The faculty and students of the Molecular and Cellular Biology Training Program of the Department of Biology seek a molecular understanding of fundamental biological processes such as gene expression, reproduction and development. We use cellular, genetic, and molecular techniques to analyze diverse biological systems including viruses, fungi, cultured cells, and complex animals. Faculty and students interact closely within the Molecular and Cellular Biology group to maintain a cooperative research atmosphere. Faculty and students also interact with colleagues in the Colleges of Agriculture and Medicine and in the Graduate Center for Toxicology.

Entering students rotate in individual laboratories, usually selecting a thesis laboratory near the end of the first year. Students participate in group research and literature seminars as well as formal course work, which is tailored to each student's needs. The faculty prepare students for research careers in academic or industrial biology.