Program Overview

The Molecular Biophysics & Structural Biology (MBSB) Graduate Program at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University is an interdisciplinary program for PhD studies that crosses the boundaries of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and

other traditional disciplines. MBSB aims to unravel and explain biological phenomena and processes in atomic and molecular detail.

Research: 

Research conducted by faculty of the graduate program covers a diverse range of topics in Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology. Areas of study are focused on understanding fundamental principles involved in reactions and interactions in biological systems. Research projects attempt to address and elucidate answers to questions such as:

• How do proteins fold and can we prevent misfolding?
• Can we design proteins with novel functions?
• How does the coordinated interaction between proteins and nucleic acids lead to cellular differentiation and the formation of an organism?
• How do macromolecules assemble into molecular machines or viruses and how do they operate?
• How do signals traverse membranes?

Curriculum:

The curriculum stresses an interdisciplinary approach to learning and research in modern Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology. In addition to traditional lectures, the curriculum includes multiple novel components from laboratory and hands-on demos to student-taught lectures and review of actual grant proposals. Students with strong backgrounds in physics, chemistry and mathematics as well as cellular and molecular biology are encouraged to apply. As a member of the MBSB program, all students will be advised by a mentor, exploring research options through laboratory rotations before choosing a thesis advisor in their first year.

Facilities and Environment: 

Students in the program will be trained through specifically designed courses and extensive laboratory research, set in a collaborative and collegial atmosphere. Unique to this program is the opportunity to train across traditional boundaries, and possibly be co-mentored by two thesis advisors. Students benefit from active participation and mentoring by prominent, internationally renowned faculty and receive training in state-of-the-art methodologies such as high field solution and solid-state NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, cryo electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy and computational molecular biology.

The University of Pittsburgh has over 200 graduate degree programs and is one of the best (ranked 4th in 2009) supported research facilities in the nation, with over $400 million dollars from the NIH in 2009 alone. Carnegie Mellon University attracts students from all 50 US states and 93 nations, and is affiliated with 17 Nobel Laureates and ten Turing Award recipients, among other prestigious award recipients. An open and collaborative atmosphere between faculty at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University allows students to explore all aspects of Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology in an integrated research community.