Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry Graduate Program
About
The Graduate Program in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry (MCB) is a truly interdisciplinary and interdepartmental program that offers students of superior ability and motivation excellent preparation for a career that includes research in biological and medical sciences.
About
The Graduate Program in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry (MCB) is a truly interdisciplinary and interdepartmental program that offers students of superior ability and motivation excellent preparation for a career that includes research in biological and medical sciences.
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MCB Graduate Program
Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry
The Program draws faculty trainers from five departments within the Program in Biology (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry; Molecular Microbiology and Immunology; Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology and Biotechnology; and Neuroscience), four departments within The Warren Alpert Medical School (Medicine; Pathology; Orthopaedics and Pediatrics), and from the Chemistry, Computer Science and Applied Mathematics departments.
“ You have a lot of resources [here] you wouldn't get anywhere else, because there are a lot of professors here that are the founders of the research questions that we're still answering. ”
Career Outcomes
MCBGP graduates pursue careers in diverse set of fields requiring expertise in quantitative analysis of the molecular life sciences. These include academic research and teaching, law, and science policy. Here are the results of a recent survey of MCBGP alumni who earned their PhDs between 2013 and 2024:
Biotechnology (60.8%)
- Non-Tenure-Track Academic Research (14.8%)
- Postdoctoral Training (6.7%)
- Scientific Communication (5.4%)
- Tenure-Track Academia (4%)
- Other (4%)
- Consulting – Biotechnology (1.3%)
- Government Research (1.3%)
- Law (1.3%)
Training Grant in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, & Biochemistry
The multi departmental MCBGP has held a training grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since the late 1970s. There are less than 50 NIH predoctoral training grants in Cellular, Biochemical and Molecular Biology, so this award represents strong external validation, ranking our program among the top in the country. The funding provides support for eight students per year but has greatly enhanced the activities of the MCBGP and therefore benefits all MCBGP students. Our program is administered by the National Institute and General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), which has led innovations in graduate education for many years and provides resources that allow programs to respond to new opportunities to implement best practices.
The goal of the funding provided by NIGMS is to enhance quantitative research training for a diverse group life scientists who will become leaders in the life sciences workforce. Our training grant supports students in the early years of their training and also provides opportunities for professional development, including opportunities to present research conferences at international conferences. The NIGMS training goals have continuously promoted new initiatives within the MCBGP graduate program, including curricular innovation and implementation of strategies that integrate opportunities to explore multiple future career possibilities.