Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology, PhD

Fields of Study and Research

The Departments of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry; Cell Biology; Molecular Biology and Genetics; Neuroscience; and Physiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics jointly provide a program of study leading to the PhD degree. The objective of the Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology (BCMB) program is to provide students with the breadth of knowledge and research training that will prepare them for their own independent and productive careers. Strong emphasis is placed on molecular and cellular approaches to fundamental problems in research areas covered by the participating departments. The focus on a broad background in basic science for all students promotes the study of problems of biomedical importance from a mechanistic perspective. The multi-departmental nature of the program fosters a collaborative environment that is ideal for graduate training and promotes the extensive interaction and collegiality that is a hallmark of Johns Hopkins science.

Training includes a rigorous and broad-based first-year curriculum, research rotations in three different laboratories, a proposal-based qualifying exam (along with a proposal-writing workshop), and thesis research in the laboratory of one of approximately 100 participating faculty members. Once they join a laboratory, students establish a departmental affiliation and participate in their departmental journal clubs and seminars. At the same time, students continue to maintain their BCMB identity and affiliation in a number of ways. These include attending the annual BCMB retreat, assisting in the recruitment of new students, hosting a one-day symposium with outside speakers, and participating in a monthly student research colloquium (organized by BCMB students for their peers). As part of the BCMB training, students will participate in a limited number of assigned teaching assistant opportunities.

Due to the multidisciplinary focus of the BCMB program, students are very well prepared for the full breadth of modern biomedical science careers. Greater than 90% of students in the BCMB program complete the PhD degree. The average time to degree over the last 10 years is 5.7 years. On average, BCMB students publish approximately 4 research papers with 2 as first-author.

To date, there are over 750 BCMB graduates; many hold leadership positions in academia, industry, government, and other sectors. At least 97% of graduates in the last 5 years are following career paths in laboratory research, medicine, or research-related careers.

Facilities

The lecture halls and the research laboratories are located in the Wood Basic Science Building, and the adjoining Physiology, Biophysics, Hunterian, Preclinical Teaching, Ross Building, Miller Research, and Rangos Buildings. Modern equipment and state-of-the-art core facilities are available to students. This includes electron microscopes, confocal microscopes, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, mass spectrometers, HPLC and gas-liquid chromatographs, protein sequencers, peptide synthesizers, oligonucleotide synthesizers, X-ray diffraction equipment, as well as instrumentation for microarray analysis and deep sequencing.

Collaborative Facilities

All participating departments enjoy excellent working relationships with other departments in the School of Medicine and with departments at the Homewood campus.

Financial Support

All students accepted into the BCMB program receive full tuition, health and dental insurance, and stipend support for the duration of their studies.

Admission Requirements

Candidates for admission should show a strong academic foundation with coursework in biology, chemistry, physical sciences, and quantitative analysis. A bachelor's degree from a qualified college or university will be required for matriculation.

The BCMB website has up-to-date information on “How to Apply” and “Frequently Asked Questions.” For questions not addressed on these pages, please email bcmb@jhmi.edu.

Program Requirements

Students must successfully complete all eight courses of the “Foundations of Modern Biology” core curriculum, and the Core Discussion course in the first three quarters of year one. During the fourth quarter, students complete two electives, the “BCMB Responsible Conduct in Research” course, and the “Method, Logic and Experimental Design” course. Three additional elective courses are required before graduation. All courses must be completed with a grade of B- or higher. Detailed information about courses can be found below.  

In the first year, students must complete three laboratory rotations to select a laboratory for thesis research. After each of the first two rotations, students must present a chalk talk and/or submit a brief written summary of rotation activities.

Students must complete an oral examination, as prescribed by the University Doctor of Philosophy Board, by the end of the second year. In preparation, students must participate in a thesis research proposal writing workshop conducted in small groups under the guidance of program faculty.

In addition to routine laboratory mentoring, each student and thesis advisor must hold a formal annual meeting to review academic progress, set professional development goals, and establish a plan for the upcoming year (Individual Development Plan [IDP]). For the IDP process, the student and advisor must complete separate online forms and review the combined responses during the meeting. Students must submit confirmation that the meeting has occurred.

Students must meet with their thesis committee to review their progress and plans at least once a year. The thesis committee consists of 3–4 additional faculty members who advise the student on the research project and professional development.

Students in the BCMB program will engage in assigned teaching assistant (TA) responsibilities during their third year of training. TA responsibilities may include preparing course materials, holding office hours, grading assignments, and offering one-on-one or group tutoring, primarily within the BCMB core courses.

Typically, in the fifth year, the thesis committee will determine that the student is nearing completion of the research and is prepared to write the dissertation. The dissertation must be read and approved by the student’s advisor and one additional JHU faculty member serving on the thesis committee. Students must present a public seminar on their completed thesis research.

