About the Program

The program in Developmental Biology offers a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment where scholars explore how multicellular organisms are built, function, and regenerate. Located within the School of Medicine, this program leverages molecular, cellular, genetic, and evolutionary approaches to address fundamental biological questions. Students benefit from close mentorship and rigorous training designed to prepare them for successful careers in research, medicine, and biotechnology.

What You’ll Study

What you will study at the graduate level depends on your particular degree, academic interests, and professional goals. Key features of our program offerings include:

• Coursework that emphasizes not only foundational knowledge in the field, but also the underlying logic of problem solving and experimental design.  

• Emphasis on developing key professional skills, including: choosing important research problems, critical reading of scientific literature, effective writing and speaking skills, successful mixing of computational and experimental approaches, and collaboration among scientists from different backgrounds. 

• Flexible first-year laboratory rotations to explore different laboratories and areas of research for PhD thesis research. 

• Our program trains students to tackle fundamental problems with both creativity and rigor, providing the foundation needed for future success in many different fields.