https://medicine.ouhsc.edu/prospective-students Parent Page: Prospective Students id: 36256 Active Page: PhD in Cell Biology id: 35944 Portal ID: 248

Cell Biology explores how cells maintain the human body and how disruptions in these processes lead to disease. The PhD program provides a research environment where students investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms that shape human health and contribute to discoveries that advance biomedical science.

Training in the Cell Biology PhD program reflects a period of rapid change and expanding opportunity in biomedical research. Students use modern tools to study the molecular causes of disease, identify potential drug targets, and support the development of innovative therapies. The pace of discovery and the growing emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches require scientists who can integrate information across many areas of study. Students also learn to present their work clearly and persuasively as they prepare competitive proposals for research funding. The program offers multiple opportunities to develop these skills through seminar programs, journal clubs, and the Graduate Student Retreat, all of which encourage interaction with faculty and peers.

The Cell Biology program builds on this foundation by giving students a focused research home where they can deepen their expertise and grow as independent investigators. Through close mentorship and engagement with the research community, students gain the scientific and professional skills needed for careers in academic research, biotechnology, and related fields.

GPiBS Pathway Program

Prospective students initially apply to the Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (GPiBS) program at the OU Health Campus and complete the first year GPiBS curriculum under this umbrella program. After their first year, students may be admitted to the Cell Biology program through joining the laboratory of a participating faculty mentor.

How Long to Complete the Program?

Average 5.5 years

Average Class Size

5-10 students per year

Competitive Student Stipend

$36,000 per year, health insurance and tuition benefits, and monetary incentives for grants and fellowships.

Curriculum

All enrolled students complete the first semester Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (GPiBS) curriculum that focuses on fundamentals of biomedical science, biostatistics, scientific rigor, and scientific integrity. 

Subsequent year courses are minimal so students can focus on research progress, but include courses using flipped learning models focused on expanding core fundamentals of cell biology, learning to present research, and learning how to critically analyze the primary literature. 

Cutting edge electives are also offered including, courses to focused on coding in R for data analysis, hands-on training in super-resolution microscopy, and teaching practica for students interested in building teaching skills. 

Credit hours to complete the degree: 90 

For detailed course information, visit our Course Catalog.

Admission Requirements

The gateway to the Ph.D. Program in the Department of Cell Biology is the GPiBS Program. Students who apply to and are accepted into the GPiBS Program participate in a year-long interdisciplinary curriculum, as well as lab rotations, that give them the exposure to the breadth of biomedical science programs and faculty mentors available at OU Health Campus. This allows the students ample time in a variety of courses and labs to make an educated decision on which graduate program and mentor they wish to complete their Ph.D. studies with prior to joining a departmental program such as the PhD in Cell Biology. View more details about applying to the GPiBS program.  

Direct Admission to Cell Biology 

In specific circumstances, a student may be considered for direct admission to the Cell Biology Graduate Program (without first completing GPiBS).  Applications for direct admission to the Ph.D. program in Cell Biology are accepted from students who have identified a faculty member in the Department of Cell Biology under whom they wish to train. The faculty member must be willing to provide mentorship and financial support for the duration of the student’s Ph.D. training. 

Online submission of the application is required. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

Application Procedure 

To apply directly to the Department of Cell Biology, first email the program director (Dr. Shannon Conley, Shannon-conley@ouhsc.edu) to express your interest. 

Admissions Requirements 

  • Undergraduate degree in a relevant major 
  • Minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of their undergraduate degree program and a minimum GPA of 3.0 on any Graduate coursework 
  • A WES or ECE report to confirm GPA is required for applicants who are graduating, or have graduated, from foreign institutions. 
  • GRE general exam scores may be submitted but are not required 
  • The TOEFL exam is required for foreign applicants.  Any applicant whose first language is not English must certify proficiency in English when applying. Such applicants must submit scores received on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A TOEFL score of at least 600 on the paper and pencil test, 220 on the computer-based test, or equivalent score on the web-based exam is the minimum required to be considered for admission to the Ph.D. program in Cell Biology. 
  • A letter from the prospective mentor in Cell Biology. 
  • Three letters of recommendation from individuals other than the prospective mentor 
  • A personal statement of goals/purpose 

For additional information, visit our Course Catalog.

Program Details

Location Offered

Oklahoma City


Degree Acquired

PhD in Cell Biology


Application Window

See GPiBS admission timeline and requirements

Admissions

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Tuition and Aid

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Department of Cell biology

The Department of Cell Biology in the College of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Campus in Oklahoma City. The department is dedicated to excellence in research, education, and service, providing Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows with training opportunities across more than 40 laboratories on the Health Campus. Trainees engage in cutting-edge biomedical research that spans a wide range of scientific disciplines and reflects the rapidly evolving nature of modern biomedical science.

The department is also a national leader in ciliary biology, hosting one of the largest groups of cilia researchers in the United States. Primary cilia serve as key sensory and signaling hubs in nearly all human cells, regulating essential pathways such as Hedgehog, Wnt, and GPCR signaling. Research in this area has established strong links between ciliary dysfunction and numerous human diseases, including metabolic disorders, kidney disease, neurological conditions, and cancer.

About the Department

Felix Asare, Cell Biology PhD Program

I initially chose the Department of Cell Biology because of the cilia research being conducted in Dr. Julie Van De Weghe’s lab, but since joining, I have been equally impressed by the department’s strong sense of community, collaborative environment, and dedicated mentorship. As an international student who moved from Ghana and arrived knowing no one, I have felt welcomed, supported, and genuinely at home.

  Felix Asare, OUHSC Cell Biology PhD Program, Fourth Year

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