The Graduate Training Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine prepares scientists for laboratory research at the cellular and molecular level with a direct impact on the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases. The Ph.D. graduates of the program obtain rigorous training in scientific research and develop a thorough knowledge of human biology and human diseases.
This program grew out of a need for graduate training at the interface between medicine and the traditional basic science disciplines. Rapid progress in cellular and molecular biology has strongly impacted clinical medicine, offering insights about the fundamental causes of many diseases. Translational research—often described as “bench-to-bedside” studies—accelerates the discovery of new treatments directed at the basic mechanisms of disorder and disease. Thus, the goal of this program is to train scientists who will make discoveries in the laboratory that can be applied expeditiously to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. New technology allows scientists to identify genetic and molecular defects causing or predisposing to disease. The trainees in this program are working precisely at this interface between science and medicine to contribute to the long-term well-being of society.
Facilities
Students will work in the well-equipped laboratories of approximately 140 faculty located throughout the School of Medicine campus. These researchers are supported by many shared facilities including microscopy, molecular biology, and protein chemistry.
Financial Aid
The program is supported by a combination of funding from the Lucille P. Markey Charitable Trust and an NIH training grant. Each student is provided a stipend, health and dental insurance, and tuition throughout their years in the program. The program covers these benefits during the students’ first year; in subsequent years, the research advisor is responsible.
Admission Requirements
The mission of the CMM program is to recruit and train outstanding PhD candidates in translational research. We use a holistic approach in evaluating applicants, to ensure the best fit between our training program and trainees. Evidence of prior research experience is paramount in the admissions process, along with letters from research mentors. A bachelor’s degree from a qualified college or university is required. Applicants are expected to have taken the following courses: biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, physics, and calculus. Cell biology and/or biochemistry is recommended. Passage of the TOEFL is required for all students whose undergraduate instruction was conducted in a language other than English. CMM does not require or review GRE scores in the admissions process.
CMM draws from the top of an extremely strong and deep pool of candidates. Although we do not use score cut-offs, the average accepted student has a GPA of 3.71. Our class size varies between 20-24, and includes in addition to PhD candidates, trainees in dual MD/PhD, DVM/PhD programs and Clinical Fellows. Yield on admissions offers is high, ranging from 45-69%, with an average of 55% of offers resulting in acceptance.
The Vivian Thomas Scholars Initiative (VTSI) is dedicated to nurturing, mentoring and connecting exceptional talent that exists at various institutions including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), community colleges across the country, and regional institutions in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The application for VTSI and the supplemental questions are found within the School of Medicine application for those interested in applying.
GEM awards fellowships to eligible students who pursue graduate education in science or engineering. For more information, please visit GEM Fellowship webpage. Prospective fellows apply to GEM and the sponsoring institutions at the same time. Potential candidates must indicate on the JHU application that they have received or are being considered for a GEM Fellowship.
Inquiries regarding admissions should be referred to:
Office of the Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine
1830 E. Monument Street, Suite 2-103
Telephone: (410) 614-0391; (410) 614-3640
For questions not addressed on these pages, please email cmm@jhmi.edu.
Additional information and the link to the application are available through the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine’s Admissions website.
Program Requirements
The program requirements include a selection of graduate level courses listed in the Courses section below. Additionally, students are expected to perform research rotations in at least two different laboratories culminating in the selection of a thesis advisor to begin original research leading to their doctoral dissertation. All rotations must be performed in the laboratories of CMM faculty members.
Additionally, the program requires students to actively participate in the OPTIONS Career Curriculum, managed by the Professional Development and Career Office Doctoral Life Design Studio (DLDS), that provides protected time for students to develop their career goals and prepare for their future. Through interactive workshops, students discover careers of interest, develop career-specific skills and build a professional network while connecting with fellow trainees with similar interests.
A Master’s Candidacy Exam must be completed by the end of the second year, and a Doctor of Philosophy Board Oral Exam by the end of the third year of study.
Students must complete annual meetings with their faculty advisor on the student's academic progress and professional development plan, also known as the student's Individual Development Plan (IDP).
