For Princeton Undergraduates
The undergraduate program in Molecular Biology at Princeton is committed to providing the intellectual foundation and practical skills to conduct original research in the biological sciences. All Molecular Biology undergraduates are given the opportunity to become fully integrated members of cutting-edge research laboratories. One indication of the success of the program is the number of research publications with undergraduates as authors. Since the inception of the department in 1985, over 160 undergraduates have co-authored significant research papers. Another hallmark of success is the career paths taken by Molecular Biology majors. Approximately 70% of Princeton University Molecular Biology majors obtain a higher educational degree, including MD, MD/PhD and PhD.
The Research Program in Molecular Biology
 During the freshmen and sophomore years, students interested in Molecular Biology enroll in courses that will provide the academic foundations to understand the complex issues being addressed in the research laboratories in the department. Freshmen and sophomores eager to start working in a laboratory have several avenues open to them.
The undergraduate research program begins in the junior year after students have declared their majors. Starting in the fall of the junior year , Molecular Biology students are expected to read, understand, and write critiques of the primary scientific literature. In the spring, juniors take an advanced project-based laboratory course and begin their independent work in one of the research laboratories affiliated with the department. The independent research continues through the summer and the senior year. Oral presentations and poster sessions are required throughout to encourage students to gain expertise in data presentation. At the end of the senior year, students present their research findings in an original thesis. Upon graduation, Molecular Biology students have gained a strong academic foundation as well as important research skills that prove invaluable in their future careers.
For undergraduates from other institutions interested in working in a laboratory
Each summer, the Department of Molecular Biology at Princeton University provides selected undergraduates with the opportunity to conduct original research. We particularly encourage applications from students (1) whose participation will add to the diversity of researchers in the sciences, or (2) whose interests lie at the boundary between biology and the computational sciences including physics, chemistry, computer science and engineering, or (3) who are from institutions that do not have large research programs. Applicants must be US citizens or attend a US University. More information and the application are found at the summer program website.
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