Cellular and Molecular Biology
This is an archived copy of the 2018-19 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://bulletin.ndsu.edu.
Program Description
The CMB program was formed in 1988 and was the first interdisciplinary graduate program at NDSU. The program was designed to respond to the evolving nature of research in the life sciences in which it was recognized that biological phenomena emerge from molecular and cellular events and that the elucidation of such processes increasingly relies on multidisciplinary approaches.
The CMB program provides cross training of graduate students in the areas of biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology. In this setting, students learn the most up-to-date approaches from a variety of fields. Integration across concepts as well as the application of various approaches to addressing biological problems is developed through their preliminary exam, in which students are required to write a research proposal in the format of a national granting agency different from their dissertation research, and to defend it orally. The students also develop and conduct an original line of research under the supervision of their major adviser. The program also brings together faculty with common interests and who use common approaches and equipment. Such a community of scientists fosters collaboration and engenders a sense of cooperation that leads to shared use of common equipment.
The CMB program prepares students for careers in academia and private industry. All graduates of the program have obtained permanent positions in their field or are engaged in postdoctoral training.
Nearly 40 faculty members in many different departments and representing a variety of colleges participate as faculty mentors. The program is led by the CMB Director, who receives guidance on policy, procedure, and program administration from a multidisciplinary group of faculty who serve on the CMB Steering Committee.
Program Objectives
The CMB program has been designed to respond to the evolving nature of research in the life sciences in which it was recognized that biological phenomena emerge from molecular and cellular events and that the elucidation of such processes increasingly relies on multidisciplinary approaches. In addition, new applications of sensor technology, disease diagnosis and treatment, and other emerging technologies require that scientists work across historical boundaries of their disciplines.
This is a research-oriented degree that requires advanced skills areas of biochemistry, cellular biology, molecular biology, and contemporary research techniques. Prospective students must have a high quantitative aptitude and be prepared to undertake rigorous graduate-level training in research including quantitative methods.
The Cellular and Molecular Biology Ph.D. program is open to qualified graduates of universities and colleges of recognized standing. To be admitted with full status to the program, the applicant must:
- Hold a baccalaureate degree from an educational institution of recognized standing.
- Have earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) in all courses of at least 3.0 or equivalent at the baccalaureate level. Applications may be submitted directly to The Graduate School at any time.
- Have adequate preparation and show potential to undertake advanced study and research as evidenced by academic performance and experience.
- If possible, applicants should identify at least one Cellular and Molecular Biology faculty member with whom they wish to study.
A recent score (within 12 months) for the general Graduate Record Examination or successful completion of a relevant M.S. degree is required. No minimum GRE score is required, but investigators may use this as a piece of evidence in consideration of the student’s application. Foreign students are required to have proficiency in English as shown by a TOEFL iBT of 71 or higher or an IELTS of 5.5 or higher, unless they have matriculated from an institution in which instruction is conducted in English.
The following undergraduate courses are required for graduate work in the CMB program:
- Biology - One year of general biology with laboratory and one course in genetics are required. Cellular biology or cellular physiology, animal or plant physiology, and microbiology are recommended.
- Chemistry - One year of general chemistry with laboratory and two sequential terms of organic chemistry with laboratory are required. Biochemistry is recommended.
- Mathematics - Two terms of life sciences calculus are required.
- Physics - Two sequential terms of general physics with laboratories (above the concept level) are required.
- Recommended - introductory courses in computer science, statistics, and technical writing.
- With program approval, up to 3 courses may be attempted within the first year of resident study to correct deficiencies in required courses. Graduate credit will not be earned for these courses.
Applicant Selection
Applications for the CMB program are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year; however, for full consideration for a CMB program stipend, application must be made by the deadlines listed for fall admission (July 1). Acceptance into the program is based upon both the quality of the application and the capacity of the program.
As a program that encompasses many departments and core areas of research, as well as being an interdisciplinary training program, it is helpful to potential advisors to know what aspects of research the student is interested in. Students are encouraged to explore potential advisors’ work and identify areas of interest that align with one or more CMB faculty research program(s). These areas should be addressed in the applicant’s statement of purpose. If an applicant is open to a broad range of research, it is helpful to identify that as well (for example, working with plant genetics, any aspect of infectious disease, aspects of either cancer biology or therapeutics, etc). Students are only admitted to the program if a successful match with a CMB faculty member can be made, so this is a critical aspect of the application demonstrating what the student will bring to the research endeavor.
