Cell and Molecular Biology
- Master of Arts
- Doctor of Philosophy
Facilities for Graduate Work
The Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology’s core facilities support cell and molecular biology research at the University by offering a full range of services in nucleic acid and protein sequencing, peptide synthesis, mass spectrometry, protein purifications and analysis, DNA microarrays, X-ray crystallography, and transgenic mice.
The DNA and Genomics Facility provides DNA sequencing, fragment analysis, quantitative real-time PCR, nano-drop 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 a success rate of over 90 percent. The analyzers are also used for work with microsatellites, 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, or 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 published on its Web site.
The Microscopy and Imaging Facility provides extensive microscopic equipment and services for 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; confocal and wide-field fluorescence microscopes; and cryo, paraffin, ultramicrotome, laser microdissection, and 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 both a fluorescence cell analyzer and a cell sorter. More information about the facility’s services is published on its Web site.
The Protein Microanalysis Facility provides research support for the institute as well as other University departments. N-terminal protein/peptide sequencing, peptide synthesis, and gel electrophoresis services are provided at accessible rates. Also available are HPLC, LC, capillary electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, and analytical centrifugation systems. Researchers can use these instruments after a training session with the facility staff. The staff can also assist users in the preparation of samples for amino acid analysis performed off site. Another service, in conjunction with the Mass Spectrometry Analytical Facility, is the running of gels and in-gel digestions for protein identification. To limit keratin contamination, which can obscure MS data, both the gel and the digests are performed under clean conditions using a laminar flow hood. The instrumentation available in the facility includes an Edman-chemistry, N-terminal protein/peptide sequencer, a peptide synthesizer, an HPLC system, an LC system, a luminometer, a capillary electrophoresis system, and an analytical centrifuge. More information about the facility’s services is published on its Web site.
The Mass Spectrometry Analytical Facility is administered jointly by the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, the College of Pharmacy, and a research division of the UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The facility provides a variety of biomolecular analyses using sophisticated HPLC and mass spectrometry instrumentation. A state-of-the-art matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF/TOF) is used for automated protein identification, with a sensitivity of less than 100 ng for high-quality samples. The associated nano-LC spotting robot can detect peptides in the 100 fmol range. This instrument, as well as a MALDI-TOF and an electrospray ion-trap mass spectrometer with one- and two-dimensional HPLC systems, is used for research into protein modifications and analysis of protein complexes in a variety of proteomics projects. Analysis of metabolites, drugs, natural products, and chemicals of interest is accomplished on an analytical HPLC coupled to an electrochemical detector or a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GC-MS). These instruments allow for neurotransmitter quantitation; measurement on a variety of fatty acids; and sensitive detection of a variety of metabolites, including 8-oxo-dG, a marker for oxidative DNA damage. In order to detect multiple metabolites in a single sample, a triple quadrupole ion-trap (QTRAP) mass spectrometer has been added to the facility. More information about the facility’s services is published on its Web site.
The following facilities also support study and research in cell and molecular biology.
The Mouse Genetic Engineering Facility is located in the Animal Resource Center (ARC) and provides many services to the University research community. The primary service is the production of genetically altered mice, including the generation of transgenic mice, gene targeting in mouse embryonic stem cells by homologous recombination, and the subsequent generation of knock-out/knock-in mice. 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. More information about the facility’s services is published on its Web site.
The goal of the UT Microarray Core Facility (UTMCF) is to help researchers interested in developing a custom microarray using a set of cDNA clones, genomic samples, or oligonucleotides. The UTMCF is overseen by the Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, and provides other microarray services, including user or custom printing, array scanning, and training on the instruments in the facility, to University investigators and off-campus users. More information about the facility’s services is published on its Web site.
The Macromolecular Crystallography Facility allows users to solve the three-dimensional structures of crystalline macromolecules using X-ray diffraction methods. Dozens of high-resolution protein structures have been solved using these facilities. Equipment includes two X-ray generators, detectors, and cryo-cooling devices. The capacities of the center are currently being expanded to create a modern core facility. More information about the facility’s services is published on its 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 2008–2009.
- Seema Agarwala
- Richard W. Aldrich
- Hal S. Alper
- Orly Alter
- Eric V. Anslyn
- Dean R. Appling
- Nigel S. Atkinson
- Chandrajit L. Bajaj
- George D. Bittner
- Henry R. Bose Jr.
