Graduate study in molecular and cell biology and biochemistry at Brown University leads to the Ph.D. degree. This program of study is directed toward understanding the biological systems of both plants and animals, as well as the scientific approaches used to make new contributions to our understanding of the biomedical field. The Program offers a broad integrative approach towards these understandings. Students will also benefit from their interactions with members of other programs and departments within the University, especially the graduate programs in Neuroscience, Pathobiology, and Chemistry. An individual program is designed to meet each student's needs and interests while providing a firm foundation in the broad research front encompassing cell, developmental, systems and molecular biology, genomics, proteomics and biochemistry. The mission of the MCB Graduate Program is to train new scientists to probe the mechanistic basis of fundamental biological processes within the context of an ever-changing knowledge base, and to effectively disseminate discoveries to the scientific and broader global communities. The ultimate goal of advanced study in experimental biology is specialization, but the MCB Program balances this focus with multidisciplinary training, equipping students to pursue issues central to basic biology and human health without approach-imposed limitations. This comprehensive perspective sets the MCB Program apart from the eight other discipline-specific graduate training programs at Brown, providing a unique opportunity for students to erase the boundaries between fields.