The cell is the basic unit of life. Cell biology is an integrative discipline that employs a diverse array of methods and experimental systems to study cell structure and function. By focusing on the cell, CMDB students gain a detailed understanding of the tissues and organisms that cells compose.

During their training, students will tackle outstanding challenges in cell biology, including membrane trafficking, signaling pathways, the cell cycle, nuclear organization and division, host-microbe interactions, cell motility, and the formation and regulation of biomolecular condensates. They will work with diverse model systems, including mice, fruit flies, roundworms, budding yeast, zebrafish, cephalopods, and cultured cells. Their investigations will be empowered by advanced methodologies, including quantitative single-molecule microscopy, cryo-electron microscopy and tomography, biochemistry, in vitro experiments, and in silico modeling, combined with molecular and genetic analysis.

Cell Biology faculty

Our faculty members have a wide range of research specialties. Learn about their work and how you can get connected with our faculty.

Our research

Student Profiles

Xiangning Chen

Xiangning Chen

My project and lab I investigated how light affects glucose homeostasis through the sympathetic nervous system, using mouse models in Rejji Kuruvilla and Haiqing Zhao’s lab. This interdisciplinary project combines skills of both metabolism and neuroscience. I raised the mice…

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