Ph.D. in Cell Biology

The Cell Biology Ph.D. program allows the trainee to explore research areas ranging from neurobiology to aging and cancer. The program focuses on interdisciplinary training preparing students for developing expertise in their immediate research interest and preparing them to approach novel questions and systems in their future careers. The program, while stressing foundational understanding in mechanisms of cellular structure and function, integrates this into various aspects of systems biology. Thus, training includes foundational coursework in biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology to histology, physiology, neuroanatomy and behavioral sciences.

Research Interests in the Cell Biology Program

• Oncogene expression and cytokines
• Cancer metastasis
• Cell signaling in normal and pathological states
• Breast and prostate cancer
• Mechanisms in hypertension
• Aging
• Epigenetic regulatory mechanisms
• Modulation of neuronal signaling
• Growth control in skeletal muscle
• Signal transduction in tissues (platelets, muscle cells, the nervous system)
• Intracellular protein degradation
• Cytoskeletal and receptor function
• Extracellular matrices and limb development
• Extracellular matrices in development and cell fate determination
• Spinal cord injury
• Neural stem cells and brain development
• Mechanisms of neural plasticity in memory and learning
• Mechanisms involved in epilepsy (using human tissues and animal models)
• Molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease

Program Curriculum

Whether you’re entering through the Integrated Ph.D. Program (IPP) or with advanced standing, the course requirements are the same. Aside from the core didactic coursework, the focus of the Ph.D. program is research. You will enroll in three lab rotations early in the program, which allows you to discover where your research interests lie.

Through lectures, seminars and journal clubs, you'll learn about different mechanisms directing cell structure and function, and how these mechanisms are being investigated. Specialized courses in topics related to students’ interests are available either in small groups or as focused reading courses with both faculty within and outside the department. You will learn research techniques by conducting experiments in laboratories with appropriate expertise, and you will learn communication skills by presenting analyses of research papers in journal clubs and presenting your own research in seminars at both departmental and institutional levels.

Earning your Ph.D. is a multi-step process that includes developing an understanding of foundational scientific mechanisms, passing a qualifying examination and conducting your own research under the supervision of your mentor and your dissertation committee. For a detailed overview of Ph.D. requirements over the length of the program, visit our Ph.D. Program Requirements page.

Cell Biology Department Resources

The department uses state-of-the-art cell and molecular biology techniques, as well as high resolution microscopy and electrophysiological techniques. Many of the departmental research programs involve animal studies and a state-of-the-art animal facility is associated with the department.

Admission into the Cell Biology Ph.D. Program

The admissions committee for our Ph.D. program views each application holistically and we consider students from a variety of academic backgrounds. A master's degree or GRE is not required to enter the program. A foundation in the natural sciences and prior wet lab research experience is recommended for Ph.D. applicants. See Ph.D. admissions for all the admissions & application requirements.

Cell Biology Department Faculty

The Department of Cell Biology is home to more than 20 well-established faculty members and staff, many of whom have decades of teaching and research experience. Department faculty lead groundbreaking neuroscience and cell biology research projects that cover a wide array of topics. Graduate faculty mentors provide guidance for your original laboratory research, and our 2:1 student-faculty ratio allows for close individual attention and development of strong student/mentor interactions. In addition, there is extensive interaction between investigators and their laboratories within the department and between other departments. Learn more about our knowledgeable and experienced biomedical sciences faculty.