission to one of our two graduate programs:
- Please send the following required documents to Diana Barbosa (Academic Secretary’s office, Cinvestav Irapuato) before May 19th 2025 (diana.barbosa@cinvestav.mx); documents marked with an asterisk require an apostille:
For Master’s and PhD studies: Motivation letter for applying to our graduate program; 2 recommendation letters sent directly to diana.barbosa@cinvestav.mx
For Master’s studies: BSc Diploma *, BSc transcript*, birth certificate*
For PhD studies: MSc Diploma*, MSc transcript*, BSc Diploma*, BSc transcript*, birth certificate*
For PhD studies: PhD research proposal (3-5 pages) developed in conjunction with your prospective advisor (see below)
The registration deadlines and exam dates are listed below.
EVALUATION PROCESS
Applicants will be evaluated based on the results of the GRE general exam, an evaluation of their qualifications (e.g. grades, work experience, knowledge of English), as well as the other components of the application process. Applicants for the PhD program (BP and BI) will also be required to submit a 3-5 page proposal for their PhD project, developed in conjunction with their potential PhD advisor. Thus, applicants for the PhD program must have identified their potential PhD advisor before applying. Qualified applicants will be invited to an interview online. The decisions of the Academic Committee are final.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Foreign students are eligible for scholarships from SECIHTI.
IMPORTANT DATES
REGISTRATION on Cinvestav website:
March 10th: Registration open
May 19th: Registration closed
Send results of GRE general exam by May 19th 2025 to diana.barbosa@cinvestav.mx
ONLINE INTERVIEWS
9-13 June: Applicant Interviews online
RESULTS OF ADMISION PROCESS/INTRODUCTORY COURSES
Third week of June 2025: Notification of results of admission process
28 July – 29 August, 2025 Introductory course for accepted students
September 1st 2025: Start of fall semester regular courses
CONTACT INFORMATION
- diana.barbosa@cinvestav.mx (Academic Secretary’s Office) or jesus.vega@cinvestav.mx (Academic Secretary’s Office)
- Dr. Stewart Gillmor stewart.gillmor@cinvestav.mx (Biotechnology of Plants Program)
- Dr. Sean Rovito sean.rovito@cinvestav.mx (Integrative Biology Program)
- Telephone: +52 462 623 9620