Cell and Molecular Biology
Master of Arts
Doctor of Philosophy
For More Information
Campus address: Louise and James Robert Moffett Molecular Biology Building (MBB) 1.220F, phone (512) 471-0957, fax (512) 471-2149; campus mail code: A4810
Mailing address: The University of Texas at Austin, Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, 1 University Station A4810, Austin TX 78712
E-mail: cmbprogram@austin.utexas.edu
URL: http://www.icmb.utexas.edu/cmb/
Facilities for Graduate Work
Core research facilities. The Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology (ICMB) core facilities support cellular and molecular biology research at the University of Texas at Austin. The facilities offer a full range of services in nucleic acid and protein sequencing, microscopy, peptide synthesis, mass spectrometry, protein purifications and analysis, DNA microarrays, next-generation sequencing, X-ray crystallography, and transgenic knock-out mice. The core facilities are open to all faculty, regardless of whether or not they are ICMB members. Keeping the core facilities as comprehensive and accessible as possible increases faculty, staff, and student research productivity.
DNA and Genomics Facility. The DNA and Genomics Facility provides DNA sequencing, fragment analysis, quantitative real-time PCR, NanoDrop spectrophotometer, phosphor and fluor imaging, a plate reader, and automated liquid handling. Automated DNA sequencing is performed using capillary-based Applied Biosystems 3730 and 3130 DNA analyzers. These instruments offer high throughput and sensitivity with a capability of handling more than 800 samples per day, with reads greater than 700 base pairs and a success rate of over 90 percent. The AB 3730 and 3730XL are also used for the analysis of microsattelites, AFLP, SNPs, and other fragment applications. Quantitative real-time PCR is run on an Applied Biosystems 7900HT. This instrument allows researchers to analyze gene expression using allelic discrimination and SNP analysis in 96 or 384 wells. The quantification of DNA, RNA, and proteins using only one or two microliters without a cuvette is performed on the NanoDrop spectrophotometer. The Typhoon Trio and Bio-Rad Molecular Imager FX measure and image radioactive signals from gels or membranes and fluorescence from gels, membranes, TLC plates, and microtiter plates. Other instruments include an Agilent bioanalyzer, Beckman Biomek NX and FX pipetting robots, and a Beckman plate washer. A Berthold NightOWL is available for low-light imaging of luminescence or fluorescence in plants or animals. More information about the facility’s services is available on the DNA and Genomics Facility Web site .
Microscopy and Imaging Facility. The Microscopy and Imaging Facility provides extensive microscopy equipment and services for imaging and ultrastructural analysis. The facility offers assisted use and training on its instrumentation and consults on microscopy- and spectroscopy-related research. Equipment in the facility includes: scanning and transmission electron microscopes; super-resolution, confocal, and wide-field fluorescence microscopes; cryostat, plastic, and paraffin microtomes; an ultramicrotome; a laser microdissection system; and several stereology systems. The facility also provides state-of-the-art image processing and analysis software. The Microscopy and Imaging Facility also manages the Flow Cytometry Laboratory, which houses several fluorescence-based cell analyzers and a cell sorter. More information about the facility’s services is available on the Microscopy and Imaging Facility Web site .
Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility. The Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility provides a variety of biomolecular analyses using sophisticated mass spectrometry instrumentation, as well as related protein support services. It is administered collectively by ICMB, the College of Pharmacy, and the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Science Park. Bioplex instrumentation brings on board multiplex assays using antibody bead technology, providing sensitive quantification of cytokines and hormones. A MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometer with a nano LC spotting robot is used for identification and quantification of proteins. Protein modification studies are conducted in collaboration with researchers using enrichment and mass spectrometry techniques. An LCQ provides protein/peptide molecular weight determination. Quantitative analyses of metabolites, drugs, nutrients, and natural products are performed on AB Sciex 4000 QTRAP, GC-MS, and HPLC-EC instruments. Sensitive detection is possible for a variety of metabolites including 8-oxo-dG, neurotransmitters, prostaglandins, and fatty acids. N-terminal protein/peptide sequencing, peptide synthesis, in-gel digest, and gel electrophoresis services are also available. The facility houses self-service HPLC, mass spectrometry, and analytical centrifugation systems. Researchers can utilize these instruments after a training session with the facility staff. More information about the facility’s services is available on the Protein Microanalysis Facility Web site and the Protein and Metabolite Analysis Facility Web site .
Mouse Genetic Engineering Facility. The Mouse Genetic Engineering Facility is located in the Animal Resource Center and provides many services to the University research community. The primary service is the production of genetically altered mice. This includes: (1) the generation of transgenic mice (pronuclear injections); (2) gene targeting in mouse embryonic stem cells by homologous recombination (electroporation and selection); and (3) the subsequent generation of knock-out/knock-in mice (blastocyst injections). Other services include embryo cryopreservation; long-term storage and recovery of frozen embryos; conversion of mouse strains to a pathogen-free status; isolation of new embryonic stem cell lines from specific existing mouse strains; and assistance with timed-mating experiments for developmental studies. Our staff has expertise in obtaining blood samples from mice, as well as administering tail vein injections. The facility also maintains a specific pathogen-free barrier for the housing and husbandry of mice. More information about the facility’s services is available on the Mouse Genetic Engineering Facility Web site .
