General Statement

The Molecular Biology and Genetics Graduate Program is an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program administered through the Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology. Its goal is to prepare students to be successful as independent researchers in either an academic or an industrial setting. The program requires four to five years of study. Emphasis during this time is placed on flexible, individualized training in both basic knowledge of cell and molecular biology and biochemistry, as well as in a variety of technical and intellectual skills. These skills enable the student to carry out publishable dissertation research. Moreover, this program prepares the student to go on to prestigious postdoctoral positions as independent researchers at many of the country's leading institutions.

Areas of Concentration

The Molecular Biology Graduate Program faculty come from many academic departments and work in a variety of areas in modern cell and molecular biology. There are five major areas of specialization in basic science research (Molecular Genetics, Virology, Cell Biology and Immunology, Developmental Biology, and Structural Biology) and two areas of specialization in clinical research (Molecular Diagnosis and Gene Therapy).

Molecular Genetics -the research in this area focuses on the elucidation of the role of oncogenes, growth suppressor genes, cell cycle genes and survival genes in regulating normal cell growth as well as in the development of leukemias, lymphomas and solid tumors such as breast, bladder, ovarian and colon carcinomas.

Virology -the research in this area focuses on the role of viruses in the genesis of cancer, AIDS and other viral induced diseases such as herpes, chronic fatigue syndrome, toxic shock syndrome, etc. Research projects in this area of specialization utilize a variety of molecular approaches that lead to the understanding of the role of various viral gene products in these diseases.

Cell Biology and Immunology -the research in this area focuses on understanding the basic mechanisms associated with immune cell function with special emphasis on the role of growth factors and cytokines on the growth and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. Special animal model systems including SCID mouse and transgenic mouse models are used to study the effects of various drugs and cytokines on the development, progression, and spread of various tumors.

Developmental Biology -the research in this area focuses on identifying genes that regulate the development of the nervous, cardiovascular, and skeletal systems as well as understanding the role of retinoids in these processes. Research projects in this area of specialization use some of the most recent molecular innovations such as gene knock-out techniques as well as transgenic techniques to study the effect of over-expression or inappropriate expression or lack of expression of specific genes in embryonic development.

Structural Biology -the research in this area focuses on the study of proteins, especially those encoded by oncogenes and growth suppressor genes, using physical chemical techniques such as X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling. The goal of this research is to understand the mechanisms of interaction of anti-cancer and anti-viral drugs with growth regulatory proteins in an effort to develop rational approaches for drug design.

Molecular Diagnosis -the research in this area focuses on the development of methods and molecular tools for the rapid diagnosis of cancer.

Gene Therapy -the research in this area focuses on the development of gene therapy techniques for the treatment of cancer and AIDS. Ongoing research involves the development and in vivo testing of ribozyme molecules to counteract the action of certain oncogenes involved in the genesis of human leukemias and HIV infection. In addition, a number of retrovirus vectors systems are being developed to introduce new genetic material into human bone marrow cells.

Application Deadline

Applications must be completed by April 1.

Financial Aid

All students enrolled in the program receive full tuition remission and a graduate research assistantship.

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor's or higher degree. Students are expected to have completed courses in General Biology, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics. In addition, students should have completed at least one full year of advanced courses in Biology and/or Biochemistry. An average grade of not less than a B will be expected in these courses.

Students must submit scores from the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and transcripts of undergraduate and graduate course work, including Temple University. Two letters of recommendation are also required. International applicants must take the TOEFL test and score at least 250 on the computer-based version (CBT) or 600 on the paper-based version. A personal interview is desirable.

Degree Requirements

From the time of matriculation, this training involves both research and formal course work. Students enter the program in late summer and immediately begin the Laboratory Rotation Program. Three month rotations are performed in at least three laboratories. This allows the incoming student to become acquainted with the program, its students, faculty, and resources. Once the rotation program has been completed and the student has been placed in a permanent laboratory, research progress is reviewed every six months by the research advisory committee.

Students must complete 30 credit hours of course work. The curriculum is flexible enough to accommodate each student's background and interests. Through required course work, students obtain a good fundamental background in the general areas of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Genetics. Faculty of the Molecular Biology Graduate Program offer a two-semester core course on Molecular Genetics of the Eucaryotic Cell, starting in the fall, in addition to fundamental courses in Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Microbial Genetics, Recombinant DNA Techniques, and Synthesis and Degradation of Macromolecules. Three semesters of Graduate Student Seminar are required. All students take mini-courses in Presentation of Scientific Information, Critique of Scientific Information, Scientific Integrity and Ethics, and Scientific Writing. In addition, a considerable number of other more specialized courses are available to advanced students. For example, the following courses are usually taught on a biyearly basis: Human Genetics, Principles of Development, Cell Cycle Regulations, Molecular Genetics of Cell Proliferation, Differentiation, Growth Arrest and Apoptosis, Virology, DNA Repair, Immunogenetics, Molecular Aspects of the Immune System, Proteins and Enzymes, Genome Structure and Organization, and Control of Gene Expression.

Before being elevated to Ph.D. Candidacy, students must pass a written and oral preliminary examination. In addition, students must complete and defend a dissertation before the Ph.D. degree is awarded. A joint M.D.-Ph.D. program is open to students accepted by both the graduate and medical schools.

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