Graduate Program in Biotechnology
Program

It is in light of these practical applications that the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at UCI offers its graduate program in biotechnology, leading to the Master's of Science degree in Biological Sciences. Students are trained in experimental rationales for solving actual research problems and are encouraged to take summer internships in industry during the course of their studies.

The program emphasizes formal training and extensive participation in research. First-year students enroll in core technical laboratories focusing on recombinant DNA technology, protein isolation and characterization, virology, and immunology. During their second year, continuing students join laboratories and participate in individual faculty research projects.

The graduate program in biotechnology also includes an Emphasis in Stem Cell Biology. The creation of this track within the existing graduate program addresses a growing need within the biotechnology community. Many companies have devoted significant portions of their research and development budgets into stem cell biology research platforms as the applicability of stem cells for use in treating human disease has become clear. As such, the need for well-trained scientists, skilled in the growth and manipulation of stem cells, is currently on the rise. The stem cell emphasis has been organized around UCI’s Stem Cell Research Center (SCRC), which was established in 2005 by the School of Biological Sciences and the School of Medicine.