UC Berkeley MCB

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The undergraduate major in Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB) focuses on the study of molecular structures and processes of cellular life and their roles in the function, reproduction, and development of living organisms. This covers a broad range of specialized disciplines, such as biochemistry, microbiology, biophysics, molecular biology, genetics, cell physiology, cell anatomy, immunology, and neurobiology. The types of living organisms from which the departmental faculty draws its working materials are as diverse as its disciplinary specializations, ranging from viruses and microbes through plants, roundworms, annelids, arthropods, and mollusks, to fish, amphibia and mammals.

There are five emphases to choose from: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cell & Developmental Biology, Genetics, Genomics & Development, Immunology & Pathogenesis, and Neurobiology. Information about the emphases, including the lower-division and upper division requirements, can be found on the Major-At-Glance webpage.

Students majoring in any of these emphases have been highly successful in entering graduate or medical school and in other science- and health-related careers. For more information about what our students do with an MCB major, checkout our Career webpage.

Academic advisors are available year-round to help you plan for the upcoming semesters. The advisors are trained to support students and assist them in successfully completing their MCB major. They are excellent resources for questions concerning administration and academics, or finding out about other available services. Students should see a staff advisor in order to:

*ask questions about major requirements;
*ask advice about schedule planning;
*declare the MCB major;
*consult about research opportunities, graduate & professional schools, career *opportunities, scholarships and internships;
*get their advisor code (AC) number to access Tele-BEARS registration;
*get information and course control numbers for independent research;
*request general assistance, advice or information; and
*find out about upcoming events and programs.

Staff advisors are primarily available for drop-in advising, though limited appointments are available for more complex issues such as probation, academic difficulty and re-admission. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call 510.643.8895 during drop-in advising hours. Our general email address is mcbuao@berkeley.edu. We check this email daily, M-F, so you'll receive an answer to questions within one business day.

• Anynomous

  17 September 2019

  Interested in becoming a UC Berkeley MCB faculty member? We are now accepting applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the area of Big Data Development, Biological Imaging and Image Analysis.

  Applications are due November 11, 2019. Learn more and apply here: bit.ly/2O9MydB

• Anynomous

  13 September 2019

  Ensuring a positive climate is a collective ongoing responsibility.

  As part of our ongoing efforts to provide and foster a safe, collegial and respectful environment for all members of our community, this week we shared our new Code of Conduct, written by MCB students, faculty and staff.

• Anynomous

  28 August 2019

  What does it mean to be first-generation LatinX in medical school? UC Berkeley MCB alumni Leilani Gutierrez-Palominos and Karla Tlatelpa discussed their experiences with The Blum Center for Developing Economies.

• Anynomous

  28 August 2019

  Eva Nogales, MCB Professor and HHMI Investigator has been named a 2020 Biophysics Society Fellow for her excellence in science, contributions to the biophysics field and her efforts to push the limits of cryo-EM. Congratulations to Prof. Nogales!

  More here: bit.ly/32bdpJV

• Anynomous

  19 August 2019

  "What I'm evaluating is how your brain works.", says MCB Prof Russell Vance in this Q & A with Elie Diner of Slide-Talk. Find more useful postdoc interview tips here: bit.ly/2NgY4U7

• Anynomous

  14 August 2019

  Congratulations to MCB affiliated and PMB Professor Arash Komeili on joining the ranks of the Bakar Fellows!

  Learn more about the Bakar Fellows and how he plans to tackle some of the complex environmental issues around the mining industry here: bit.ly/2N0PjNJ

• Anynomous

  10 August 2019

  Congratulations to MCB Prof. Gary Firestone on receiving a Beckman Foundation Pyramid Award!

  He was honored at the recent Beckman Symposium for his efforts starting, organizing, and revising the Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship program from 2014–2019.

  Read more: bit.ly/2yNTdkR