Brandeis University

Program Information

Degree Offered

M.S., Ph.D.

Format: Campus

Program Description:

How do organisms function at the molecular and cellular levels? The goal of Brandeis' Molecular and Cell Biology Graduate Program is to train aspiring scientists interested in solving these questions. Students acquire a broad knowledge about current developments in molecular and cell biology, learn to be effective scientific communicators, and are trained to perform independent scientific research in Brandeis' new, state-of-the-art science complex. Students also take advantage of research, internship, and career opportunities afforded by Brandeis' close proximity to the scientific and medical hub of Boston. Generous scholarships are available for both Master's and PhD study.

The Brandeis Graduate Program in Molecular and Cell Biology offers excellent training in a broad range of biological study. The research interests of our faculty can be roughly grouped into four major areas: Molecular Biology, Genetics and Development; Structural and Cell Biology, and Neurobiology. In keeping with the interdisciplinary nature of our program, many of our faculty also participate in other Brandeis Ph.D. degree programs in Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology, and Neurobiology.

The research interests of the faculty in our program encompass:
-behavior and neurobiology
-cancer and programmed cell death
-cytoskeleton and molecular motors
-developmental biology
-DNA replication, rearrangement, and repair
-nutrition
-immunology
-signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, and RNA processing
-structural biology

We prepare our students for a career in scientific research through:

-a flexible curriculum of courses tailored for each student's specific needs
-thesis research under the personal direction of a faculty member. Entering students participate in lab rotations that acquaint them with current research techniques and permit exploration of possible research areas

Students in the Molecular and Cell Biology program benefit from the extremely interactive nature of the Life Sciences at Brandeis. Entering Molecular and Cell Biology students may choose to perform their thesis research at any lab in the Physical or Life Sciences departments. The small size of the departments and individual research groups allows extensive collaborations and interactions among and within research groups.

Research programs in over 50 laboratories investigate fundamental life processes ranging from the structure and function of individual macromolecules to the mechanisms that control the behavior of whole organisms. The research of our graduate students and postdoctoral fellows is enhanced by our new state-of-the-art Shapiro Science Center and Complex. Within the Complex, research and teaching-lab/classroom spaces exemplify the top-tier research and teaching that characterize the sciences at Brandeis and foster connections between disciplines in the sciences.

We encourage you to learn more about our programs, located just outside of Boston with its world-renowned academic and scientific resources -- an ideal location for internships, research, and career opportunities. As part of the Boston Area Graduate Consortium, Brandeis students are welcome to take advantage of the curricular opportunities at several area schools.

Generous scholarships and fellowships are available. Successful applicants to the Ph.D. programs in the life sciences are offered full tuition waivers, a stipend, and health insurance allowance. Most of our master’s students receive generous scholarships in the form of merit- and need-based aid.

Accreditation:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Tuition & Financial Aid

Financial Aid Offered: Yes

Classification: Doctoral/Research Universities - Extensive

Institution Sector: Private not-for-profit

Locale: Small City

Size & Settings: 5,000 - 9,999