This area offers training in many inter-related disciplines, including  Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Genetics & Genomics, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Oncology, Neuroscience, and Tumor Immunology. Many opportunities exist within and between these disciplines for students to engage in groundbreaking work on areas such as autoimmune disorders and cancer therapy, microbiome biology and the genetic analysis of microbial systems. Trainees may also integrate training in these disciplines with advanced training in computational biology to establish rigorous expertise in both domains. With our training faculty, our trainees engage with diverse model systems, techniques, and approaches that elucidate fundamental biological mechanisms, mechanisms of disease, and new opportunities for therapeutic intervention.

Traditional didactic courses are complemented by hands-on training in areas such as imaging and image-analysis, proteomics and metabolomics, flow cytometry, structural biology, and single cell RNAseq analysis. These practical workshops position our students to be highly productive upon entering a lab and beginning thesis work. Continuous learning through discipline specific journal clubs, seminar series, and works-in-progress meetings provide further depth within specific disciplines throughout the course of the PhD.

These areas integrate molecular research with clinical applications, providing a robust foundation for translational discoveries that may lead to innovative treatments. To support translational opportunities, trainees in these areas are integrated across various translational centers and programs at NYULH, including but not limited to the Perlmutter Cancer Center, . These translational research communities provide opportunities for students to learn from and engage with clinicians and obtain access to relevant human biospecimens and cohorts.

To look up faculty with research interests in these areas, please visit our faculty tool.

Curriculum

Electives relevant to this discipline include the following:

Cell and Developmental Biology
Fundamentals of Microbiology
Cellular Neuroscience
Genetics and Genomics: From Peas to People
Introduction to Immunology
Methods in Quantitative Biology
Molecular Neurobiology
Molecular Mechanisms in Biology
Advanced Cytometry Techniques
Host Pathogen Interactions
Ion Channels and Transporters
Neuroanatomy
Mammalian Stem Cells in Disease
Protein Modifications in Cell Signaling
Behavior & Cognitive Neuroscience
Techniques in Structural Biology
Translating Cancer Discovery into Clinical Practice

Contact Us

To learn more about research into molecular, cellular, and organismal biology,  contact one of our Pre-Candidacy Faculty Advisors (David B.Beck, MD, PhD, Michelle Krogsgaard, PhD, Thales Y. Papagiannakopoulos, PhD, Hyung Don Ryoo, PhD, Susan R. Schwab, PhD, Alexander A. Serganov, PhD, David L. Stokes, PhD, Jesus Torres Vazquez, PhD, Jessica E. Treisman, PhD, and/or Elaine L. Wilson, PhD).

For general information about graduate programs at Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, email Vilcek-Info@NYULangone.org or call 212-263-5648.