Major research activities encompass biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, developmental biology, genetics, and molecular biology. Each student, in collaboration with a faculty committee, constructs a course program according to his or her needs and professional goals. By the end of the first year, the student will have obtained fundamental knowledge in at least four of the six research fields listed above. In order to qualify for the Ph.D., a graduate student must pass a qualifying examination, write and defend a research proposal, submit a thesis based on his or her research, and pass a final oral examination.
Research is carried out under the guidance of a faculty member.
Each student meets periodically with a thesis committee consisting of the primary research adviser and usually 2 additional faculty members from a related area of research. One of the most attractive features of the department is the opportunity for close interaction between graduate students and faculty members. In addition to formal teaching and research programs, the department offers a seminar series and weekly journal club meetings. The seminar series brings in scientists from the United States and abroad to discuss their research with faculty members and graduate students. The department is housed with the Department of Chemistry in the Mellon Institute, a spacious eight-story building located close to the main campus of the University.