Welcome to the Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology (CMB) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since 1961, CMB has been pioneering graduate education in the fields of cell biology and molecular biology. CMB provides the opportunity to work with over 180 faculty trainers, on a campus known for interdepartmental cooperation and collaboration. Currently there are over 100 students in the program, representing over 40 different departments. Coursework and research experience allow students to obtain a solid foundation in Cellular and Molecular Biology that is tailored to the professional objectives of each student. Program benefits include a competitive stipend, tuition coverage, comprehensive health benefits, and an excellent cost of living. The CMB Program only offers Fall semester admission. The application deadline is December 1.
- CMB is ranked fourth among larger Cell and Developmental Biology PhD programs in the U.S. according to PhDs.org
- Provided that they make satisfactory progress towards their PhD, all CMB students are guaranteed a competitive stipend and tuition remission for the duration of their graduate studies.
- Students admitted to CMB complete three four-week laboratory rotations before choosing a faculty advisor. More information can be found in the Lab Rotations section of the CMB Handbook.
- Faculty trainers and students are arranged in thirteen research Focus Groups based on common scientific interests and strengths of the program. This structure allows students to explore the breadth of research across campus while accessing the expertise of each individual trainer
- The CMB Program requirements emphasize research and coursework tailored to each student’s professional objectives
- CMB students have a strong publication record, with an average of 4.4 publications per student and 2.2 first author or co-first author publications per student at the time of graduation. View the full list of recent CMB graduates’ publications.
- Students are actively involved in the Program’s standing committees and all major activities including admissions, recruiting, orientation, and the fall retreat. CMB strives to offer a wide variety of additional activities and opportunities to support students well beyond coursework and annual requirements.
- When not in the lab or in class, students enjoy all that the campus community can provide–the urban setting of downtown Madison with myriad cultural events, as well as the outdoor recreation that the city’s lakes and parks have to offer
If you’d like to learn about the development of the molecular biology program at the university, as well as the Molecular Biology and Molecular Virology Laboratory (known today as Bock Laboratories, the home of the CMB Program), this paper by Harlyn Halvorson details the interesting history.
Student Spotlight
Katarina Braun
Katarina entered the CMB Program in 2017 and is a student in the Thomas Friedrich Lab.
"I study the evolution of influenza viruses by applying the principles of population genetics to deep sequencing data with the goal of understanding how both inter- and intraspecies transmission events affect genetic diversity and fitness of entire population of influenza virus. Better characterization of these bottleneck events will improve our understanding of human spillover infections and better equip us to predict cyclical influenza pandemic events."
Zac Swider
Zac entered the CMB Program in 2017 and is a student in the Bill Bement Lab.
"To me UW-Madison was the correct mixture of the three things that I was looking for in a graduate school: research that I was interested in – in an area that I enjoyed – and could also afford to live in."
Jose Martinez
Jose entered the CMB Program in 2018 and is a student in the Anita Bhattacharyya Lab.
"During the 2015-2016 Zika outbreak I was working as a health care administrator. As I was sitting in a meeting trying to figure out best practice protocols for patients coming in with exposure to Zika, I realized that as the only person with a science background I had a specific unique understanding of what was before us and was able to help create better informed policy. With this in mind, I was motivated to gain a stronger molecular science background and use this to help create better policies in science, healthcare and homeland security."
Alumni Spotlight
Kate Cooper
Kate graduated from CMB in 2008 and is an Associate Professor of Biology at Loras College in Dubuque, IA.
"I love the challenge and puzzle of trying to find the best way to help my students understand certain concepts in cell biology. I really enjoy getting to know them as people and genuinely enjoy spending time with them in class."
Saheed Imam
Saheed received his PhD from CMB in 2014 and is currently a Scientist at Synthetic Genomics in La Jolla, CA.
"My role is still very research focused, which is great, and I’m doing work which I enjoy, trying to achieve a goal I believe in (cost effective, sustainable biofuel to help pull us back from the brink of destroying our planet)."
Laura Runyen-Janecky
Laura is a Professor Biology at the University of Richmond, which is a primarily undergraduate institution. She graduated from CMB in 1996.
"UW-Madison’s CMB program was broad enough to allow me to explore several different areas of Biology since I was not sure what area of CMB I wanted to focus on for my dissertation work. Also, the faculty and students seemed very supportive and welcoming. This was especially important because I was a first generation college student, navigating very unfamiliar territory as a graduate student."