General Information
The Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, offers graduate programs leading to the MSc and PhD degrees in cell biology. The Department provides a world-class training environment in a range of areas including organelle biogenesis and disease, virology, cancer apoptosis and signal transduction, proteomics, molecular evolution, RNA biology, chaperones and pathogen-host interactions. Through a strong independent research program, complemented by seminars and formal coursework, students are trained to identify important problems, critically analyze scientific information and effectively communicate their results.
The Department is located primarily on two floors of the Medical Sciences Building and is endowed with state of the art equipment needed to perform experimental work in modern cell biology. These include extensive microscopy and tissue culture facilities, a transmission electron microscope and image analysis system, automated DNA sequencing facility, 2-D gel analysis set-up for proteomics, imaging systems for detection of radioactive or light-emitting gels or blots, chromatography systems for protein purification and biochemical analysis, microinjection facilities, as well as cold rooms, dark rooms, ultracentrifuges and scintillation counters. In addition, the Department houses two state-of-the-art confocal microscope facilities for live imaging of cellular transport processes, as well as for detection of protein-protein interactions. Staff and students also have access to several facilities within the Medical Sciences Building for global analysis using proteomics, confocal microscopy, antibody production, as well as peptide synthesis and sequencing. Research funding, primarily from agencies such as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the National Science and Engineering Research Council, Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation amounts to over $5 million each year.
Detailed information on the graduate program can be found in our Graduate Program Manual available at www.cellbiology.ualberta.ca/en/GraduateProgram.aspx.
Address all inquiries to the Student Program Advisor, Department of Cell Biology.
Entrance Requirements
Graduate programs are normally open to graduates of general and healthrelated science programs, provided students obtained a grade point average of 3.3 in the last two years (★60 or equivalent) of undergraduate study at the University of Alberta or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution. Applicants with degrees in other fields will be considered. Students with degrees from institutions where the language of instruction is not English must also take one of the following language proficiency exams and meet the following minimum score requirements: 600 (paper-based) or 100 with 20 in each subtest (internet-based) in TOEFL; 7.0 overall with 6.0 in each subtest in IELTS; 70 overall with 70 in each subtest in CAEL; 68 in Pearson Test of English (PTE); or 91 in MELAB. Students who do not show adequate verbal skills upon arrival will be requested to take remedial courses.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance in the form of graduate research assistantships is normally available for students. Students will also be expected to apply for competitive student awards. Further information regarding financial assistance will be supplied upon request.