Molecular and Cell Biology PhD

Application details

Degree types

PhD

Application deadline

December 1 (ET)

Application opens

Not publicly available

GRE policy

no

GPA expectation

Not publicly available

Cohort size

not published officially; recent enrolled cohorts suggest ~8–15/year

Rotation system

rotation

Umbrella vs department

department

One-program-only rule

no

Fee waiver available

yes

Fee waiver deadline

no deadline found; Graduate School exceptions only; no MCB-specific waiver

Funding

Funding model

stipend + tuition waiver

Annual stipend

$40,000

International student funding

likely same stipend/tuition waiver as domestic; all accepted MCB students receive full tuition waiver and $40,000 stipend with health insurance; program explicitly welcomes foreign students and has students from 10+ countries

Faculty tracked by Skopeia at this program

• Ed S. Lein

  Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms, Cell Image Analysis Techniques, Neural dynamics and brain function, Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

• Nancy K. Squires

  Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies, Neural dynamics and brain function, EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces, Neuroscience and Music Perception, Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation

• Shaoyu Ge

  Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research, Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms, Memory and Neural Mechanisms, Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms, Neural dynamics and brain function

• Hoi‐Chung Leung

  Functional Brain Connectivity Studies, Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies, Neural dynamics and brain function, Visual perception and processing mechanisms, Memory and Neural Mechanisms

• Stephan A. Brandt

  Visual perception and processing mechanisms, Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies, Neural dynamics and brain function, LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy

• Helmut H. Strey

  Electrostatics and Colloid Interactions, Neural dynamics and brain function, Surfactants and Colloidal Systems, Functional Brain Connectivity Studies, DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry

• Lilianne R. Mujica‐Parodi

  Functional Brain Connectivity Studies, Neural dynamics and brain function, Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies, Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes, Diet and metabolism studies

• Arianna Maffei

  Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research, Neural dynamics and brain function, Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques, Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies, Photoreceptor and optogenetics research

• Shennan A. Weiss

  Neural dynamics and brain function, Epilepsy research and treatment, EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces, Functional Brain Connectivity Studies, Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

• Alfredo Fontanini

  Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies, Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques, Neural dynamics and brain function, Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research, Advanced Chemical Sensor Technologies

• Dennis W. Choi

  Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research, Ion channel regulation and function, Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms, Mitochondrial Function and Pathology, Trace Elements in Health

• İvet Bahar

  Protein Structure and Dynamics, Enzyme Structure and Function, Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling, Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research, Computational Drug Discovery Methods

• Marc Laruelle

  Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research, Medical Imaging Techniques and Applications, Schizophrenia research and treatment, Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling

• Grigori Enikolopov

  Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms, Nitric Oxide and Endothelin Effects, Pluripotent Stem Cells Research, Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms, Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

• Ramin V. Parsey

  Functional Brain Connectivity Studies, Treatment of Major Depression, Medical Imaging Techniques and Applications, Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

• Mark Slifstein

  Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, Schizophrenia research and treatment, Medical Imaging Techniques and Applications, Functional Brain Connectivity Studies, Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

• Steven O. Smith

  Photoreceptor and optogenetics research, Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling, Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research, Alzheimer's disease research and treatments, Advanced NMR Techniques and Applications

• Ira S. Cohen

  Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias, Ion channel regulation and function, Neuroscience and Neural Engineering, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

A personalized Skopeia report ranks these faculty for your specific research background, flags who is likely taking new students, and includes their three most recent publications.

Notes

International students recommended to apply by November 15. GRE not required. Stipend $40,000 verified against program page. Cohort size, fee waiver, and international funding policy require manual verification.

Last verified 2026-05-08. Applicants should confirm every detail directly with the program before relying on it.