Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry

The principal objective of members of the department is to understand living systems at the molecular level. Laboratories in MB&B focus on a diverse collection of problems in biology. Some specialize in the study of DNA dynamics, including replication, recombination, transposition, and/or functional genomics. Others focus on transcriptional regulation, from individual transcription factors to the control of lymphocyte activation, the interferon response, and organismal development. Other groups study RNA catalysis, RNA-protein interactions, and ribonucleoproteins including spliceosomes and the ribosome. Additionally there are those that emphasize protein folding and design, transmembrane signaling, cell cycle control, cytoskeletal dynamics, and neuroscience. Structural and computational biology is a strong component of many of these research efforts.

Terminal Degrees Offered
  • PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
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Admission Requirements

Standardized Testing Requirements

GRE is not accepted.

English Language Requirement

TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic is required of most applicants whose native language is not English. BBS requires a score of at least 600 on the paper version, 250 on the computer-based exam, and 100 on the internet-based exam. Please take the test no later than November and no earlier than 24 months prior to submitting your application. Use institution code 3987 when reporting your scores; you may enter any department code.

You may be exempt from this requirement if you have received (or will receive) an undergraduate degree from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction, and if you have studied in residence at that institution for at least three years.

Admission Information

Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry participates in the Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS), and applicants interested in pursuing a degree in cell biology should apply to the Biochemistry, Quantitative Biology, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Track within BBS.

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