MCDB博士课程的理念是为学生提供分子和细胞生物学方面最新知识的坚实基础，同时还可以提供灵活性，以便学生可以选择自己的探究途径，侧重于个人研究。MCDB博士课程的平均完成时间为5 1/2至6年。在第一年，研究生完成了核心课程，并在MCDB实验室进行了三个10周的轮换。在选择了实验室和论文导师之后，研究生们开始进行论文研究，并在第二年完成课程学习并进行初试。由于该计划的重点主要放在研究培训上，因此根据个人需求定义了进一步的课程要求，使学生可以从MCDB和其他部门提供的广泛课程中进行选择。此外，学生在整个博士
The MCDB graduate program provides rigorous, individualized graduate research training that emphasizes innovative research leading to the Masters and Doctoral degrees. The programs are designed to provide a solid foundation in current knowledge while allowing students the flexibility to choose their own path of inquiry. Modern molecular and cellular biological research moves at a rapid pace that requires novel ideas, scientific interaction and new experimental approaches. The MCDB program provides multiple opportunities to gain expertise in diverse fields of research, in addition to lab rotations and courses that are completed in the first year of study. A full schedule of weekly seminars by invited speakers and annual research retreat form the framework for scientific interactions. Students participate in weekly research seminars presented by postdoctoral fellows and advanced graduate students. Individual faculty members also organize special topics seminars that focus on important research problems in their own disciplines. A full-range of state-of-the-art facilities are available, including digital imaging and microscopy instrumentation, DNA sequencing, RNAseq, and computer analysis laboratories, in addition to biochemical and biophysical instrumentation, including mass spectrometry, CD, and X-Ray crystallography facilities.