Program Overview
Program Overview
The Department of Molecular Biology at Princeton University offers a comprehensive undergraduate program designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to explore the central questions of 21st-century biology. The curriculum provides broad foundational knowledge in core disciplines, including molecular, cellular, and developmental biology, biochemistry, and genetics.
Goals for Student Learning
The undergraduate program in molecular biology aims to:
- Equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to explore the central questions of 21st-century biology.
- Provide broad foundational knowledge in core disciplines.
- Acquire depth by pursuing subdisciplines of interest in greater detail and sophistication in upper-level elective courses.
- Conduct original research at the frontiers of modern science for their independent work.
Prerequisites
To enter the Department of Molecular Biology, students must have completed MOL 214 with a grade of C or better. Entrance to the department also requires CHM 201/207 and CHM 202; a sufficient score on a relevant standardized test plus CHM 202 or CHM 215; or requirement fulfillment through the chemistry placement test.
Program of Study
General Requirements
The following courses are required:
- Organic Chemistry: CHM 301 and CHM 304, or CHM 337, completed before the beginning of junior year.
- Quantitative: Students satisfy the quantitative requirement by taking one course in statistics (SML 201 or ORF 245) and one course in either computer science (COS 126 or above) or math (MAT 103, 104, 175 or any 200-level MAT course).
- Physics: PHY 108 (strongly recommended), or PHY 103 and 104, or PHY 101 and 102.
Departmental Core Courses
The following four core courses must be completed by the end of the junior year:
- MOL 342
- MOL 345
- MOL 348
- Either MOL 350 or MOL 320
Other Departmentals
All students must take a total of at least eight departmentals, including:
- The four departmental core courses
- At least one 300-, 400-, or 500-level course with MOL as the primary listing
- The remaining three departmentals can be chosen from among all 300-level or higher MOL, MOL-cross-listed, or other approved courses
Independent Work
Junior Independent Work
In the fall semester of junior year, students participate in small group tutorials led by postdocs, reading papers from the original literature and preparing two critical analysis papers on assigned topics. In the spring semester, students carry out independent work with a faculty adviser, culminating in a junior paper in the form of a grant proposal.
Senior Independent Work
During senior year, each student undertakes a year-long independent research project as part of the senior thesis course (MOL 498–499). With guidance from a faculty adviser, students complete a substantial piece of research and scholarship, culminating in a written thesis submitted and presented in the final semester.
Senior Departmental Examination
Students are required to present their work to two faculty thesis readers during an oral exam, describing the background of the thesis, defending its contents, and proposing future directions.
Study Abroad
Students are encouraged to consider studying abroad. Because advance planning is essential, interested students should meet with the director of undergraduate studies for assistance with program selection and course planning.
Additional Information
Integrated Science Curriculum
An alternative path into the department is through the integrated science curriculum (ISC). Completing the full ISC sequence fulfills the MOL 214 and general chemistry prerequisites, the physics requirement, and one of the two quantitative requirements.
Approved Courses for Departmental Credit
See the departmental website for an up-to-date list of approved departmentals. Other courses may be submitted for consideration to the departmental undergraduate studies committee.
Faculty
The Department of Molecular Biology has a diverse faculty with research interests spanning molecular, cell, and systems biology. Faculty members include:
- Elizabeth R. Gavis, Chair
- Thomas J. Silhavy, Associate Chair
- Frederick M. Hughson, Director of Undergraduate Studies
- Ileana M. Cristea, Director of Graduate Studies
- Professors: Bonnie L. Bassler, Rebecca D. Burdine, Ileana M. Cristea, Danelle Devenport, Elizabeth R. Gavis, Zemer Gitai, Frederick M. Hughson, Martin C. Jonikas, Yibin Kang, Michael S. Levine, Lydia Lynch, Coleen T. Murphy, Sabine Petry, Alexander Ploss, Paul D. Schedl, Jean E. Schwarzbauer, Stanislav Y. Shvartsman, Thomas J. Silhavy, Jeffry B. Stock, Ned S. Wingreen
- Associate Professors: Mohamed S. Abou Donia, Britt Adamson, Ricardo Mallarino, Jared E. Toettcher, Martin Helmut Wühr
- Assistant Professors: John F. Brooks, Michelle M. Chan, George Ghanim, John Jimah, Ai Ing Lim, Kai Mesa, Cameron A. Myhrvold, Eszter Posfai, AJ te Velthuis
- Associated Faculty: José L. Avalos, Lisa M. Boulanger, Clifford P. Brangwynne, Mark P. Brynildsen, Daniel J. Cohen, Jonathan M. Conway, Thomas Gregor, Ralph E. Kleiner, A. James Link, Lindy McBride, Tom Muir, Celeste M. Nelson, Joshua D. Rabinowitz, Mohammad R. Seyedsayamdost, Joshua W. Shaevitz, Stanislav Y. Shvartsman, Mona Singh, Michael A. Skinnider, Howard A. Stone, John D. Storey, Olga G. Troyanskaya, Samuel S. Wang, Bridgett M. vonHoldt
- Professor Emeritus (teaching): Sarah J. Flint
- Professor of the Practice: Daniel A. Notterman
- University Lecturer: Heather A. Thieringer
- Senior Lecturer: Laurel Lorenz, Jodi Schottenfeld-Roames
- Lecturer: Brandon Bloomer, Anthar S. Darwish, Aimee T. Farria, Karin Rainey McDonald
Courses
The Department of Molecular Biology offers a range of courses, including:
- MOL 101: From DNA to Human Complexity
- MOL 214: Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
- MOL 320: Experimental Molecular Biology
- MOL 340: Molecular and Cellular Immunology
- MOL 342: Genetics
- MOL 345: Biochemistry
- MOL 348: Cell and Developmental Biology
- MOL 350: Laboratory in Molecular Biology
- MOL 380: Modern Microbiology: Into the Microverse!
- MOL 415: Modern Biophysics and Systems Biology
- MOL 423: Molecular Basis of Cancer
- MOL 425: Infection: Biology, Burden, Policy
- MOL 431: Regulatory Mechanisms in Development
- MOL 433: Biotechnology
- MOL 459: Viruses: Strategy and Tactics
- MOL 460: Diseases in Children: Causes, Costs, and Choices
- MOL 498: Senior Thesis I
- MOL 499: Senior Thesis II
- CBE 438: Biomolecular Engineering
- CBE 440: Physical Basis of Human Disease
- EEB 327: Immune Systems: From Molecules to Populations
- ISC 231: An Integrated, Quantitative Introduction to Life Sciences I
- ISC 232: An Integrated, Quantitative Introduction to Life Sciences I
- NEU 437: Systems Neuroscience: Computing with Populations of Neurons
- NEU 447: Neuroimmunology: Immune Molecules in Normal Brain Function and Neuropathology
- QCB 455: Introduction to Genomics and Computational Molecular Biology