Genomic Sequencing and Analysis Facility. The Genomic Sequencing and Analysis Facility provides advanced analytical resources for analysis of DNA and RNA at whole-genome scales and extends these resources through ongoing research and development. These resources include DNA microarray and next-generation DNA sequencing equipment (Life Technologies 5500xl SOLiD, Illumina HiSeq 2000, and Roche 454 sequencers), Agilent bioanalyzer, NanoDrop, Biomek robotic liquid handling, and arrayer capabilities. More information about the facility's services is available on the Genomic Sequencing and Analysis Facility Web site .
Macromolecular Crystallography Facility. The Macromolecular Crystallography Facility allows users to solve the three-dimensional structures of crystallized macromolecules using X-ray diffraction methods. Dozens of high-resolution protein structures have been solved using these facilities. The capacities of the center were recently expanded into a modern core facility. Current equipment includes two X-ray generators and three state-of-the-art detection systems. The Rigaku MicroMax 007HF generator has two detectors, one mounted with VariMax HighRes optics and the other with VariMax HighFlux optics. The HighRes optics facilitate data collection on crystal unit cells up to 300 Å in size, and the HighFlux optics provide some of the strongest radiation outside of synchrotron sources. Cryo-cooling for all three detectors also bolsters the collection of high-resolution data. The facility also contains an Art Robbins Instruments Phoenix liquid-handling robot. It uses extremely small volumes, down to 50 nl, and is ideal for high-throughput crystallization experiments. The new crystallography facility is staffed to carry out structural analysis on a service basis, or to train and assist interested users in both crystallization and collection, processing, and interpretation of X-ray data. More information about the facility’s services is available on the Macromolecular Crystallography Facility Web site .
Areas of Study
The Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology provides the support and infrastructure for the largest life science graduate program at the University of Texas at Austin. The interdisciplinary graduate program in cell and molecular biology is supported by more than 130 faculty members from three colleges and over ten academic departments.
The program offers students training in seven different research tracks: bioinformatics and computational biology, biomolecular structure and function, cell and developmental biology, chemical biology and drug discovery, molecular genetics, neurobiology, and plant molecular biology. Each of the tracks provides specialized courses and training for the graduate student beyond the basic core curriculum of genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology.
Graduate Studies Committee
The following faculty members served on the Graduate Studies Committee in the spring semester 2013.
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Seema Agarwala Richard W Aldrich Hal S Alper Eric V Anslyn Dean R Appling Nigel S Atkinson Chandrajit L Bajaj Jeffrey E Barrick Adela Ben-Yakar Halil Berberoglu George D Bittner Henry R Bose R Malcolm Brown Jr Karen S Browning James J Bull Clarence Shiu Man Chan Zengjian J Chen David P Crews Maria A Croyle Kevin N Dalby Arturo De Lozanne John Digiovanni Michael Drew Jaquelin P Dudley Johann K Eberhart Lauren Ilyse Richie Ehrlich Ron Elber Andrew Ellington Walter L Fast Ilya J Finkelstein Richard H Finnell Janice A Fischer Ernst-Ludwig Florin George Georgiou Nace L Golding Vernita Gordon Andrea C Gore Ellen Gottlieb Jeffrey M Gross Robin Gutell Marvin L Hackert R A Harris Rasika M Harshey Arjang Hassibi Christine V Hawkes David M Hillis David W Hoffman Johann Hofmann Jon M Huibregtse Enamul Huq Stephen D Hursting Brent L Iverson Vishwanath R Iyer Robert K Jansen Makkuni Jayaram Ning Jiang Arlen W Johnson Kenneth Johnson Daniel Johnston Christopher A Jolly Thomas E Juenger Adrian T Keatinge-Clay Sean M Kerwin Jonghwan Kim Kimberly Kline Robert M Krug Alan Lambowitz Seongmin Lee |
Hung-Wen Liu Alan M Lloyd Paul M Macdonald Dmitrii E Makarov Edward M Marcotte Mia K Markey Stephen F Martin Andreas T Matouschek Mikhail V Matz Michael Mauk Jennifer A Maynard Mona Mehdy Richard J Meyer Lauren A Meyers S J Mihic Kyle M Miller Edward M Mills Daniel P Miranker Ian J Molineux Hitoshi Morikawa Richard A Morrisett Hiroshi Nishiyama Theresa J O'Halloran Tanya T Paull Shelley M Payne Steven M Phelps Jonathan T Pierce-Shimomura Martin Poenie William H Press Nicholas J Priebe Kimberly Raab-Graham Pengyu Ren John H Richburg Jon D Robertus Stanley J Roux Jr Krishnendu Roy Rick Russell Bob G Sanders Sara L Sawyer Christine E Schmidt Jason B Shear George T Shubeita Jeanne Casstevens Stachowiak David S Stein Scott W Stevens Laura J Suggs Christopher S Sullivan Sibum Sung Wesley J Thompson Michael Stephen Trent Haley Tucker Jason Upton Carla L Vandenberg Karen Marie Vasquez Steven A Vokes James R Walker John B Wallingford Tandy Warnow Lauren J Webb Marvin Whiteley Christian P Whitman Claus O Wilke Casey W Wright Harold H Zakon Boris Zemelman Xiaojing Zhang Yan Zhang |
Admission Requirements
Applicants must provide evidence of strong accomplishment in the natural sciences, documented by undergraduate grades and a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in an area such as one of the biological sciences, chemistry, or physics. Preparation should include at least one semester each of cell biology and molecular biology, and one year each of calculus, organic chemistry, and general physics. Coursework in genetics and biochemistry is also required. Deficiencies in undergraduate work should be corrected before application to the program.
Because the graduate program is focused on the doctoral degree, students seeking only the master’s degree are not admitted.