The BCMB program requires participation in professional development and career exploration through the “OPTIONS” Career Curriculum offered by the Doctoral Life Design Studio (DLDS). In Years 1–2, students complete designated OPTIONS activities, including workshops and panel discussions, focused on early career awareness. In Year 3, students complete monthly workshops focused on career-path exploration, networking, and transferable-skill development. In Year 4 and beyond, students meet with a career coach to develop an individualized plan to obtain career-relevant experience and may complete an approved experiential activity (e.g., an internship or industry-specific mentoring) aligned with the student’s career goals.

BCMB students are required to participate in BioGREAT (Biomedical Graduate REsiliency & Adaptability Training), a three-part workshop series designed to support progression through key milestones and transition points during PhD training. In Year 1, students focus on the transition to graduate study, including time management and strategies for responding to setbacks. In Year 2, students focus on long-term planning, self-advocacy, and development of a mentoring network. In Year 4, students focus on development of a thesis completion plan for their next thesis meeting. Students can schedule follow-up meetings with workshop facilitators for individualized guidance and, as appropriate, referral to additional resources.

Other required activities include attending orientation, the annual BCMB retreat, the BCMB student-led symposium, annual cohort meetings with the Program Director, and annual departmental Responsible Conduct of Research training; additional meetings and workshops may be required.

Courses

First Year Courses

Core Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ME.800.806	BCMB Computational Biology Bootcamp	1
ME.100.716	Analysis of Macromolecules	2
ME.330.709	Organic Mechanisms in Biology	2
ME.260.709	Molecular Biology and Genomics	1.5
ME.110.733	Principles of Genetics	2
ME.110.728	Cell Structure and Dynamics	1.5
ME.360.728	Pathways and Regulation	2
ME.800.805	BCMB Quantitative Biology Lab 1	1
ME.800.713	BCMB Responsible Conduct of Research	0.5
ME.800.705	Method, Logic and Experimental Design	1
ME.800.708	BCMB Core Discussion 1	0.5
ME.800.802	Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Research 2	1 - 18

¹

Complete in the fall and spring.

²

Complete in the fall, spring, and summer.

First Year Elective Courses 

First year BCMB students must take one elective course during the first half of the fourth quarter, and another elective course during the second half. Students choose the two electives from a set list, which is revised each year. Here are example electives from Spring 2026: 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ME.110.732	Developmental Biology	1
ME.110.734	Theoretical Models in Cell Biology	1
ME.260.812	Great Experiments in Biology	1
ME.340.713	Microbial Pathogenesis	1
ME.440.718	Neurobiology	1
ME.800.726	Electron Microscopy: Principles and Practices	1

Courses Year 2 and Above 

Research Course

Depending on the laboratory a student joins for their thesis research, they are required to register each term for one of the following Research courses: 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ME.100.807	Research	1 - 18
ME.110.800	Cell Biology Research	1 - 18
ME.260.811	Special Studies and Research	1 - 18
ME.440.814	Research in Neuroscience (BCMB)	1 - 18
ME.330.806	Research - PP&T (BCMB)	1 - 18

Other Required Courses

Three additional elective credits are required before graduation. Students can select from a list of pre-approved elective courses or request approval for a course not on the list. Example elective courses are listed below: 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ME.440.825	Quantitative Neurogenomics	3
ME.510.708	Cancer Screening and Prevention: History, Pitfalls, and Opportunities	0.5
ME.510.709	Fundamentals of Cancer Immunology	1
ME.440.820	Circuits and Brain Disorders	2
ME.330.707	Graduate Pharmacology I	2
ME.360.720	Organ Systems-Physiology	6
ME.250.703	Graduate Immunology	4

Learning Outcomes 

The objective of the Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology (BCMB) program is to ensure that graduates leave with the breadth of knowledge and research training needed to lead independent, productive careers in biomedical science. Training includes a rigorous and broad-based first year curriculum, research rotations in three different laboratories, a proposal-based qualifying exam, and thesis research in the laboratory of one of our 100 participating faculty members from five basic science departments. Upon completion of the program, graduates of BCMB will be able to: 

1. Demonstrate a deep, integrative understanding of scientific knowledge across biomedical disciplines and use that knowledge to think critically, synthesize evidence, and evaluate competing ideas.
2. Design, execute, analyze, and interpret experiments that contribute original findings using rigorous, reproducible, and responsible research practices.
3. Apply core professional skills, including clear written and oral communication; time and project management; collaboration and teamwork; and resilience and adaptability, across a variety of biomedical careers.
4. Evaluate biomedical career opportunities and develop actionable career plans that incorporate ongoing skill development and experiential learning aligned with their career goals.
5. Assess their own skill development, seek and incorporate constructive feedback, and revise plans to overcome setbacks.
6. Create and sustain safe, supportive, and rigorous research and training environments by demonstrating collaboration, leadership, and responsible scientific citizenship.