Confocal image of U2OS osteosarcoma cells fixed and stained with antibodies to APC (green), antibodies to vinculin to mark focal adhesions (blue), and phalloidin to mark F-actin (pink). Image: M.Angeles Juanes (Bruce Goode lab).
All MCB PhD students receive a stipend and a full tuition waiver. Student stipend in 2023-2024 is $38,496 (as of July 1, 2023). The program will also cover the cost of the Brandeis Health Insurance for the student each year they are in the program.
Prospective students can apply online at the Brandeis University GSAS website. All interested applicants must submit a formal application to the graduate school; we do not accept students directly into labs.
The application fee is $75. More information is available on the GSAS website (including information pertaining to application fee waiver requests).
The GRE is no longer accepted as a part of your application. If you submit scores, they will be removed from your application before review.
Almost all international applicants must submit official test score results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Pearson Test of English (PTE-Academic). An applicant should check with the testing agency to ensure that their scores are still valid and that the agency will be able to send an official score report.
Students who are citizens of the following countries, or who have graduated from an accredited degree program within these countries, are exempt from this requirement: Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, USA, and the United Kingdom.
While the program will consider these scores within the context of the entire application, the Graduate School does have strict exam score requirements. This information, as well as the extended policies for this requirement, is available.
The MCB PhD program accepts applications for the Fall semester only. The deadline for applications is December 1, but applicants are encouraged to complete their applications in advance of this deadline. All decisions are typically made by April 15.
The Graduate School will coordinate all aspects of your visa with the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO), once accepted into the program. More information about requirements for international students is available on the GSAS website. More information for international students can be found on ISSO's website.
If you would like to be considered for the Master's program if denied admission from the PhD program, please contact the Division of Science Graduate Affairs Office by email or by calling 781-736-2352.
A spot in the PhD program is not guaranteed for MS students. Brandeis MS students who wish to transfer to the PhD program must formally apply to the PhD program. The PhD admissions committees will consider such applications within the context of the entire applicant pool. However, should a MS student be accepted into the PhD program, they will be allowed to transfer any eligible (i.e. those that meet the program requirements and specifications) courses towards their PhD course requirements. The time spent as an MS student will count towards their three-year-minimum residency for the PhD program.
Applicants do not need to contact anyone in the program prior to applying.
It is not necessary for applicants to contact faculty members in advance of admission regarding joining their lab. Applicants who are particularly interested in a specific faculty member should still apply directly to the program. Faculty members cannot accept graduate students directly into their labs prior to acceptance into the program. All PhD students must rotate through four labs before joining a lab.
If you have any questions about the program or about the application process, please contact the Division of Science Graduate Affairs Office by email or by calling 781-736-2352.
The minimum residency requirement is three years, but students generally finish in five to six years.
Students are required to take six graduate level courses, including Molecular Biology (BIOL 105b), Mechanisms of Cell Function (BIOL 103b), Proseminar (BIOL 200a) Data analysis (BIOL 107) and two electives. In addition, all students must take the Graduate Student Research Seminars (BIOL 350) each semester, Topics in Molecular Genetics and Development Journal Club each semester, and Responsible Conduct of Research (CONT 300b) or equivalent.
Please see the MCB PhD Handbook or the University Bulletin for detailed information.
All MCB PhD students are expected to create a new body of knowledge relevant to their field. Students will join a laboratory at the end of their first year and formally conduct an original investigation under the guidance and mentorship of their thesis advisor. Students will write a dissertation of their results and are expected to have at least one first-author paper accepted or published in a quality journal at the time of their thesis defense.
Faculty members cannot accept graduate students directly into their labs prior to acceptance into the program. All MCB PhD students must complete four research rotations in their first year before choosing a dissertation lab. The choice of dissertation laboratory is made jointly by the student and the faculty member.
Students may choose to rotate with any member of the Life Sciences community. The Life Sciences programs hold a “faculty bazaar” during orientation week to aid in the rotation selection process. This is a three-night series of short research presentations (with dinner) designed to acquaint students with research opportunities at Brandeis. Students will submit three choices for their first rotation. Subsequent rotations will be jointly arranged between the student and the faculty member in whose lab the rotation is to take place.
Please see the MCB PhD Handbook or the University Bulletin for detailed information.
All MCB PhD students are required to serve as a teaching assistant (TA) for two semesters, typically both semesters of their second year. TA assignments will be determined in the summer preceding the second year, and usually consist of one lab course and one lecture course.
Please see the MCB PhD Handbook or the University Bulletin for detailed information.
All MCB PhD students must complete a Qualifying Exam at the end of their second year. This exam consists of a written thesis proposal outlining the student’s expected dissertation project. This proposal is then defended in front of a committee of MCB faculty members. Successful completion is required for advancement in the program.
Please see the MCB PhD Handbook or the University Bulletin for detailed information.
Beginning in the third year, each student is required to meet at least once per year with their thesis committee to evaluate their dissertation progress. Specific PhD thesis requirements are set by the student’s advisor and the thesis committee. As a rough guideline, a PhD student should have at least one first-author paper accepted or published at the time of their thesis defense. With approval of the thesis committee, the student will write and submit a dissertation of their results. After submission of the dissertation, the candidate will give a public thesis seminar to the University community, and on the same day defend the work in an oral exam to the dissertation committee.
Please see the MCB PhD Handbook or the University Bulletin for detailed information.