As a student in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) PhD Program, you’ll learn to develop the skills for cutting-edge and hypothesis-driven molecular research.
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is within the Carver College of Medicine. It is primarily housed in the Bowen Science Building (BSB), although several laboratories are located in the adjacent Medical Education Research Facility (MERF) and Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building (PBDB). Laboratories are spacious and interconnected, allowing for frequent interactions and easy use of shared equipment. BSB also houses the departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Neuroscience and Pharmacology, and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics. Researchers in all departments benefit from shared core facilities.
The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program is sufficiently flexible to accommodate students with a relatively wide range of backgrounds.
Students with a bachelor's degree in any of the biological, biochemical, engineering or physical sciences who have a strong desire to pursue a research-oriented career are encouraged to apply.
Students entering the PhD program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology have the opportunity to tailor their curriculum to take courses that enhance their educational goals. During the first year of studies, students will focus primarily on coursework and completing three rotations in departmental laboratories. At the end of the first year, students will be evaluated for promotion to their second year before being assigned an advisor. In the second year, students complete required coursework, perform research in their advisor's laboratory, and prepare for the comprehensive exam. After successfully passing the comprehensive exam, students finish research credit requirements while preparing their dissertation for defense, usually at the end of their fifth year.
A Place to Grow
The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine is a great place for research. Hear from our leaders, faculty, and trainees about their experience at Carver and how collaboration and inclusion have allowed them to grow in their research careers.
Student Success
Lacy Barton, PhD (2014)
Iowa was the perfect environment for my training. The PhD program was rigorous but I knew I’d leave a better scientist. Every faculty member was incredibly supportive, providing solid advice on what was best for me and my career. Since earning my PhD from Iowa, I have been fortunate to mentor many students. I tell them: go where the program is truly invested in training graduate students. That commitment is increasingly rare but priceless. I tell them they can find such a place in Iowa City.
Mentor: Pamela Geyer, PhD