Overview of the School of Molecular Biosciences

Molecular biosciences can be best viewed as a dynamic continuum in which approaches derived from chemistry, physics and biology are utilized to address the fundamental mechanisms of living things. The School of Molecular Biosciences offers many exciting opportunities for students who want to explore the possibilities of a wide range of future career paths in the life sciences. With 38 active research and teaching faculty members, and 15 research associated faculty members who have earned national and international reputations as experts in their respective areas of research, the School provides unlimited opportunities for a rich and varied experience.

Virtual Tour of WSU

Related Resources

LBB2
Center for Reproductive Biology
Center for Integrated Biotechnology
Institute of Biological Chemistry
Department of Chemistry

The School offers programs leading to B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology, and Microbiology. Options within these degrees offer flexibility to add emphasis in chemistry, molecular biology, physics, and biotechnology.

Students graduating from the School have numerous career opportunities available to them including technical positions in food, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, private or government laboratories and departments, and nonprofit institutions such as clinical and hospital laboratories and institutes whose main activity is research. Graduates are also well prepared for advanced degree work in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, and other fields. With the advent of the "biological revolution" which will continue well into the 21st century, new opportunities with links to the worlds of business, law and government are ever expanding.

The School is well equipped for state-of-the-art teaching and research in many fields. Equipment for ultracentrifugation, recombinant DNA techniques, HPLC, protein analysis and purification, DNA sequencing and synthesizing, etc. is available. In addition, many excellent support facilities are available on campus including the Franceschi Microscopy and Imaging Center, Bio-analytical Laboratory, Nuclear Radiation Center, NMR Center, X-ray Crystallography Laboratory, Science Instruction Learning Center and the adjoining seven-story Owen Science and Engineering Library.

Washington State University's Pullman campus is situated in the rich agricultural area known as the Palouse in eastern Washington. Pullman is only eight miles from University of Idaho at Moscow, Idaho, approximately 1.5 hours south of Spokane, Washington, and 5.5 hours from Seattle, Washington. The Pullman environs offers many recreational activities including, skiing, fishing, hunting, whitewater rafting, camping, hiking, and rock climbing. Pullman is near the Bitterroot Wilderness in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and near numerous rivers and lakes; Snake, Salmon, Clearwater, and Columbia rivers and Coeur d'Alene, Pend Orielle, and Priest lakes, to name a few.

For a history of Microbiology at WSU click here.