student working together at the lab bench
BMMB Graduate Program
Interdisciplinary and Flexible Training

Earn a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology (BMMB) researching alongside 53 faculty and more than 55 graduate students in areas from the structures of biological molecules and their mechanisms to the development of multicellular organisms.

Learn More About BMMB

BMMB Application Instructions

Start Your Penn State Graduate Application

Explore Research in BMMB

 

Graduate Awards
Learn More About Divyanshi's Research
Divyanshi Srivastava

Divyanshi Srivastava receives the 2020 Robert T. Simpson Graduate Student Award for Innovative “Risky” Science

Image of Divyanshi Srivastava
Access BMMB Information for Current Students and Faculty
Resources for Current Students and Faculty 

Find all current BMMB guidelines, common BMMB forms, course catalog, and more. 

Members of the 3rd Year cohort
Learn More About GSA
BMMB Graduate Student Association

The BMMB Graduate Student Association (GSA) provides opportunities for career development, networking, enrichment, and advocates for students' interests within the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department.

Officers of the GSA
View Resources & Opportunities
Professional Development

BMMB is committed to providing our students with the training and resources necessary to be successful in attaining rewarding careers. BMMB hosts events that bring in speakers, recruiters, and skill-development sessions. 
"One of my favorite things about BMMB is how diverse it is. Faculty studying all different types of model organisms, scientific questions, and methodology facilitates lots of rich collaborations and pushes us all to think outside of our traditional box/niche."
Read More About Mackenzie
Mackenzie Shipley, BMMB Alumni

 

Meet Our Students

Learn More About Our Students

Read More About Jacob
Meet Jacob Potter

Jacob's research focuses on the study of bacteria,
specifically a group of proteins referred to as
Globin Coupled Sensors (GCS).
 

Image of Jacob Potter at the lab bench pipetting solution into a test tube
Read More About Dhwani
Meet Dhwani Patel

Dhwani's future research plans to discover cytokine or chemokine encoding genes regulated by AHR. She believes she can discover one of the molecular mechanisms involved in metastasis of Head & Neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Image of Dwhani Patel
Read More About Molly
Meet Molly Rathbun

Molly's research focuses on the evolution of Herpes simplex virus type 1, or HSV-1.  In collaboration with Dr. Christine Johnston at the University of Washington, Molly is sampling virus from patients throughout the course of their infection.

Image of Molly Rathbun
BMMB Graduate Program

BMMB students make scientific contributions under the mentorship of vibrant and diverse faculty whose research expertise provides students with an engaging collaborative and interdisciplinary experience.

Featured Faculty
View All BMMB Faculty
Scott Lindner
Scott Lindner
Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Moriah Szpara
Moriah Szpara
Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Squire Booker
Squire Booker
Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
hands working with a pipet and beaker