G-CBIO-PHD - Cell Biology - PhD

The Department of Cell Biology offers graduate training in cell and molecular biology, developmental biology, and physiology. Molecular cell biology research interests include molecular mechanisms of signal transduction, the cytoskeleton, motor proteins, cell motility, cell polarity, mechanisms of muscle contraction, membrane biophysics, tissue morphogenesis, tissue regeneration, mRNA localization, synapse formation, neural circuitry, stem cell biology, and the genetic/cellular basis of disease. A number of cell biology faculty address cell biology in the context of developing organisms such as mouse, zebrafish, and fly. Developmental interests include germ and stem cells and stem cells, neuronal specification and pathfinding, sex determination, development of the gonad, gut, lung, heart, head and neural tube, and appendage and heart regeneration. Specific interests in cellular, organ, and systemic physiology include neuromuscular junctions, the cellular basis of addiction and innate immunity, as well as heart, lung, gut, muscle, and reproductive organ function. The department has excellent facilities, including a state-of-the-art confocal microscopy suite with time-lapse live cell video imaging, Typhoon Trio phosphorimaging station, four-color fluorescent scanning/multiplexing, zebrafish facility, and mouse genetics.

The Department of Cell Biology participates in several university-wide interdisciplinary training programs, including genetics, cell and molecular biology, developmental biology, neurobiology, pharmacology, cancer biology, biomedical engineering, and toxicology. Admission to graduate training in cell biology is through one of these interdisciplinary training programs. For more information, contact the director of graduate studies.