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The Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology offers training
in the fields of molecular genetics, cell biology, and related disciplines
for (1) students who plan to pursue research careers and teaching in the
emerging areas of modern biology, (2) medical students, and (3) undergraduate
and graduate students in other departments. Programs for the Ph.D. degree
place great emphasis on sound preparation in genetics, cell biology, and
molecular biology. For properly qualified advanced students, the department
offers opportunities for research in genetics, cell biology, developmental
biology, microbiology, plant molecular biology, and virology. Of special
interest is the design of interdisciplinary programs that emphasize new
areas of biology as they emerge.
Application
The department is sympathetic to the needs of students with unusual backgrounds
and such students are encouraged to apply. All applicants to the department
must take the verbal, quantitative, and analytical portions of the Graduate
Record Examination. For further information about the Department of Molecular
Genetics and Cell Biology, the program of study and degree requirements,
and the research interests of the faculty, please visit our website at
http://molbio.bsd.uchicago.edu,
or contact: Graduate Program Administrator, Department of Molecular Genetics
and Cell Biology, Cummings Life Science Center, 920 East 58th Street,
Chicago, IL 60637, telephone: (773) 702-8037.
The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
A Ph.D. candidate must fulfill certain formal coursework requirements,
pass one preliminary and one qualifying examination, and present a satisfactory
dissertation describing the results of original research.
The department expects a knowledge of and proficiency in genetics and
cell biology. This requirement will normally be met by fulfilling the
formal coursework described here, but detailed degree programs are flexible.
Courses taken at other institutions, in other departments, or as part
of the Medical School curriculum may substitute for MGCB courses with
approval of the curriculum committee. To fulfill the requirements for
a Ph.D., nine graded courses are required. In the Department of Molecular
Genetics and Cell Biology, a student must take one course in each of three
areas during the first year: (1) genetics, (2) cell biology, and (3) molecular
biology. In addition to these core courses, a second course in one of
these areas is required to develop greater proficiency in a subdiscipline.
The total of four required courses can be selected from those marked with
an asterisk (*) in the list of courses. Four additional graded electives
must be taken, one of which may be a reading course. They can be selected
according to the student’s interests and the availability of courses.
A student is also required to do two laboratory rotations before selecting
an advisor and laboratory to pursue a Ph.D. dissertation. These rotations
will be graded and together will be equivalent to one elective. All students
are required to serve as teaching assistants for two quarters.
During the second year, students select a thesis advisor and begin laboratory
research. To complete the Ph.D. degree, they must prepare, under the general
direction of an appointed doctoral committee, a dissertation based upon
their original research. A public seminar describing the results of the
dissertation research must be presented and the dissertation must be successfully
defended before the doctoral committee.
This text was last revised on 9/2/2003.
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