Program Overview

Ph.D. Requirements

M.A. Requirements

Courses

Advising

Application Process

Graduate Research

Molecular Cell & Developmental Biology
225 Sinsheimer Laboratories
Phone: 831.459.4986
Fax: 831.459.3139
Map & Directions

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The graduate program in Molecular, Cell and Developmental (MCD) Biology prepares students to take part in modern biological research. Graduates from our program have gone on to enjoy successful careers as University faculty engaged in teaching and research, in the biotechnology industry, and as patent attorneys and consultants. The MCD graduate program covers the breadth of MCD biology: from genetics to biochemistry, from the study of simple model organisms to the study of mice and humans. Our interests extend from large-scale problems in biological organization such as neurobiology down to the study of the atomic structure of biological structures like the ribosome.

Why Should You Consider Coming to Santa Cruz for Graduate School?

• Our faculty are internationally known for their research. Our faculty have been recognized by election to the National Academy of Sciences and by appointment to the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. We are an energetic group carrying out research funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and many private foundations.

• State of the art research facilities. MCD Biology is housed in Sinsheimer Laboratories, a modern and well equipped research facility next to the Science Library and near affiliated Departments which include Chemistry and Biochemistry, Environmental Toxicology and Molecular Bioengineering.

• Our program. Our program of study emphasizes the development of rigorous intellectual skills for research, the acquisition of technical skills and knowledge, and the ability to clearly and forcefully communicate the results of research. We accept only 6-8 students per year, insuring that students do not have to compete against one another for a place in a thesis lab. Students in our program are more than just faces or numbers; they have opportunities for close interaction with many faculty in addition to their thesis advisor.
  

• A collegial environment. Open communication of ideas and information is one of the keys to success in science. Students in our program have many opportunities to interact with each other, with postdoctoral fellows, with faculty, and with visiting seminar speakers. These opportunities include two weekly seminars; one given by distinguished visiting faculty on Mondays, and another by our students and postdoctoral fellows on Fridays. After the Monday seminar, students are invited to a private lunch with the seminar speaker. There are also a number of informal seminar series and journal clubs that include student, postdoctoral fellow, and faculty participation. In the summers, our campus is frequently the site of national and international scientific meetings. Furthermore, we interact and collaborate with scientists at nearby Universities and biotechnology companies in the San Francisco Bay Area.
  
  
• A great place to live and study. Santa Cruz is an oceanside community situated on Monterey Bay. Our City and Campus are friendly places with incredible natural beauty and many cultural and recreational opportunities only minutes from your front door, and the San Francisco Bay Area and several major airports are an easy drive from Santa Cruz.
  

How Can I Learn More About or Apply for Admission to the MCD Biology Graduate Program?

• Contact a Faculty member learn more about his/her work, or contact a member of the Graduate Admissions Committee to learn more about the program.
  
• We are looking for students with intellectual curiosity and a drive to succeed. If this describes you, then we urge you to apply to our program.

Financial Aid & Support:

The MCD Biology Department provides financial support in the form of university fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships for graduate students who remain in good academic standing.

For the 2008-2009 academic year, our students will receive a stipend of approximately $27,000, and in addition, all tuition costs and fees are covered by the program.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for external pre-doctoral fellowships such as National Science Foundation or Howard Hughes Medical Institute fellowships.

QUESTIONS: Contact the MCDB Graduate Advisor