Participating Departments/Programs
North Dakota State University offers an interdisciplinary program leading to the doctoral degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology. The CMB program is a joint effort of the Colleges of Agriculture, Food Systems, Natural Resources; Science and Math; Health Professions; and Engineering and includes the Departments of Animal Sciences, Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Coatings and Polymeric Materials, Electrical & Computer Engineering (Bioengineering), Microbiological Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physics, and Plant Sciences.
Financial Assistance
Self-funded students who provide their own support through sponsored funding sources (governmental or grant funding only) may contact CMB faculty members with whom they wish to work or the CMB Director to inquire which investigators are accepting students so that a successful research mentorship can be arranged.
While the CMB program offers a limited number of competitive graduate assistantships that includes a full tuition waiver, financial support is usually provided by the department or laboratory in which the student will carry out research. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to research participating faculty members’ areas of expertise and identify them in their statement of purpose. Students are encouraged to contact those with whom they would like to work regarding availability of positions and funding. In instances where specific investigators are not identified in the Statement of Purpose, the Director will contact faculty members who are accepting new students for their appraisal of the application.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive Biochemistry I (required) | ||
| Comprehensive Biochemistry II (required) | ||
| Advanced Cell Biology | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Molecular Biology of Gene Expression and Regulation | ||
| Advanced Bacterial Genetics and Phage | ||
| Plant Molecular Genetics | ||
| Methods of Recombinant DNA Technology (required) | ||
| Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology | ||
| Doctoral Dissertation | ||
| Each student is expected to seek out professional development by attending regular seminars in their home department or in conjunction with their research interests (for example, a seminar series or COBRE science series). Students are required to present at least one scientific seminar per year throughout the program. In addition, students will supplement their knowledge of molecular biology, cell biology, and research techniques by fulfilling the remaining credits in their plan of study with a selection from the following list of electives. Other appropriate electives may be used if approved by the student’s advisory committee, as well as the program Director with input from the Steering Committee: | ||
| Molecular Biology | ||
| Energy Metabolism | ||
| Nitrogen Metabolism | ||
| Vitamins and Minerals | ||
| Protein and Enzyme Biochemistry | ||
| Structural Basis of Membrane Transport and Signaling | ||
| Biomedical Genetics and Genomics | ||
| Neuropharmacology | ||
| Cardiovascular Pharmacology | ||
| Advanced Biopharmaceutics | ||
| Host-Parasite Genetics | ||
| Host-Parasite Genetics | ||
| Cellular Biology | ||
| Domestic Animal Endocrinology | ||
| Advanced Reproductive Biology | ||
| Growth Biology | ||
| Cellular Signal Transduction Processes and Metabolic Regulation | ||
| Molecular Virology | ||
| Advanced Bacterial Physiology | ||
| Cancer Cell Biology | ||
| Advanced Mycology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Techniques | ||
| Molecular Biological Techniques in Animal Sciences | ||
| Computer Applications in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | ||
| Physical Methods for Chemical and Biomolecular Research | ||
| X-Ray Structure Determination | ||
| Modern Methods of Polymer Characterization | ||
| Introduction to Lab-on-a-Chip Technology | ||
| Genomics Techniques | ||
Research
In addition to didactic credits, students take research credits to fulfill their dissertation studies on a topic of significant and original work. They must pass an oral and written preliminary examination which signifies their matriculation to doctoral candidacy. They also present a public presentation of their work in conjunction with a final dissertation examination on their research to attain the doctoral degree.