- Shawn B. Bratton
- R. Malcolm Brown Jr.
- Karen Browning
- Jim Bull
- Clarence S. M. Chan
- Zengjian J. Chen
- Henry P. Ciolino
- David P. Crews
- Maria Croyle
- Kevin N. Dalby
- Arturo De Lozanne
- Jaquelin P. Dudley
- Charles F. Earhart Jr.
- Johann K. Eberhart
- Ron Elber
- Andrew Ellington
- Walter Fast
- Janice Fischer
- Ernst-Ludwig Florin
- George Georgiou
- Nace L. Golding
- Andrea Gore
- Ellen Gottlieb
- David E. Graham
- Jeffrey M. Gross
- Robin Gutell
- Marvin L. Hackert
- Adron Harris
- Rasika M. Harshey
- Arjang Hassibi
- Christine V. Hawkes
- Graeme A. Henkelman
- David L. Herrin
- 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
- Arlen W. Johnson
- Kenneth A. Johnson
- Daniel Johnston
- Christopher Jolly
- Thomas E. Juenger
- Klaus O. Kalthoff
- Adrian Keatinge-Clay
- Sean M. Kerwin
- G. Barrie Kitto
- Kimberly Kline
- Robert Krug
- Alan M. Lambowitz
- Hung-Wen (Ben) Liu
- Alan Martin Lloyd
- Paul MacDonald
- Lara K. Mahal
- Dmitrii E. Makarov
- Edward M. Marcotte
- Mia Markey
- Stephen F. Martin
- Mikhail V. Matz
- Jennifer A. Maynard
- John T. McDevitt
- Mona Mehdy
- Richard J. Meyer
- Lauren A. Meyers
- John Mihic
- Edward M. Mills
- Daniel P. Miranker
- Ian J. Molineux
- Jennifer R. Morgan
- Hitoshi Morikawa
- Richard A. Morrisett
- Ulrich G. Mueller
- Hiroshi Nishiyama
- Nomeli P. Nuñez
- Theresa O’Halloran
- Tanya T. Paull
- Shelley M. Payne
- Jonathan Pierce-Shimomura
- Martin Poenie
- George D. Pollak
- William H. Press
- Kimberly Raab-Graham
- Pengyu Ren
- John H. Richburg
- Austen Fox Riggs II
- Jon D. Robertus
- Stanley J. Roux Jr.
- Krishnendu Roy
- Rick Russell
- Bob G. Sanders
- Sara L. Sawyer
- Christine E. Schmidt
- Martin Shankland
- Jason B. Shear
- John C. Sisson
- David Stein
- Scott W. Stevens
- Laura J. Suggs
- Christopher Sullivan
- Sibum Sung
- Paul J. Szaniszlo
- Wesley J. Thompson
- Ming Tian
- M. Stephen Trent
- Philip W. Tucker
- Carla L. Van Den Berg
- 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
- Y. Whitney Yin
- Harold H. Zakon
- Muhammad H. Zaman
- Yan Jessie Zhang
- Zhiwen 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.
Degree Requirements
Master of Arts. The master’s degree is only granted under special circumstances. The student must have the approval of the graduate adviser.
Doctor of Philosophy. The doctoral degree program requires the student to accomplish creative, independent research and to document the research in a scholarly dissertation. In preparation, the student must acquire a strong foundation in biochemistry, molecular genetics, and cell biology and a working knowledge of the area of biology in which he or she intends to conduct research. This preparation is provided by the core courses and electives required for the master’s degree. The student must earn a grade of at least B- in each core course. To be admitted to candidacy for the degree, the student must formulate a feasible research program and pass a qualifying examination.
Dual Degree Program
Doctor of Philosophy/Doctor of Medicine
The graduate program in cell and molecular biology participates in a dual degree program with the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB). Applicants must apply separately to and be admitted to both the PhD program in cell and molecular biology at the University of Texas at Austin and the medical school at UTMB. Students accepted into the dual degree program spend their first two years in the medical school at UTMB, followed by three to four years of doctoral work at UT Austin and eighteen months of clinical rotations. The degrees are conferred separately by each institution. Additional information about the MD/PhD program may be found online.
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: grad.program@icmb.utexas.edu