Molecular and Cellular Biology

Questions about these requirements? See the contact information at the bottom of the page. 

PhD Degree Requirements

Graduate students in the program in Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) are supported by faculty members of the MCB department as its nucleus, with affiliated faculty members from Chemistry and Chemical Biology (CCB), Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB), and Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology (SCRB).

Required Coursework

The curriculum offers courses designed to prepare students for success during their PhD and beyond. Coursework takes place in the first year of study and includes

• two terms of MCB 297, Method & Logic;
• MCB 208, Talking About Science;
• MCB 290, Journal Club;
• MCB 298, Science Communication;
• a quantitative biology course, chosen on the basis of Harvard’s math placement exam and in consultation with program leadership; and
• MCB 327, Life Sciences Pedagogy, a course taught by a Bok Center pedagogy fellow that prepares students to be effective teaching fellows in their G2 year.

Students are also required to take at least one elective course, chosen in consultation with program leadership.

In addition to academic coursework, all graduate students in the program must complete an eight-hour workshop in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) to be completed by the end of the first year of study. Additionally, students are required to take an RCR refresher course after the fourth year of study.

In accordance with the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS), all degree candidates must maintain a grade point average equivalent to 3.0 or better to continue in the program. Satisfactory progress is reviewed annually and students who fall below the grade minimum will ordinarily be given one term to improve their grades.

Laboratory Rotations

With nearly 40 participating faculty labs, the program provides an invaluable opportunity for graduate students to observe and participate in a variety of laboratory environments. G1 students carry out three different lab rotation projects during the first year with program faculty. Following the three intense eight-week rotation periods, students will select a suitable home lab by the end of May of the spring term.  

The rotations will expose students to a wide range of research concepts, techniques, and model systems. Additionally, they offer networking opportunities and serve to introduce G1 graduate students into our extended scientific community. The ultimate goal of making the rotation period intense and immersive is to help students succeed in finding a PhD lab that is right for them and in which they will thrive scientifically in the years ahead. 

Dissertation Research

Each student arranges for a permanent faculty dissertation advisor by the end of the second term of their first year and begins dissertation research thereafter.

Nonterminal Master of Arts (AM)

Students may apply for a nonterminal master's degree following successful completion of all G2 requirements including the candidacy examination, G2 DAC meeting, coursework, and teaching one required course.

Teaching

Each student is required to serve as a teaching fellow for one term during the G2 year. Students are expected to teach either one of the large introductory undergraduate laboratory-based courses—such as Life Sciences 1a or 1b, Life and Physical Sciences A, MCB 80, or MCB 60—or a small, discussion-based advanced course. Teaching beyond the requirement requires prior approval from the student’s advisor or advisors, dissertation committee members, and the program leadership.

Candidacy Examinations and Evaluation

Students are required to successfully complete the candidacy exam (PQE) by end of fall term of their G2 year, and show evidence of scientific progress by the end of the G2 spring term. Satisfactory completion of both will advance the student to PhD candidacy. The candidacy examination committee is composed of three faculty members from the program, which students will select in consultation with their dissertation advisor. 

The purpose of the PQE is to test a student’s intellectual capacity, their knowledge of the literature, and their ability to think on their feet. This encompasses various scholarly abilities: a solid background knowledge; familiarity with established ideas and open challenges in the chosen discipline; the ability to design experiments and to critically interpret their outcomes. The exam is also an opportunity for both the candidate and faculty to identify a mismatch between the student’s qualifications and readiness for research and Ph.D. training.

The exam has three possible outcomes: 

1. Pass: The student continues in the program toward the PhD. 
2. Pass with condition: This indicates minor deficiencies in the candidate’s preparation. The committee imposes certain conditions before a Pass may be granted. For example, the student may be required to take a specific course, or re-write the research proposal to show improved clarity. The student must receive approval from the committee that the conditions have been met to formally pass the PQE.
3. Fail: This indicates major deficiencies in the candidate’s preparation. The student has the opportunity to retake the candidacy exam only once in this situation. The second exam has outcomes of pass or fail only. If the student fails a second time they will be withdrawn from the program.  

Dissertation Advisory Committees (DAC)

PhD candidates discuss their project(s) with a dissertation advisory committee (DAC) to encourage forward thinking. Meetings must take place at least once every 12 months, however, the DAC may require more frequent meetings depending on the student’s progress, especially in the completion phase. The student invites three faculty members to join the DAC. The committee members may be the same as the candidacy exam committee, or the student may elect to choose new members. Membership must include at least two program faculty members.

DAC meetings serve as an opportunity for the student and advisor to assess progress and plans and receive feedback for the year (next DAC) and longer term (Defense). Integral to these meetings is the preparation of a DAC report that summarizes progress, challenges, and future directions. The advisor should be involved in the planning, drafting, and finalizing stages of the DAC report.  

The DAC has four main missions:

1. To serve as an advisory committee that will provide professional advice on all aspects of the dissertation project, from experimental paradigms to project feasibility and timing, to the scientific impact of the work. 
2. To help monitor the student’s progress and ensure that major objectives and standards for completion of the dissertation are being met. In this capacity, the DAC determines whether the student’s research meets the requirements of the program and when the student may begin writing the thesis. 
3. To help resolve any conflict between student and advisor or other lab members. 
4. To serve as a liaison to the department and training program leaders as well as graduate administration. 

Dissertation Defense

To schedule a defense, students are required to have published or submitted at least one first-author manuscript. Three to four years of full-time research are usually required for completion of the PhD degree. Students are expected to complete the program in their fifth year of study. 

Contact

Molecular and Cellular Biology website

Lindsay Guest 
Graduate Program Administrator 
617-496-8262 
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