Daniel B. Rifkin, Director

This program involves investigators in six basic science departments and training is offered in the general areas of structure, function and biogenesis of macromolecules and subcellular organelles, as well as the mechanisms that regulate cell metabolism, differentiation and growth, and intercellular interactions during development.

The interdisciplinary character of the program allows for a wide perspective for the student in approaching a research project and selecting thesis advisors. The design of the curriculum aims at providing the students with an advanced, but balanced biological education that prepares them to understand and apply to their research sophisticated ideas and methodologies of biochemistry, genetics, immunology, and molecular cell biologyThere are no course requirements; rather each student decides with his or her mentor plus a student advisor which courses are most appropriate for that student's interests. Students must meet with their thesis committee at least once, but preferably twice, a year.

In addition to specific courses, the program also provides a number of venues for individual students to design their own learning, and to discuss their research. These include:

• tutorials with individual faculty selected by the students,
• presentations of research progress in weekly meetings with colleagues,
• the selection by students of outside guest seminar speakers,
• participation in a student run journal club,
• a strudent posster day where students present and discuss their research in an informal atmosphere.

To encourage new students to broaden their scientific knowledge, the program offers to each entering student a financial contribution to offset the cost of attendance at a course or meeting of the student's choice.