FULLY ONLINE DEGREE
PhD in Applied Ontology
Shape the future of information and AI
The PhD in Applied Ontology at the University at Buffalo prepares you to conduct original research at the intersection of philosophy, information science and emerging technologies. Available fully online, the program supports both working professionals and traditional graduate students. You will work closely with internationally recognized faculty and develop expertise that helps people and technologies organize knowledge more effectively.
Accepting applications soon
Applications for the new fully online PhD in Applied Ontology will open soon. Students may enroll full-time or part-time and begin in either the fall or spring semester.
Applied ontology has been shaped by UB faculty for decades, making the university a leading destination for research and training in the field. As a doctoral student, you will study with faculty who helped establish the field and contribute research that advances how information is organized, shared and used across disciplines. Build the research, analytical and technical expertise needed to advance ontology theory and solve complex information challenges.
Why students choose UB:
- Study at the world's leading center for applied ontology research
- Learn from internationally recognized faculty and researchers
- Conduct original research with applications in AI, data science and biomedical informatics
- Choose a fully online or hybrid pathway with flexible full-time or part-time options
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Field: Applied Ontology
Format: Online or hybrid
Enrollment: Full-time or part-time
Typical program length: Approximately 5 years for full-time students, but varies based on enrollment
What makes this PhD stand out:
- Research-focused curriculum designed for students who want to create new knowledge and lead advances in ontology and knowledge representation
- Online and hybrid options that support working professionals and traditional graduate students
- Opportunities for in-person collaboration and faculty mentorship through the hybrid pathway
- Flexible electives that support specialized research interests and emerging areas of ontology
- Internship opportunities that connect ontology theory with real-world applications
- Dissertation research that advances ontology theory while addressing challenges in AI, biomedical informatics, data science and related fields
- Prior learning credit available for qualifying academic, industry, government or commercial experience
Prior learning credit
Students with significant experience in ontology engineering may receive prior learning credit through written examinations and oral interviews. Up to 36 combined credits may be awarded through this process.
Areas of study and research strengths
Research in the PhD in Applied Ontology focuses on how knowledge is represented, organized and applied across complex information systems.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Reasoning
Explore how ontologies support intelligent systems, machine reasoning and knowledge-driven AI.
Biomedical and Health Informatics
Improve how medical and scientific information is organized, shared and interpreted.
Knowledge Representation and Data Integration
Develop frameworks that allow information from different sources to work together.
Ontological Engineering
Design and evaluate ontologies that support research, technology and decision-making.
Information Standards and Interoperability
Create shared structures that improve communication across systems, organizations and disciplines.
Looking for a professional master's degree?
The Department of Philosophy's fully online MS in Applied Ontology is designed for students and working professionals who want to apply ontology in data science, artificial intelligence, biomedical informatics and information-intensive industries. The program emphasizes practical skills and real-world applications.
Applied ontology combines philosophical analysis, formal methods and information science to solve complex problems involving data and knowledge.
Students in the program:
- Develop expertise in ontology theory and ontological engineering
- Apply formal methods to AI, data integration and knowledge representation
- Collaborate across disciplines including computer science and biomedical informatics
- Design and evaluate ontologies for real-world applications
- Conduct original research that advances the field
By graduation, you will be prepared to contribute new knowledge to the field and lead ontology initiatives across research, industry and government settings.
Attention International Applicants
The PhD in Applied Ontology is delivered fully online and does not meet the requirements for maintaining F-1 student visa status. Please review International Student Services guidance before applying.
The PhD in Applied Ontology is designed to support your growth as an independent scholar.
Qualifying paper
Early in the program, you submit a qualifying paper that demonstrates your readiness to undertake sustained original research.
Proposal and defense
Before formally beginning the dissertation, you submit and defend a proposal outlining your research questions, methods and dissertation plan
Dissertation
Under close faculty supervision, you complete a substantial original research project that contributes to applied ontology research and practice.
Throughout this process, you receive structured feedback, refine your work with faculty and develop research for professional, technical or scholarly audiences.
Applied ontology expertise is increasingly sought after in research-intensive and leadership roles.
Graduates are prepared for careers in:
- Artificial intelligence and machine reasoning
- Biomedical and health informatics
- Knowledge engineering
- Data science and information management
- Government and defense research
- Standards development and interoperability initiatives
- Academic research and university teaching
The combination of advanced research training, technical expertise and interdisciplinary collaboration prepares graduates to shape how information systems evolve across industries and institutions.
A field with growing demand
Applied ontology experts work in artificial intelligence, biomedical informatics, government, research and technology organizations worldwide. UB graduates help build the knowledge systems that power data-driven decision making.
UB has a long-standing collaboration with the National Center for Ontological Research (NCOR) and is a partner institution of the National Center for Biomedical Ontology (NCBO), a consortium funded by the National Institutes of Health with partners including Stanford University and the Mayo Clinic.
These collaborations create opportunities for students to contribute to large-scale research initiatives connecting ontology to medicine, science, technology, government and industry.
If you are ready to conduct original research, advance the field of applied ontology and help shape the future of artificial intelligence, data science and information systems, the PhD in Applied Ontology at UB offers a rigorous and flexible path forward.
See PhD Program Metrics
For more information about the PhD in Philosophy, please reach out:
Donna Smith
Undergraduate Administrator; Graduate Administrator
Department of Philosophy
135A Park Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260-4150
Phone: (716) 645-2780; Fax: (716) 645-6139
Email: donnaobe@buffalo.edu