Curriculum, PhD in Cell Biology

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Cell Biology has developed great strengths and a strong national reputation in a number of research areas,including cell adhesion, cell migration, intracellular transport and trafficking, and reproductive cell biology. In addition to these research accomplishments the faculty continues achieving excellence in its medical school and graduate teaching missions. A new emphasis for research will be the problem of morphogenesis, involving a combination of cellular/molecular, genetic, and advanced imaging approaches todiscover the basic principles underlying tissue, organ, and organism development.


DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Department degree requirements for Cell and Molecular Biology students are modified somewhat to reflect the character of the training program. There are no foreign language
requirements for the doctoral degree in any affiliated department or program. Qualifying
examinations take the form of written examinations, oral research proposals, or both,
depending upon the particular department.
YEAR - 2 : Required Credits

Fall Semester - 12 to 15 credits

    * CELL 903 Research in Cell Biology (Topical Research) (1 - 12 credits)
    * CELL 595 Current Topics/Journal Club (1 credit)

   Choice of Colloquia (this list is not all inclusive):

    * BIOL 801 Colloquium in Developmental Biology
    * BIMS 809 Colloquium on Cell Imaging
    * CELL 806Colloquium in Cell Biology

Spring Semester - 12 to 15 credits

    * CELL 903Topical Research (1 - 12 credits)
    * CELL 595 Current Topics/Journal Club (1 credit)

    Electives:

    * Advanced course or colloquium (1 - 5 credits)

Summer Session

    * CELL 999Non-Topical Research (6 credits)

YEAR 3 TO COMPLETION:  Required Credits

    * CELL 999Non-Topical Research (up to 12 credits)
    * Finish required coursework as necessary


OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHING - CURRENT POLICY

There are no formal teaching requirements for the PhD in Cell Biology. With respect to teaching, however, students may elect to do one or more of the following: 1) take one of the medical courses taught by the department (Cell and Tissue Structure or Human Gross Anatomy), 2) teach in part or all of the laboratories of one of these courses, and 3) present a lecture in one of these courses. In order to teach in the laboratories or give a lecture to the medical students, the PhD student must have taken the medical course involved. In some cases, it may also be possible to arrange undergraduate teaching opportunities for interested students (e.g., with the Biology Department).

Every graduate student for the PhD in Biology is required to complete a minimum of one full-time, semester-long Teaching Assistantship (TA) at some time during her/his graduate training. A student with previous teaching experience may petition the Graduate Committee for exemption from part or all of this requirement. Teaching assignments are made each semester by the Director of Graduate Studies and/or Graduate Committee.  Students interested in teaching should contact the CDB Program Administrator for more information.