TRAINING TRACK IN MOLECULAR, CELL, AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
COURSES AND REQUIREMENTS
The graduate training track in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology provides intensive training in the skills necessary to begin outstanding research and teaching careers in modern biology. The goal of the program is to produce graduates with both a broad foundation in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology, as well as in-depth knowledge and skills in the specific area of their thesis research. New trainees undertake rigorous core coursework that emphasizes critical evaluation of scientific models and experimental results. Each first-year student also participates in three ten-week laboratory rotations. Second-year students take an oral qualifying exam, and initiate independent research that ultimately leads to a dissertation. Advanced graduate students work under the direct supervision of one of twenty-nine affiliated faculty members in a highly interactive, collaborative research environment. All students participate in a variety of seminars, advanced special topics courses, and research group meetings designed to provide continuing learning opportunities.
General Requirements
- Coursework: Students take 7 courses – 5 core courses and 2 electives (courses listed below)
- Research Rotations: Students complete 3 rotations in different laboratories during the 1st year
- Rotation Seminar: Students present a rotation talk at the end of each quarter in the 1st year
- Oral Qualifying Exam: Exam is taken at the end of the 2nd year
- Research Seminar: Students formally present their research at the end of the 3rd year
- Doctoral Dissertation: Students submit the doctoral thesis to the Thesis Advisory Committee
- Oral Dissertation Defense : Students present a formal seminar to defend the thesis
Required Course Work
Required Core Courses:
- Bio 200A: Critical Analysis of Scientific Literature (Fall)
- Bio 200B: Advanced Molecular Biology (Fall)
- Bio 200C: Advanced Cell Biology (Winter)
- Bio 200D: Advanced Developmental Biology (Spring)
- Bio 289: Practice of Science (Year 2)
Elective Courses (students select 2)
- Bio 201 RNA Processing
- Bio 203 Ribosomes and Translation
- Bio 204 Chromatin and Transcription
- Bio 205 Epigenetics
- Bio 206 Introduction to Stem Cell Biology
- Bio 206L Current Protocols in Stem Cell Biology
- Bio 207 Population Genetics
- Bio 208 Cellular Signaling Mechanisms
- Bio 226 Advanced Neuroscience
- Bio 228 Advanced Topics in Cellular & Developmental Neurobiology
- AMS 7* Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental & Health Sciences
- BME 110 Computational Biology Tools
- BME 210 Applications & Analysis of Microarrays
- BME 220 Bioinformatics
- BME 230 Computational Genomics
- Chem 200A Advanced Biochemistry: Biophysical Methods
- Chem 200B Advanced Biochemistry: Protein Structure and Function
- Chem 200C Advanced Biochemistry: Structure and Function of Nucleic Acids
- MTOX 202 Cellular and Molecular Toxicology
- MTOX 210 Bacterial Pathogenesis
* Statistics courses qualifying as advanced graduate courses are subject to change in 2009-2010
Individuals may be advised to take additional undergraduate courses to remedy specific deficiencies in their academic background. Detailed descriptions of courses and other requirements can be found in the MCD Graduate Handbook.
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UCSC's graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences and Engineering is supported by training grants from the National Institute of General Medical Science. |
Website design by David States, last reviewed
11/4/09
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