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 200B, BIOL 200C, and BIOL 200D in the first year. Students are required to participate in laboratory research meetings and departmental seminar series (BIOL 291/BIOL 292) every quarter. First-year 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 an ethics course (BIOL 289) and two approved advanced graduate electives, in addition to the core courses.
Complete the graduate core courses:
The following course:
Enroll in the following seminar series each quarter:
| BIOL291 | Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Seminar | 2 |
| BIOL292 | 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.
| BIOL201 | RNA Processing | 5 |
| BIOL203 | Ribosomes and Translation | 5 |
| BIOL204 | Chromatin | 5 |
| BIOL205 | Epigenetics | 5 |
| BIOL206 | Introduction to Stem Cell Biology | 5 |
| BIOL206L | Current Protocols in Stem Cell Biology | 5 |
| BIOL208 | Cellular Signaling Mechanisms | 5 |
| BIOL214 | Advances in Cancer Biology | 5 |
| BIOL215 | Applied Statistics for Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology | 5 |
| BIOL217 | Influence of Environment and Experience on Brain Development | 5 |
| BIOL226 | Advanced Molecular Neuroscience | 5 |
| BIOL228 | Developmental Neurobiology | 5 |
| BIOL290 | Career Planning | 2 |
| BME110 | Computational Biology Tools | 5 |
| BME130 | Genomes | 5 |
| BME160 | Research Programming in the Life Sciences | 6 |
| BME163 | Applied Visualization and Analysis of Scientific Data | 5 |
| BME205 | Bioinformatics Models and Algorithms | 5 |
| BME229 | Protein and Cell Engineering | 5 |
| BME237 | Applied RNA Bioinformatics | 5 |
| BME263 | Applied Visualization and Analysis of Scientific Data | 5 |
| CHEM200A | Advanced Biochemistry: Biophysical Methods | 5 |
| CHEM200B | Advanced Biochemistry: Macromolecular Structure and Function | 5 |
| CHEM200C | Advanced Biochemistry: Enzyme Mechanisms and Kinetics | 5 |
| CHEM230 | Grant Writing in Biomedical Research | 5 |
| ECE215 | Models of Robotic Manipulation | 5 |
| ECE293 | Advanced Topics in Electrical and Computer Engineering | 5 |
| METX202 | Cell and Molecular Toxicology | 5 |
| METX210 | Molecular and Cellular Basis of Bacterial Pathogenesis | 5 |
| METX206A | Advanced Microbiology | 5 |
| METX238 | Pathogenesis: Molecular Mechanisms of Disease | 5 |
| PDP, Training in teaching offered by the Institute for Scientist and Engineer Educators (ISEE) | |
| STAT108 | Linear Regression | 5 |
| STAT202 | Linear Models in SAS | 5 |
| STAT205B | Intermediate Classical Inference | 5 |
| STAT266A
/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: Grant Writing, and/or participate in the professional development program (PDP) may count only one of those as an advanced graduate elective.
*** Students may only count either EE 264 or ECE 293 toward their advanced graduate electives.
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 (45-50-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 with a thesis committee after the qualifying examination
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 her/his department seminar, a student, with her/his 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.