A smiling researcher wearing safety goggles looks at a clear lab container held by a gloved hand in a laboratory filled with scientific equipment.

Graduate Education

Graduate students have access to a wealth of opportunities, including participation in affiliated graduate groups, gaining valuable teaching experience through TA-ships and affiliation with training grants that support their research and professional development. The department is committed to providing a dynamic and supportive environment for graduate students to advance their academic and career goals.

Five researchers in lab coats and safety goggles gather around a microscope in a busy laboratory. One person is seated and looking into the microscope while the others stand nearby, smiling and observing. The lab bench is cluttered with tools, notes, and scientific equipment, reflecting an active and collaborative research environment. Shelves, glassware, and a refrigerator stocked with supplies fill the background. The mood is focused yet upbeat, suggesting a shared moment of discovery or learning.

Graduate Groups

Multiple interdisciplinary graduate groups offer graduate students extensive opportunities for collaborative research, diverse academic training, and professional development.
Two scientists wearing white lab coats, blue gloves, and clear protective glasses work together in a bright laboratory. The younger researcher smiles while holding a small tube, as the older researcher carefully uses a pipette to transfer liquid into it. Large windows in the background let in natural light, adding to the open, collaborative atmosphere of the lab. The moment captures a positive and engaged mentoring interaction.

Teaching Assistantships

TAships are awarded by individual academic departments according to their own procedures. Students in any program are authorized to serve as a TA for any department.
Fluorescence microscopy image of tissue showing a highly structured arrangement of cells.

eMCDB T32 Training Program

The eMCDB T32 Program at UC Davis provides interdisciplinary training in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology to prepare PhD students for successful, impactful careers in the biomedical workforce.