Our Mission

The mission of the Department of Molecular Biology is to conduct high-impact, internationally recognized research, and to educate and train the next generation of leaders in biomedical research. We are especially committed to training diverse individuals. Learn more about these two areas below.

To Conduct High-impact, Internationally Recognized Research

Research in the Department of Molecular Biology focuses on understanding mechanisms that control normal and abnormal cell growth and differentiation during development and disease. Many of the basic molecular mechanisms that control cell growth and differentiation are evolutionarily conserved in widely divergent organisms. Thus, elucidation of biochemical pathways in simple, genetically tractable organisms can have direct relevance to comparable processes in humans.

In the Department of Molecular Biology, investigators are using a variety of model organisms to uncover and characterize fundamental cellular, molecular, and genetic pathways that control proliferation, differentiation, and oncogenesis. Our faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students constitute a diverse group of investigators with overlapping expertise in different research areas relating to this common theme.

Department research labs occupy approximately 56,000-square-feet of space on the North Campus in modern research buildings.

To Educate and Train the Next Generation of Leaders in Biomedical Research

The Department of Molecular Biology is dedicated to providing both a rich intellectual environment as well as cutting-edge research laboratories for training our graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. A major goal of our Department is to create an environment that challenges and motivates students and postdoctoral trainees. We also pride ourselves upon being a friendly, supportive, and interactive department with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.