NWU - Department of Cell and Molecular Biology

About Us


Welcome!!

Research in the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology addresses a wide range of questions and uses a variety of modern approaches ranging from sequencing ancient DNA to visualizing GFP-tagged proteins in living cells with confocal microscopes. Research programs focus on:

  • the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix
  • nuclear structure and function
  • molecular and structural evolutionary biology
  • signal transduction
  • the regulation of mitochondrial gene expression
  • neuroplasticity and the cellular basis of learning and memory
  • the cellular and molecular basis of Alzheimer's disease

The cell biology research programs are highly relevant to human diseases including cancer, skin disease, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease. Most of the Department's faculty carry out basic research and actively direct the training of graduate students, medical students, and postdoctoral fellows. The majority enjoys NIH and NSF funding, and for the past several years departmental NIH funding has ranked in the top ten amongst Medical School Cell Biology Departments in the US. Based on a variety of important research, teaching, and funding criteria, the American Association of Medical Colleges likewise ranks the department within the top 10 of its 126 peers.

Students are recruited through the integrated Graduate Program in the Life Sciences (IGP), the Northwestern University Neurosciences Institute (NUIN) and the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). Once students have chosen a research lab they become an important member of a closely-knit team which typically includes the Principal Investigator, 2 to 3 graduate students, 1 to 2 postdoctoral fellows, and a laboratory Research Associate. While the student's day to day activities focus intensely on a specific research problem, several events ensure effective communication between laboratories. Following the second year, each graduate student is required to give a formal research seminar to the entire department, and postdoctoral fellows are also encouraged to make presentations in this series. Groups of research labs sponsor weekly Journal Clubs to review current literature, and the department sponsors a seminar series in which outstanding researchers from around the world describe their latest findings, and graduate students have an opportunity to visit with these speakers. To foster communication and interactions between labs, there is also a Friday lunch meeting for departmental faculty where research progress and problems are discussed. In addition, once a month one faculty member presents a formal research seminar open to the entire school.

The Department is one of the basic science departments of Northwestern's Medical School, and as such is located on Northwestern University's Chicago campus, just steps from Lake Michigan. In the heart of the "Gold Coast" it is near world-famous shopping on Michigan Avenue, outstanding restaurants, and cultural attractions including theater, blues and jazz, the Art Museum, the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Adler Planetarium.

University housing is available just a short walk from classrooms and laboratories. Two Northwestern-owned high-rise buildings, Abbott Hall and Lake Shore Center, look out over Lake Michigan and include room and board. Lake Shore Center houses a swimming pool, a gymnasium, handball and racquetball courts, a sun deck, and a bar and grill, all of which are shared with the residents of Abbott Hall. Also on campus are the Galter Carriage House and Worcester House, which offer studio and one-bedroom apartments. Many students find off-campus housing in nearby neighborhoods that are easily accessible by public transportation. Chicago is famous for its distinctive neighborhoods including Old Town, Lincoln Park, Bucktown, Wicker Park, Wrigleyville, and Rogers Park. An excellent public transportation system as well as a free University-run shuttle bus facilitates suburban living in Evanston.