# Cellular and Molecular Biology at Michigan

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2021 · $729,541

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract:
The Cellular and Molecular Biology (CMB) Ph.D. Program was founded approximately forty years ago to
coordinate interdepartmental training of students in broad areas of cellular and molecular biology. CMB enjoys
strong institutional support from Rackham Graduate School and the Medical School as well as from the
faculty's departments. Program Faculty are scientifically diverse and well-funded. Training opportunities range
from basic research in a large number of areas (structural biology, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology,
cellular biology, development, physiology and neuroscience), to more translational topics (cancer, metabolic
disease, immunology, neuro-degeneration, aging, microbial pathogenesis and stem cell biology). Though
students' individual dissertation projects are focused, the Program provides exposure to the entire spectrum of
CMB research through the weekly student seminar (CMB 850), student-organized short courses, an Annual
Symposium/Poster Session and an Annual Retreat. Thus, the Program appeals to students and faculty who
will benefit from broad exposure to a wide range of research, indispensible in our increasingly collaborative
scientific environment. The Program draws an outstanding and diverse group of students from a national pool.
Approximately 75% join from the Program in Biomedical Sciences (PIBS, an umbrella for admission to 14
biomedical Ph.D. programs) and about 25% from the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). The
curriculum, typically completed by PIBS/CMB students by the middle of the second year and by MSTP/CMB
students by the end of the first, is flexible, yet encompasses core areas of biochemistry, genetics and cell
biology as well as elective coursework that includes quantitative training. Candidacy is achieved after
completion of a qualifying exam in the second year based on a proposal that centers on the student's intended
research. CMB students are highly successful at competing for external fellowships (NIH NRSA, NSF) and
participate in activities that support scientific outreach and diversity. There are currently 62 students in the
program. During the past 5 years, 74 students joined the program and 72 students received Ph.D.s. The
average time to degree is approximately 5.6 years, with students publishing, on average, 2 first-author papers,
4.2 total. CMB Ph.D. graduates go on to careers in academic research and teaching, in commercial research in
the pharmaceutical industry, biotech and government laboratories, as well in diverse non-research but science-
related careers. The NIGMS T32 Training grant for which this is a competing renewal application provides key
resources. Most PIBS/CMB students are supported by the training grant in their second year and some are in
their third; MSTP/CMB students are eligible during their G2 year. Whether supported by the grant or not, all
CMB students have the same requirements. In this application, we request 16 slots per year, 8 ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10194506
- **Project number:** 5T32GM007315-45
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Manojkumar A Puthenveedu
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $729,541
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1975-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10194506

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10194506, Cellular and Molecular Biology at Michigan (5T32GM007315-45). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10194506. Licensed CC0.

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