Introduction
The program in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental (MCD) biology (courses BIOL) leads to the doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) and is designed to prepare students for careers in research, teaching, and biotechnology. Current research in MCD biology focuses on such topics as the structure and function of RNA, gene expression, chromatin structure, epigenetics, cell signaling, cell division, development, nerve cell function, and stem cell biology.
Advancement to Candidacy
Course Requirements
Ph.D. students complete the graduate core courses, BIOL 200A, BIOL 200E, and BIOL 200F, along with BIOL 215, BIOL 288, and BIOL 289 (ethics) in the first year, and BIOL 230 in their second year. Students are required to participate in laboratory research meetings and departmental seminar series (BIOL 291/BIOL 292) every quarter. First-year rotating Ph.D. students complete three six-week laboratory rotations. Students choose their rotation laboratories in consultation with the Graduate Advisory Committee. The laboratory rotations give students a chance to learn about the diverse fields and methods of inquiry and to interact with members of the department. At the end of each rotation, students present a short talk or present a poster to the department on their rotation project. At the end of winter quarter, students consult with rotation faculty to identify a permanent thesis laboratory.
Ph.D. students must take two approved advanced graduate electives, in addition to the core courses.
Complete the graduate core courses:
| BIOL 200A | Critical Analysis of Scientific Literature | 5 |
| BIOL 200E | Experimental Design | 3 |
| BIOL 200F | Logic and Approaches to Scientific Discovery | 5 |
Plus the following courses:
| BIOL 215 | Applied Statistics for Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology | 5 |
| BIOL 288 | Pedagogy in STEM | 2 |
| BIOL 289 | Practice of Science | 5 |
| BIOL 230 | Grant Writing in the Biomedical Sciences | 5 |
Enroll in the following seminar series each quarter:
| BIOL 291 | Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Seminar | 2 |
| BIOL 292 | MCD Seminar | 0 |
Complete two advanced graduate elective courses (see the list below)
Approved Graduate Electives
(Ph.D. students complete two)
Note: Lecture and lab combinations count as a single course. For BME 163 and BME 263, only one of these courses will be counted toward fulfillment of the electives.
| BIOL 201 | RNA Processing | 5 |
| BIOL 203 | Ribosomes and Translation | 5 |
| BIOL 204 | Chromatin | 5 |
| BIOL 205 | Epigenetics | 5 |
| BIOL 206 | Introduction to Stem Cell Biology | 5 |
| BIOL 206L | Current Protocols in Stem Cell Biology | 5 |
| BIOL 208 | Cellular Signaling Mechanisms | 5 |
| BIOL 214 | Advances in Cancer Biology | 5 |
| BIOL 217 | Influence of Environment and Experience on Brain Development | 5 |
| BIOL 218 | CRISPR/Cas Technologies | 5 |
| BIOL 226 | Advanced Molecular Neuroscience | 5 |
| BIOL 228 | Developmental Neurobiology | 5 |
| BIOL 230 | Grant Writing in the Biomedical Sciences | 5 |
| BIOL 290 | Career Planning | 2 |
| BME 110 | Computational Biology Tools | 5 |
| BME 130 | Genomes | 5 |
| BME 160 | Research Programming in the Life Sciences | 6 |
| BME 163 | Applied Visualization and Analysis of Scientific Data | 3 |
| BME 205 | Bioinformatics Models and Algorithms | 5 |
| BME 229 | Protein and Cell Engineering | 5 |
| BME 230A | Introduction to Computational Genomics and Systems Biology | 5 |
| BME 230B | Advanced Computational Genomics and Systems Biology | 5 |
| BME 237 | Applied RNA Bioinformatics | 5 |
| BME 263 | Applied Visualization and Analysis of Scientific Data | 5 |
| BME 272 | Precision Medicine | 5 |
| CHEM 200A | Advanced Biochemistry: Biophysical Methods | 5 |
| CHEM 200B | Advanced Biochemistry: Macromolecular Structure and Function | 5 |
| CHEM 200C | Advanced Biochemistry: Enzyme Mechanisms and Kinetics | 5 |
| CHEM 230 | Grant Writing in Biomedical Research | 5 |
| ECE 236 | Optics and Microscopy | 5 |
| ECE 237 | Image Processing and Reconstruction | 5 |
| METX 202 | Cell and Molecular Toxicology | 5 |
| METX 210 | Molecular and Cellular Basis of Bacterial Pathogenesis | 5 |
| METX 206A | Advanced Microbiology | 5 |
| METX 238 | Pathogenesis: Molecular Mechanisms of Disease | 5 |
| | PDP, Training in teaching offered by the Institute for Scientist and Engineer Educators (ISEE) | |
| STAT 108 | Linear Regression | 5 |
| STAT 202 | Linear Models in SAS | 5 |
| STAT 205B | Intermediate Classical Inference | 5 |
| STAT 208 | Linear Statistical Models | 5 |
| STAT 266A
/CSE 266A
| Data Visualization and Statistical Programming in R | 3 |
Students who have had no or very little statistics should audit or take STAT 7 (5 credits) and perhaps also STAT 7L (2 credits) to learn the basics, before taking one of the graduate level courses.
Students who take BIOL 290, Career Planning, take CHEM 230, or BIOL 230, Grant Writing, and/or participate in the Professional Development Program (PDP) may count only one of those as an advanced graduate elective.
Students may count either ECE 236 or ECE 237, but not both, toward their advanced graduate electives.
BIOL 215, CHEM 230, and BIOL 230 may only count as electives to Ph.D. students who matriculated prior to fall 2020.
Teaching Requirement
Complete two quarters of service as a teaching assistant.
Qualifying Examination
Complete an oral and written qualifying examination.
Second-year Ph.D. students are required to submit a written proposal on their thesis research. The oral component of the qualifying examination, taken in spring quarter of the second year, is an oral examination on the proposal. The examining committee is comprised of three internal reviewers and one external reviewer.
Advancement to Candidacy
Advancement to candidacy occurs by the end of the third year (nine quarters). Students must give a full research seminar (~30 minute talk followed by questions) in an MCD seminar slot. This should be attended and evaluated by the Thesis Advisory Committee. A passing evaluation requires demonstration of a good understanding of their project and background knowledge, and a clear presentation of their questions or hypotheses, tests of those, and progress to date. A passing evaluation leads to advancement to candidacy. Students have an additional three years (nine quarters) to complete their degree within normative time.
Dissertation
Dissertation
Meet yearly, starting in the second year of study, with the student's thesis committee.
Complete thesis research resulting in peer-reviewed publications and a dissertation on original and significant work.
Once the qualifying examination is passed and prior to their department seminar, a student, with their faculty adviser, selects a thesis committee to help guide the student’s thesis research. This committee monitors the student’s progress and ultimately approves the final draft of the student’s dissertation. The student must meet with the thesis committee at least once a year after passing the qualifying examination.
Dissertation Defense
Present the thesis defense in a departmental seminar.