Annual thesis committee meetings are held until such time as the thesis committee evaluates that the student is ready to write their doctoral dissertation. The dissertation is based on the student’s novel research; a public seminar of thesis work is a graduation requirement.
Attendance at the annual CMM retreat is required for all students.
Courses:
Required Courses
Students must successfully complete the following courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ME.800.702 | Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Medicine | 5 |
| ME.800.718 | Topics in Cellular and Molecular Medicine | 1 |
| ME.800.811 | Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research | 1 |
| ME.800.727 | Foundations in Biomedical Science: Biochemistry | 1 |
| ME.800.728 | Foundations in Biomedical Science: Molecular Biology | 1 |
| ME.800.729 | Foundations in Biomedical Science: Genetics | 1 |
| ME.800.730 | Foundations in Biomedical Science: Cell Signaling | 1 |
| ME.800.731 | Mathematical Foundations for Cellular and Molecular Medicine | 0.5 |
| ME.800.703 | CMM Core Discussion 1 | 1.5 |
| ME.800.709 | Cellular and Molecular Basis of Disease | 3 |
| ME.800.801 | Cellular and Molecular Medicine Research 2 | 1 - 18 |
| ME.800.717 | Grant Writing: Nuts and Bolts | 1.5 |
| ME.800.724 | Introduction to Clinical Research | 1.5 |
| ME.800.789 | 3B's: Bench to Bedside and Back | 1 |
- 1
Must be taken in the fall and spring semesters of the first year.
- 2
Must be taken each semester and summer term.
Electives
Students are required to take four electives to further broaden their experience in cellular and molecular medicine during the duration of their studies. It is mandatory that one elective out of the four required electives must be a Biostatistics course. Rigor and Reproducibility in Research (3Rs) principles are integrated throughout the program's coursework. Students will also need to attend several Research Integrity Colloquium lectures each year, and take an ethics refresher course at year 5.
Learning Outcomes
Program Objectives
Trainees of the program will receive advanced, graduate-level instruction in the following:
- Multidisciplinary, cutting-edge and quantitative knowledge of basic biological sciences
- Theoretical and hands-on knowledge of human anatomy, physiology and the basis of disease
- Design, experimentation and analysis of translational or clinical research in human disease
- Rigorous experimental design, and the principles of reproducible research
- Responsible and ethical conduct of research
- Effective oral and written communication to both lay and expert audiences
- Collaborative science, teamwork, and networking with peers and professionals
- Career awareness, job skills development and experiential preparation
- Leadership skills including mentoring, negotiating and conflict resolution
Trainee Learning Objectives
Trainees graduating with a Ph.D. from the CMM program will be able to:
- Demonstrate breadth and depth of knowledge in basic biological sciences at a cellular and molecular level. Acquire up-to-date concepts in biostatistics, molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry and cell biology as applicable to a range of modern research.
- Acquire fundamental knowledge of human physiology, including anatomy, histology and pathology in a range of human disorders.
- Understand how clinical research is designed and conducted. Plan, conduct and analyze original, hypothesis driven research relevant to human disease. Acquire state-of-the-art technical and laboratory skills.
- Demonstrate the principles of rigorous and reproducible research, specifically: design and defend hypothesis-based studies; conduct independent research on the molecular and cellular basis of disease; harness state-of-the-art technical, computational, and conceptual tools; and analyze and report findings.
- Demonstrate thorough understanding of responsible conduct of research and nuances of scientific ethics, including instruction in conflict of interest, intellectual property rights, plagiarism and fraud, authorship, responsible image processing and transparency in writing, mentor relations, human subjects research, and animal use in research.
- Present scientific research to lay or expert audiences, write persuasively to propose and acquire research funding, publish original peer-reviewed papers on original research or reviews, write and defend the dissertation.
- Work in teams to solve problems, conduct multidisciplinary research, interact with peers within and outside Johns Hopkins.
- Explore career possibilities, acquire critical career skills and job search tools, and obtain experiential training that enhances competitiveness in the job market.
- Demonstrate leadership skills in organizing, mentoring, negotiating and resolving conflict as they relate to programmatic activities, and professional activities in the lab and outside Johns Hopkins.