Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine

Contact

Name: Ryan Tomlinson, PhD
Position: Director, Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine

Contact

Name: Danielle Park
Position: Program Coordinator, Jefferson College of Life Sciences

1020 Locust Street
M-46 JAH
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Contact Admissions

Contact Number(s):

Curriculum

Prior to registering for their first academic year, each new graduate student meets with the Program Directors to determine an initial course of study. First-year pre-doctoral students are also offered the opportunity to begin their training during the summer preceding registration for their first semester of classes.

The curriculum for the Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine (CBRM) Program consists of two parts. The first is an interdisciplinary core of courses, which each student is required to successfully complete. The second part is comprised of additional graduate courses deemed necessary by the student's research committee. These are not limited to courses offered through the CBRM Program, and may be selected from the course offerings available through any of our graduate programs.

A minimal requirement for the Jefferson College of Life Sciences is the successful completion of 180 total graduate credits, including research. Of these, there should be no less than 54 course credits of graduate course work, 26 of which must be outside the area of Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine. 

Students spend a substantial portion of their first year and part of their second year in course work. A course in the Foundations of Biomedical Science, GC 550, is required of all incoming graduate students. This course provides a solid introduction to biochemistry, cell biology, and genetics. Program requirements include courses in cell biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, developmental biology, and pathology. Advanced courses can be selected from either the CBRM program or other programs in the Jefferson College of Life Sciences. Courses in Research Ethics, Planning & Writing a Research Grant, and Applied Statistics are required of all graduate students at the University.

Core Curriculum

Certain components of the Core Curriculum may be modified or waived to account for the individual experience and background of the student. Any modifications must be approved by the Program Director. In addition to the required courses, the graduate program and College offer a wide range of additional introductory and upper-level courses which are available to students. Additional elective graduate courses are available from among all course offerings within the Jefferson College of Life Sciences. The student, in consultation with his/her research advisor, may thus select course offerings that meet specific objectives and/or needs.

Course TitleSemester(s)Credit

GC 750/760/770 PhD Laboratory Rotations (first year PhD)

Summer, Fall, Spring

3

CB 616/626 Current Topics: Journal Club and Research in Progress (R.I.P)

Fall, Spring 

CB 710/720 Seminars

Fall, Spring

CB 910/920/930 Research

Fall, Spring & Summer

Variable

GC 550 Foundations in Biomedical Sciences

Fall

10

GC 570 Profiles in ResearchFall2

GC 640 Research Ethics

Fall

1

GC 642 Intro to MicroscopySpring2

GC 559 Intro to R Programming

Fall

3

GC 563 Computational Transcriptomics (recommended) (prerequisite course GC 559)Spring3

GC 742 Applied Statistics

Spring

2

GC 665 Cell Signaling

Fall

4

GC 730 Planning & Writing Research Grant

Spring

1

TE 624 Extracellular Matrix

Fall (odd years)

2

TE 531 Biological Basis of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative MedicineFall (even years)2

Course TitleSemester(s)Credit
* indicates Career Development Course  
   
BI 525 Genetic InformationSpring 3
CB 570 Pathological Aspects of DiseaseSpring3
CB 615 Developmental Biology I - EmbryologyFall3
CB 635 Gene-Environment Interactions, Birth Defects & DiseaseSpring2
*GC 510 Database Design & MgmtSummer2
*GC 520 Cultural HumilityFall, Spring2
GC 558 Intro to Unix and C ProgrammingFall3
GC 560 Data VisualizationSummer2
GC 561 Data Structures & AlgorithmsSpring3
GC 562 Computational GenomicsSpring3
GC 563 Computational TranscriptomicsSpring3
GC 564 Data Mining & Knowledge DiscoverySummer3
GC 565 Functional GenomicsSummer 3
*GC 600 Managerial and Teamwork SkillsFall3

*GC 605 Database Design & Mgmt

Summer

2

*GC 610 Strategic ManagementFall2
*GC 615 Grants & Contracts ManagementSpring2

*GC 617 ManagPharm DrugDevelopProjects

Spring

2

*GC 621 Biotechnology Venture MgmtSummer2

*GC 625 Drug Development Essentials

Summer

2

*GC 630 Fundamentals of Clinical Trials

Fall

3

*GC 635 Intro to Clin Trials MgmtFall2
*GC 636 Principles of Biomedical Career MngmtSpring 2
*GC 650 EconAnal of HealthcareIntervenSpring3
*GC 690 Reg Issu in Human Subjects ResFall2
*GC 720 Scientific WritingSpring2
*GC 723 Comm Sci as StorytellingSummer2
*GC 740 Principles of PedagogyFall1
*GC 741 Principles of Science in Higher Ed. Spring1
*GC 746 Online Course Dev & Teaching IFall2
*GC 747 Teaching & Learning OnlineSpring2
*GC 748 Learner Centered EducationSpring2
*GC 749 The Science of Learning IIFall2
*GC 751 Instructional Tech & LearningSpring2
*GC 752 Curriculum & Instructional DesFall2
GE 637 Human GeneticsSpring 3
GE 651 Pathobiology of CancerSpring 2

PhD Program Curriculum

Note:  Credits for the 910, 920, 930, and 940 Research courses are variable. Assign credits to Research to equal the target number of credits for each semester.

