Welcome to GMB
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The Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology (GMB) is an interdepartmental PhD program whose mission is (1) to train students from diverse backgrounds to earn a PhD in the fields of genetics, genomics, and molecular biology by guiding them through the acquisition of essential elements of the PhD, including responsible achievement of significant original research; and (2) to provide opportunities for learning about the breadth of careers in research and research-related fields and acquiring the skills and experiences that will facilitate the transition into such careers.
We train outstanding students to be creative, sophisticated research scientists. Our students have excellent publication records and are successful in obtaining grants and winning regional and national awards. NIGMS highlighted our program for its “notable record of diversity recruitment and retention”.
The research interests of the faculty span a broad range of topics, from model organisms genetics to clinical and translational research; quantitative genetics and complex traits to virology and plant genetics.
Current first-year BBSP students interested in joining GMB:
Please complete this brief Qualtrics survey and sign-up for a time to meet with the Director of Graduate Studies to discuss GMB curriculum requirements and PhD training.
RECENT NEWS
Dr. Jeff Sekelsky Receives 2023 Faculty Award for Excellence in Graduate Student and Academic Program Support
Jeff Sekelsky, PhD (Professor of Biology and Genetics) has been awarded the 2023 Faculty Award for Excellence in Graduate Student and Academic Program Support from the UNC Graduate School. This award recognizes graduate faculty currently in the Director of Graduate Studies role who provide outstanding support for graduate programs and their students. This award is student-nominated with the support of leadership and administration from the recipient’s home program. There are more than 160 Masters and PhD programs within UNC whose Directors of Graduate Studies are eligible for nomination.
The UNC Graduate School Dean will formally present Dr. Sekelsky with this award at the upcoming Graduate Student Recognition Celebration on Wednesday, April 12th from 4-5:30pm at The Carolina Club in the George Watts Hill Alumni Center. Join the Department of Genetics and the Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology as we celebrate Dr. Sekelsky and this well-deserved honor!
Jeanne-Marie McPherson awarded NRSA F31 Fellowship
Congratulations to Jeanne-Marie McPherson (Bob Duronio and Dan McKay labs), who was awarded an NRSA F31 predoctoral fellowship from the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health. Jeanne-Marie’s project is titled “Interrogating the roles of canonical versus variant histone H3 in genome function during aging.”
Please also see our page on Grants to GMB Students.
Emma Hinkle publishes paper in Communications Biology
Emma Hinkle (Jimena Giudice lab) published an article titled “Stretching muscle cells induces transcriptional and splicing transitions and changes in SR proteins” in Communications Biology (DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03915-7). Image: Cartoon of how mechanosensitive targets might play a role in the MAPK signaling cascade (see article for details; click to enlarge).
Please see our page on Publications by GMB Students for more.
Rachel Dumez Wins People’s Choice Award at Three Minute Thesis Competition
Congratulations to Genetics and Molecular Biology Graduate Student Rachel DuMez in the lab of Rob Dowen, UNC Departments of Biology and Cell Biology & Physiology for receiving the “People’s Choice Award” at the 2022 Three Minute Thesis Competition!