We have developed a unique graduate program in the Department of Biology, based on a philosophy of training students broadly in modern biology. Our program is designed for students with widely diverse academic and research experiences.

By the end of their first year, our students have acquired both a strong foundation in the principles of modern biology and exposure to contemporary thinking in a wide variety of specific fields. Our graduate students become directly involved in many of the most significant research accomplishments of the Department and go on to become leaders in their fields, both in academic and industrial settings, all over the world.

Graduate students have the opportunity to participate in one of over sixty faculty research laboratories; many of the faculty are world-renowned and leaders in their fields. 4 members of the Biology faculty are Nobel Laureates, 29 are National Academy of Sciences members, and 11 are Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators.

The Department's research labs are in the Koch Biology Building, the Center for Cancer Research, the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, the McGovern Center for Brain Research, the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory and the Broad Institute. Areas of research include: biochemistry and biophysics, bioinformatics, bioengineering, cancer biology, cell biology, developmental biology, human genetics, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular medicine and human disease, neurobiology, plant molecular biology, structural biology, systems biology, and virology. Often, the research projects of any one laboratory involve more than one of these categories.

The Biology Department also hosts a weekly seminar, the Biology Colloquium, on Monday afternoons throughout the academic year. The Colloquium features distinguished researchers in all areas of biology, medicine, and related fields. These talks are often of great interest to graduate students, and lab members often attend the Colloquium together. The graduate students also have the opportunity to invite and host one or two Colloquium speakers throughout the academic year.

Dates to Remember

Also see the MIT Academic Calendar and the Biology Calendar for more details.

January 7
IAP begins

January 14
MIT deadline for submitting thesis for
Feb 08 graduation

FEbruary 1
IAP ends

FEbruary 4
Registration Day

FEbruary 5
First day of classes

February 8
Adv. degree application due for June 08 graduation

February 18
Presidents Day holiday

February 19
Monday classes held on Tuesday due to holiday

February 29
Last day to waive individual health coverage or add family health coverage

March 7
Add date

March 24-28
Spring vacation