Fall Semester (20 Credits)
Course TitleCredit

GC 550 Foundations in Biomedical Sciences

10

GC 640 Research Ethics

1

GC 760 PhD Laboratory Rotation

3

CB  616 Current Topics: Journal Club and Research in Progress (R.I.P)

1

CB 710 Seminar: Grand Rounds, Showcase Seminars

1

CB 910 Research 

Variable

Spring Semesters (30 Credits)
Course TitleCredit

GC 770 PhD Laboratory Rotation

3

CB  626 Current Topics: Journal Club and Research in Progress (R.I.P)

1

GC 642 Intro to Microscopy2

CB 720 Showcase Seminars

1

CB 920 Research

Variable

Summer Semester (10 Credits)
Course TitleCredit
Elective(s)Variable

CB 930 Research

Variable

Fall Semester (20 Credits)
Course TitleCredit
GC 559 Intro to R Programming 3
GC 665 Cell Signaling4

TE 624 Extracellular Matrix (offered every other year)

2

TE 531 Biological Basis of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (offered every other year)2

CB  616 Current Topics: Journal Club and Research in Progress (R.I.P)

1

CB 710 Showcase Seminars

1

CB 910 Research

Variable

Elective(s)Variable
Spring Semesters (30 Credits)
Course TitleCredits
GC 563 Computational Transcriptomics (recommended) (prerequisite course GC 559)3
GC 742 Applied Statistics2
GC 730 Planning & Writing a Research Grant1

CB  626 Current Topics: Journal Club and Research in Progress (R.I.P)

1

CB 720 Showcase Seminars

1

CB 920 Research

Variable

Elective(s)Variable
Summer Semester (10 Credits)
Course TitleCredit

CB 930 Research

Variable

Fall Semester (20 Credits)
Course TitleCredit
TE 624 Extracellular Matrix (offered every other year)2
TE 531 Biological Basis of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (offered every other year)2

CB  616 Current Topics: Journal Club and Research in Progress (R.I.P)

1

CB 710 Showcase Seminars

1

CB 910 Research

Variable

Spring Semesters (30 Credits)
Course TitleCredit

CB  626 Current Topics: Journal Club and Research in Progress (R.I.P)

1

CB 720 Showcase Seminars

1

CB 920 Research

Variable

Summer Semester (10 Credits)
Course TitleCredit

CB 930 Research

Variable

MD/PhD Curriculum

Course TitleSemester(s)Credit

CB  616/626 Current Topics: Journal Club and Research in Progress (R.I.P)

Fall, Spring

1 each

CB 710/720 Showcase Seminars

Fall, Spring 

1 each

CB 910/920/930 Research

Fall, Spring & Summer

Variable

GC 640 Research Ethics

Fall

1

GC 710/712 MD/PhD Translational Research Journal Club Fall & Spring1 each
GC 725 Enrich Clinical Skills Fall & Spring 1 each

GC 742 Applied Statistics

Spring

2

TE 624 Extracellular Matrix (offered every other year)

Fall

2

TE 531 Biological Basis of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (offered every other year) Fall2

GC 665 Cell Signaling (optional)

Fall

4

GC 730 Planning & Writing Research Grant

Spring

1

Elective(s)

Variable

Variable

5 Years at a Glance

  • Take required courses (Fall, Spring, and Summer)
  • 3 Lab rotations and a summary for each lab
  • Select research advisor and review progress
  • Attend the required seminars and any seminars your advisor suggests

  • Complete required courses (Fall, Spring, and Summer)
  • Join a thesis lab and begin to develop a project
  • Take comprehensive qualifying exams (written and oral) during the summer
  • Continue to attend and participate in seminars and current topics

  • Submit committee names to Danielle Park for CBRM Executive Committee approval
  • Continue thesis research while working with mentor and thesis committee
  • Continue to attend and participate in seminars and current topics

  • Continue to attend and participate in seminars and current topics
  • Wrap up thesis project

  • Continue to attend and participate in seminars and current topics
  • Write and defend before April 1st
  • Graduate