Career Opportunities in Molecular and Cellular Biology
The MCB curriculum is designed to prepare you for a wide spectrum of career opportunities.
Medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and related health sciences
It is widely recognized that the practice of medicine has been revolutionized by discoveries in molecular and cellular biology. Understanding the chemical nature of the gene and the way genes function (the topics of MCB 250 and 251, Molecular Genetics and Laboratory) has led to a vastly deeper understanding of how cells work and how these cells work together to form a functioning organism (the topics of MCB 252 and 253, Cells, Tissues, and Development and Laboratory).
Understanding how biomolecules function and how they interact (the topics of MCB 354, The Biochemical and Physical Basis of Life) has opened new frontiers for diagnosing diseases and developing drugs for treating them. The MCB Core Curriculum provides in-depth instruction in most of the topics covered in the Biological Sciences portion of the MCAT exam.
Advanced courses in MCB allow you to explore other areas of the science that underly medicine and related fields.
Physiology
MCB offers courses designed to give you a comprehensive understanding of mammalian physiology. Some of these courses are broad surveys (e.g., MCB 401, Cell and Membrane Physiology and MCB 402, Systems and Integrative Physiology), while others provide more specialized coverage (e.g., MCB 414, Introduction to Neurobiology and MCB 413, Endocrinology). Most of these courses include material on human physiology and human disease states. Faculty members who teach many MCB physiology courses also teach in the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana.
Microbiology and Immunology
There is a strong focus in the MCB on host–pathogen interactions, infectious diseases, and immunology. Course offerings in this area include broad survey courses (e.g., MCB 300, Microbiology) and more specialized courses dealing with bacterial pathogens (e.g., MCB 426, Bacterial Pathogenesis) and with immunology (e.g., MCB 408, Immunology; MCB 420, Molecular Immunology; and MCB 427, Infection and Immunity). Some of these courses also cover the important areas of emerging infectious diseases and bioterrorism.
Cell and Developmental Biology, Genetics
Understanding disease processes at the cellular level requires a strong background in cell and developmental biology. MCB offers survey courses that cover the basics of cell and developmental biology (e.g., MCB 400, Cell Structure and Function and MCB 410, Developmental Biology). MCB 418, Human Genetics, provides an introduction to human inheritance.
It's worth noting that all of the basic science faculty of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana are also members of School of MCB departments. It's also worth pointing out that the kinds of research being carried out at leading medical schools throughout the country are precisely the kinds of research that our MCB faculty members are engaged in.
Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals
In the recent past there have been many opportunities for bachelors degree holders in these industries. These positions may involve research on the development of new drugs or diagnostics. There are other opportunities in quality control, sales, customer support, and regulatory compliance. Potential employers in our region include Abbott Laboratories (Chicago, IL) and Eli Lilly and Company (Indianapolis, IN). Positions for research and laboratory management also exist in university settings.
Agricultural Biotechnology and Food Processing
These industries frequently recruit students at the bachelor's level with backgrounds in molecular and cellular biology. These jobs may be in research, product development, quality control, or many other areas. Potential employers in our region include Monsanto (St. Louis, MO) and ADM (Decatur, IL).
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Students with strong backgrounds in math and with good computer skills are in high demand in both industrial and academic research settings.
Forensics
Training in molecular and cellular biology, especially when coupled with coursework in analytical chemistry, provides a strong background for work in the field of forensics. Potential employers in this field include local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies as well as the military and the federal government.
Graduate Training
Although there are many opportunities open at the bachelor's degree level, you may wish to pursue graduate training. The background provided by the successful completion of an MCB degree is appropriate for master's and Ph.D. programs in molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, genetics, developmental biology, pathology, neurobiology, and many other disciplines.
In most cases support for graduate training will be provided by fellowships, research assistantships, or teaching assistantships. Most people who pursue graduate training (particularly at the Ph.D. level but sometimes also at the M.S. level) in fields related to molecular and cellular biology are fully supported financially.
Career opportunities after completion of advanced training include junior college, college, and university level teaching and research; and research and management positions in industry and in various governmental agencies. In addition, a background in molecular biology can be important in other fields. Most intellectual property lawyers, for example, have one or more degrees in a scientific field and the demand for people trained in molecular biology and law has recently been quite high.
The MCB curriculum is designed to provide outstanding preparation for training in medicine and the other health sciences. We realize, however, that you may change your career goals during your undergraduate years. We have, therefore, also designed the curriculum so that many other opportunities for employment and for further training will be available to you once you obtain an MCB degree.
This document contains course rubrics, numbers, and titles effective fall 2004.