The Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) program at Dartmouth was founded in 1994 and is an interdisciplinary graduate program whose mission is to train highly qualified students for productive careers in research, teaching and biotechnology through the completion of a Ph.D. degree.
Dartmouth MCB is the largest Ph.D. program at Dartmouth, consisting of over 200 students from across the United States and twenty different countries and over 90 faculty members including members of the National Academy of Science and AAAS as well as recipients of NIH MERIT and NSF CAREER awards. MCB research is interdisciplinary and encompasses a wide range of topics including biophysics and structural biology, biotechnology, cancer biology, cell biology, circadian biology, computational and quantitative biology, developmental biology, evolutionary biology, genetics, genomics and proteomics, immunology, microbiology, molecular pathogenesis and host-microbe interactions, neuroscience, plant molecular biology, regulation of gene expression, and signal transduction and cellular metabolism. MCB labs are located across campus in Vail and Remsen Buildings, the Life Sciences Center, Chemistry, Computer Sciences, and the Thayer School of Engineering in addition to the Borwell, Rubin, and Williamson Translational Research Building at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.
Faculty members in MCB are from one of four departments (Biological Sciences, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Molecular and Systems Biology) and/or associated with the Dartmouth Cancer Center. They are among the top in their fields, as recognized by competitive research grants, publication in leading journals, and membership in professional societies. While performing cutting-edge science, we maintain a collegial feeling in the program and foster a collaborative environment. Dartmouth, as an Ivy League institution, has a long-standing tradition of close student-faculty ties - a tradition that is heartily endorsed by the MCB program.
MCB research is funded by Federal agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, NASA, and the USDA, as well as by private foundations including the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Gates Foundation, and many others. Additionally, the MCB community is supported by numerous training grants, program projects, and externally funded Centers.
Graduate students receive an annual stipend, health insurance, and a full-tuition scholarship. Thirty to thirty-five students matriculate each year. Research rotations during the first year provide students the opportunity to explore diverse research interests and then make an informed decision when selecting a thesis lab. Each student works closely with a thesis advisor and has the opportunity to interact daily with other members of the program. Graduate student "research in progress" seminars are held on a weekly basis providing both an opportunity to learn about each other's research and to obtain feedback from faculty and students. Informal interactions among program students and faculty take place during weekly get-togethers, journal clubs, and annual retreats.
We place a high priority on building and supporting a diverse and inclusive culture for faculty and students. MCB partners with the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies to recruit a diverse student body to Dartmouth.