Laura Aldrich-Wolfe
Biological Sciences
Cornell University, 2006
Field: Community Ecology, Mycorrhizas, Plant-Fungal Interactions
Teresa Bergholz
Microbiological Sciences
Michigan State University, 2007
Field: Functional Genomics of Foodborne Pathogens
Eugene Berry
Microbiological Sciences
Northeastern University, 1983
Animal Virology (Ss (+) RNA Viruses), Genetic Variation,
Field: Mechanisms of Pathogenesis and Virulence
Julia Bowsher
Biological Sciences
Duke University, 2007
Field: Evolutionary Development and Biology
Amanda Brooks
Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Wyoming, 2006
Field: Molecular Biology, Spider Silk as a Drug Delivery System
Yongki Choi
Physics
City University of New York, 2010
Field: Early Detection of Cancer Cells, Single Molecule Enzymology, Biotechnology
Chris Colbert
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Purdue University, 2000
Field: Structure Biology with a Focus on the Biochemistry of Proteins Involved In Iron Import and Utilization
Glenn Dorsam
Microbiological Sciences
Virginia Commonwealth University, 1998
Field: Epigenetic Regulation
Anna Grazul-Bilska
Animal Sciences
University of Agriculture and Technology, 1983
Field: Animal Embryology and Reproductive Physiology and Endocrinology, Assisted Reproductive Technology
Kendra Greenlee
Biological Sciences
Arizona State University, 2004
Field: Developmental Physiology and Immunology
Tim Greives
Biological Sciences
Indiana University, 2009
Endocrine Regulation of Seasonality, Reproductive Neuroendocrinology, Hormones and Behavior
Jill Hamilton
Biological Sciences
University of British Columbia - 2012
Field: Plant Evolutionary Genomics
Lauren Hanna
Animal Sciences
Texas A&M University, 2013
Field: Quantitative Genetics, Animal Breeding, Whole System Approaches To Genomic Associations of Quantitative Traits
Stuart Haring
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Texas A&M University, 2013
Field: Cellular DNA Duplication (Replication) and Mutation Prevention (Repair)
Britt Heidinger
Biological Sciences
University of Iowa, 2004
Field: Physiological Ecology
Yagna Jarajapu
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Indiana University, 2007
Field: Bone Marrow Dysfunction and Vascular Repair in Diabetes, ACE2-Angiotensin-(1-7)/Mas Receptor Pathway in Bone Marrow Cells, Regulation
of Bone Marrow Mobilization by Leptin
Estelle Leclerc
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Glasgow Caledonian University, 2002
Field: Melanoma, Pancreatic Cancer; Monoclonal Antibodies as Diagnostic and Therapeutic Agents; Mechanism of RAGE Signaling
Guodong Liu
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Hunan University, 2001
Field: Development of Nano-Bioprobes for Biosensors and Bioassays for Detection of Nucleic Acids and Proteins
Phil Mcclean
Plant Sciences
University of Paris XI, 1994
Field: Dry Bean Genetics and Biotechnology
Dharmakeerthi "Karthik" Nawarathna
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Colorado State University, 2982
Field: Biomedical Engineering
Stephen O'Rourke
Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1995
Field: Cerebral Vascular Function in Health and Disease
Birgit Pruess
Microbiological Sciences
Ruhr-Universitat Bochum, 1991
Field: Bacterial Physiology, Biofilm Biology, and Food Safety
Steven Qian
Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Iowa, 1999
Field: Chemistry and Biology of Free Radical and COX-Catalyzed Fatty Acid Peroxidation as Related to Human Health and Disease
Mohi Quadir
Coatings and Polymeric Materials
Freie University of Berlin, 2010
Field:Polymeric Materials for Drug Delivery
Sheela Ramamoorthy
Microbiological Sciences
Virginia Tech, 2006
Field: Virology, Immunology, and Vaccinology
Jiajia Rao
Plant Sciences
University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 2013
Field: Food Chemistry and Ingredient Technology
Katie Reindl
Biological Sciences
North Dakota State University, 2006
Field: Cancer Cell Biology, Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Evaluating Bioactive Food Components
Larry Reynolds
Animal Sciences
Iowa State University, 1983
Field: Nutrition and Pregnancy in Ruminants
Kenton Rodgers
Chemistry and Biochemistry
University of Iowa, 1988
Field: Inorganic and Bioinorganic Chemistry
Jane Schuh
Microbiological Sciences
North Dakota State University, 2002
Field: Environmental Allergic Asthma Triggered By Mold
Sangita Sinha
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Purdue University, 2000
Field: Biochemistry and Structural Biology of Host-Pathogen Interactions
Kristine Steffen
Pharmaceutical Sciences
North Dakota State University, 2007
Field: Biology of Obesity and Post-Bariatric Outcomes, Gastrointestinal Microbiome Research
Chengwen Sun
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Jilin University, 2000
Field: Blood Pressure Regulation, Cell Signaling
Kendall Swanson
Animal Sciences
University of Kentucky, 2000
Field: Ruminant Nutrition, Energy Metabolism, Protein Metabolism, Pancreatic Function, Beef Cattle Production
Sathish Venkatachalem
Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Madras
Field: Pulmonary Physiology and Pharmacology
Danling Wang
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Peking University, 2003; University 0f Washington, 2014
Field: Sensor Design, Fabrication, and Application of Early-State Human Disease Monitoring and Diagnosis
Alison Ward
Animal Sciences
University of Saskatchewan, 2011
Field: Livestock Epigenetics, Nutrient-Gene Interactions, and Developmental Programming
John Wilkinson
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Vanderbilt University, 2001
Field: Cancer Cell Metabolism, Cell Death Pathways, Mitochondrial Gene Expression, Animal Models of Tumorigenesis
Qifeng Zhang
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Peking University, 2001
Field: Nanomaterials for Sensor and Biomedical Applications, Nanotechnology