The Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Doctoral Program (MBIDP) is a vibrant interdisciplinary graduate program committed to training PhD candidates to become the next generation of scientific leaders. Since 1967, the MBIDP has provided training to over 400 Ph.D. students. Our approach to graduate education has been successful as assessed by the placement of students and their impressive professional trajectory. Many of our alumni have become faculty at top academic institutions, founded major biotech companies, and are scientific leaders all over the US and abroad. A large part of this success stems from the focus and dedicated commitment of the MBIDP faculty towards the students, its interdisciplinary nature, adaptability, and vision.

The program provides cutting-edge education and hands-on training in Molecular Regulatory Mechanisms that are shared across organisms and are common within a broad range of disciplines. The philosophy of the program stands on the concept that depth within a specialty and interdisciplinary breadth are critical to shape the minds of the future generations of scientific leaders and develop independent thinkers. Depth is provided through four “intellectual hubs,” our home areas shown below.


Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Cell and Developmental Biology Cell and Developmental Biology Cell and Developmental Biology Gene Regulation Gene Regulation Gene Regulation Immunity, Microbes, and Molecular Pathogenesis Immunity, Microbes, and Molecular Pathogenesis

These home areas are four of the ten home areas that form the Graduate Program in Biosciences (GPB) at UCLA and constitute the intellectual home of pre-doctoral trainees throughout their time in the program, fostering creativity and channeling curiosity through literature analysis and intellectual integration into their specific fields. Applications are welcome by December 1st.

I invite you to learn more about our home areas, our faculty and students! Feel free to contact us if you have questions.

Hilary Coller, Ph.D. Chair, Molecular Biology IDP

*From the UCLA Graduate Division website, please apply to the home area that you are interested in by choosing “Bioscience- (Home Area Name)”.

Admissions questions? Check out our FAQ page here.
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