The Department of Cell & Developmental Biology offers exciting opportunities for graduate students to become skilled and creative biologists. Our program is designed to set the foundation for a future scholar or industry leader to uncover new knowledge in the field, critically analyze scientific data in the molecular life sciences, communicate the significance of biological phenomena to expert and lay audiences, and lead research and development efforts to enhance human health. Most of our graduates pursue careers in academia or pharmaceutical and biotech industry.
Current faculty research programs encompass broad areas of cutting-edge cell and developmental biology, including cancer biology, regenerative biology, neurobiology, chromatin biology, epigenetics, and genomics.
Student training includes a combination of course work, independent research, and seminars. In addition, the graduate experience includes exposure to research ethics, career development, and the important role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in research and teaching. The educational experience is further enriched by the multinational composition of students in our program.
All of this takes place at a major research university with state-of-the-art facilities and excellent faculty located in a micro-urban environment in central Illinois that is manageable, affordable, diverse, and an intellectual community that maintains small town collegiality. The Champaign-Urbana area is host to numerous cultural events throughout the year and is home to the world-class Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.
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