Molecular Cell Biology applies biochemical, genetic, molecular, and sophisticated morphological techniques to the investigation of basic cellular processes in health and disease. The Cell & Developmental Biology Research Area provides abundant opportunities to investigate problems in molecular biology and cell biology. The research area includes outstanding faculty members drawn from several departments in the School of Medicine to offer a breadth and depth of expertise in both research areas addressed and experimental approaches used in molecular cell biology.<br><br>Areas of investigation include cell signaling, glycobiology, lipid signaling and membrane trafficking, molecular motors and vesicular trafficking, chromosome biology, transcriptional regulation, RNA processing, cell cycle control, cancer cell biology and the layers of integration between these processes. These topics are investigated in a wide variety of organisms including yeast, Drosophila, C. elegans, mice and humans, using approaches that range from high-end microscopy to functional genomics.<br><br>Students are expected to choose elective courses that reflect a molecular cell biology focus, including participation in seminars and journal clubs with a molecular cell biology focus.