Why apply to Clark’s Biochemistry and Molecular Biology doctoral program?
Established in 2009, the interdepartmental biochemistry and molecular biology (BCMB) doctoral program offers a student-centered learning experience right from the start. The program’s intimate size provides a wealth of dynamic opportunities, including the option to engage in research with biology or chemistry faculty members from day one.
This agile structure allows students to draw upon extensive state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, and resources of these departments while conducting interdisciplinary research addressing some of today’s most important challenges. The BCMB program offers a variety of research foci, including protein structure and function, chemical biology, molecular genetics, developmental biology, genomics, and molecular evolution.
Graduate students receive full tuition remission for five years, a stipend for teaching assistantships, and when available, research assistantships.
Our growing program combines faculty expertise, research capability, and technology with a supportive environment where students receive mentoring in research and preparation for rewarding careers.
Our Community
The biochemistry and molecular biology doctoral program invites independent, academically-driven students with a vision for their futures to join our robust community of scholars and learners. Collaboration — between faculty, research scientists, fellow graduate students, undergraduates, and our interdisciplinary research partners in the STEM fields — is at the core of our program.
As such, there is a sense of community and shared purpose among our diverse group of students inside and outside of our labs and research groups. In addition, our Central Massachusetts location allows students access to the local biotechnology and scientific community, a booming industry within the commonwealth.
A Growing Alumni Network
Centered amid Massachusetts’ flourishing biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries, Clark’s biochemistry and molecular biology Ph.D. program is well positioned to springboard graduate students into rewarding careers.
During the program, our students receive teaching and mentoring experience through assistantships and lab work with faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students. This training, coupled with instruction on scientific writing and communication and partnership opportunities with Worcester’s growing biotech community, makes our students attractive job candidates.
Alumni from our department as well as biology and chemistry, have gone onto work at the following:
- Academic faculty: Xi’an University, Union College, Paul Smith’s College
- Post-doctoral fellowships: UPenn Medical School, Peking University, Yale University
- Industry: Bristol-Myers Squibb, PCI Synthesis, Novartis
