Plant Molecular Biology

The Plant Molecular Biology (PMB) Track offers a unique interdisciplinary opportunity for graduate students with specialized interests in the plant sciences to engage in research and scholarship in the context of a broad education in all modern areas of biology. PMB students undertake an individually tailored program of study, combining coursework and training in plant biology with exposure to genomic, quantitative, biochemical, genetic, cell biological and other approaches. Our aim is to develop the future leaders in plant biology. By engaging in a robust interdisciplinary training program, we expect our graduate students to be well positioned to develop solutions to address critical agricultural, industrial, energy and medical needs in response to a changing climate. 


Graduate students in the Plant Molecular Biology Track have access to outstanding facilities and resources, including the Marsh Botanical Garden, extensive greenhouse and controlled growth chamber spaces, and the Peabody Museum of Natural History. Core facilities, including the Center for Cell Imaging and the Center for Genomics and Proteomics, provide instruction and technical support for interested students.
PMBStudents

Yale's PMB track is an environment that fosters collaborative research with world-class faculty. PMB at Yale is smaller and more tight-knit than most programs, but at the same time features a lively and engaged community of plant biologists including those in the MCDB department, Marsh Botanical Gardens, the School of Forestry, and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Between outreach programs such as the Green Cafe and the summer Pathways to Science and S.C.H.O.L.A.R. programs, there are numerous ways to connect with the local community through plant science. The sheer diversity of excellent research at Yale BBS has also exposed me to experiences ranging from starting a pharmaceutical company combating Alzheimer's disease to having a cell biology lecturer win a Nobel Prize midway though the semester. In all, I have had a intellectually rewarding (and fun!) time at Yale. Brenden Barco 


From the bi-weekly botany seminars to joint lab meetings to celebrations that encompass the entire plant group, Yale plant biology is a community in the true sense of the world.  The breadth and depth of work being done in our community, while still being exposed to all sorts of great research outside of the plant field, leads to new and complex perspectives and insight.  Undoubtedly, if you want to learn a new technique for your project, there's someone here who already does it and can help you get started.  Having such a broad community of potential collaborators while having the backing of such a tight-knit, supportive plant group is something that makes Yale plant biology special. Ann Feke