Home > Graduate Program > Academic Program

Academic Program

The BMBB graduate program is an exceptionally strong research program that allows students to conduct leading edge research in one of the four BMBB divisions: Microbial Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Regulatory Biochemistry and Structural Biology & Biophysics.

Students are admitted through the first year program in Molecular, Cellular and Structural Biology. All first year students carry out three seven-week laboratory rotation projects during their first year. The goal of such rotations is to allow first-year students to perform experiments and conduct original research in a laboratory in which they have an interest. First year MCB students may choose an advisor from either the BMBB or MCBD&G graduate programs.

Students are encouraged to take advantage of our early-start program, beginning early July, which allows completion of an extra rotation before the start of classes in fall semester. This provides a laboratory experience uninterrupted by classes and gives incoming students time to adjust to and get acquainted with the program and the Twin City area before classes begin. Thesis advisor selection is typically completed during the spring semester of the first year.

Students select courses from a wide array of topics to complete their course work requirements for the Ph.D. degree. Elective courses may be chosen from those offered by the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics or selected from any number of scientific disciplines such as genetics, cell biology, pharmacology, chemistry, microbiology, plant biology or neuroscience. For more information, see:http://mcsb.umn.edu

As part of their training, all students participate in teaching biochemistry twice during their graduate career. Teaching experiences range from instruction in undergraduate laboratory to leading recitation sections associated with lecture courses.

The graduate program sponsors a weekly seminar series featuring presentations by leading national and international scientists. In other, less formal seminar programs, graduate students present their own thesis research and give journal clubs.

Research and Educational Opportunities

Most of the graduate faculty are affiliated with the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics which is part of both the Medical School and the College of Biological Sciences. Additional members of the BMBB graduate faculty have primary academic appointments in various departments within the Medical School, the College of Biological Sciences, the College of Agriculture, Food Science and Environmental Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Institute of Technology.