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THE BASICS
The Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology (MCDB) Graduate Program is one of seven biomedical sciences graduate programs at the University of Virginia. The other programs are Biomedical Engineering; Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genetics; Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases; Molecular Medicine; Neuroscience; and Structural, Computational Biology and Biophysics.
We have identified six major research/training areas in the MCDB Program that reflect the strengths and expertise of the program faculty:
There are seventy-three faculty affiliated with the MCDB Program, representing a dozen different departments and research centers from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Medicine, and the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
LECTURE COURSES
All MCDB students are required to take Cell Structure and Function (BIMS 512); Gene Structure, Expression and Regulation (BIOL 811); Developmental Mechanisms (BIMS 508); and Research Ethics (BIMS 710). In addition, each student must take and participate in Journal Club for four semesters. The remainder of lecture hours taken are determined after consultation with the MCDB Academic Committee initially and the mentor after the research lab has been selected. Each student's academic program is individualized to meet the needs of his or her proposed research interests.
LAB ROTATIONS
Incoming MCDB students are strongly encouraged to complete a lab rotation during the summer prior to starting Year-1. If this is not possible, the lab rotation schedule for the academic year is timed to allow for 3 rotations to be completed before the students are expected to select their permanent lab for dissertation research.
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES - Highlights
All MCDB students are required to attend CDB seminars and are encouraged to attend seminars hosted by any of the other biomedical sciences gradaute programs, academic departments, or centers. Rotation mentors may require additional seminar attendance.
The MCDB Program holds its annual retreat each fall off-grounds. The retreat is an excellent opportunity for new students to meet program faculty, learn more about the various research/training areas and possible rotation labs in the program, and have a good time.
There are many other opportunities on-grounds for intellectual intercourse with other students and the BIMS faculty including the Morphogenesis and Regenerative Medicine Biennial Symposium, the MCDB Faculty Research Series, the Graduate Biosciences Society (GBS) Student Symposium, the Robert J. Huskey Research Exhibition, Thematic Research-in-Progress Groups, and various distinguished lectures and annual symposia hosted by the other BIMS Programs, academic departments, and/or research centers.
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