The graduate program in molecular and cellular biology strives to thoroughly prepare its students for careers in forefront areas of biomedical, environmental, and agricultural science by focusing on research and education in fundamental aspects of mechanistic biology.

he interdisciplinary Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) Program coordinates graduate education related to molecular and cellular biology. MCB students take the MCB core curriculum and receive their Ph.D. degrees in the Molecular and Cellular Biology Program. Research training and adjunct courses are taken in one or more of the traditional basic science departments.

Molecular and cellular approaches to studying life sciences have opened up all areas of contemporary biological research. Recognizing this fact, more than ninety of the OSU biological sciences faculty have designed this curriculum to bring students into contact with a broad range of disciplines and experimental approaches that are essential to help students remain competitive for a lifetime.

Students in the MCB program share elements of a common curriculum: core courses, a seminar and journal club series, research rotations, and a series of faculty research presentations. They are brought together weekly for scientific seminars where the opportunity for interacting with students and faculty from other departments is available. Students who enroll in the MCB program do research rotations during their first year, and are free to change Ph.D. programs once they select a thesis research adviser. Therefore, the MCB Program lowers interdisciplinary barriers and allows each individual the opportunity to select the most suitable adviser and degree program.