Molecular and Cellular Biology

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

PhD Degree Requirements

Graduate students belonging to the Molecules, Cells, and Organisms (MCO) training program are supported by an interdepartmental and interdisciplinary collective of faculty composed of members of the MCB as its nucleus but with support from members of Chemistry and Chemical Biology (CCB), Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB) and Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology (SCRB).

Required Coursework

The MCO curriculum offers unique 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 207 (MCO 101), MCB 290 (Journal Club) and MCB 296 (Scientific Journeys) as well as a quantitative biology course, chosen based on Harvard's math placement exam, and in consultation with program leadership. Students will also take MCB 327 (Life Sciences Pedagogy), a course taught by a Bok Center Pedagogy Fellow, which will prepare students to be effective teaching fellows in their G2 year. 

Students are also required to take at least one elective course, which they will choose in consultation with MCO 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 MCO program provides an invaluable opportunity for graduate students to observe and participate in a variety of laboratory environments. MCO 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 MCO 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. 

Nanocourses

Nanocourses are offered in a broad range of topics during the course of an academic year. Participation in relevant nanocourses is encouraged for all students in the MCO training program.

Dissertation Research

Each student arranges for a permanent faculty dissertation advisor by the middle 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 their 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(s), dissertation committee members, and the MCO program leadership.

Candidacy Examinations and Evaluation

Students are required to successfully complete the candidacy exam by end of fall semester of their G2 year, and show evidence of scientific progress by the end of the G2 spring semester. Satisfactory completion of both will advance the student to PhD candidacy. The candidacy examination committee is composed of three faculty members from the MCO training program, which students will select in consultation with their dissertation advisor. The examination places emphasis on the following scholarly abilities: a superior knowledge of the specific topic they are working on and a broad familiarity of how it connects to neighboring areas of biology; firm grasp of the paradigms and open challenges in their chosen field of study; and, most critically, the ability to design and correctly interpret decisive experiments aimed at falsifying competing hypotheses.  

The exam has three possible outcomes: 

1. Pass: The student continues in the program toward the PhD. 
2. Pass with condition: The student must complete the conditions set by the committee (for example, teaching or taking a specific course, or rewriting the research proposal for approval by the committee).   
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)

MCO PhD candidates report their progress to a dissertation advisory committee (DAC) at the beginning of each academic year to encourage forward thinking. The DAC may require more frequent meetings depending on the student’s progress, especially in the completion phase. The student invites three to four 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 faculty members from the MCO training program. 

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 substance and format of the report will evolve as students progress through the program. 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 dissertation.
3. To help resolve any conflict between student and advisor or other lab members.
4. To serve as 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 Info

Molecular and Cellular Biology Website

Lindsay Guest 
Graduate Program Administrator 
617-496-8262 
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