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Curriculum

The DRB Graduate Program is designed to compliment and extend the BBS Program core curriculum. Enrollment and participation in DRB courses or events is open to all Harvard Graduate students and is not limited to BBS affiliated trainees. Current DRB degree requirements are as follows:

  1. DRB PhD candidates must satisfy the requirements of the BBS program.
  2. DRB PhD candidates are required to take DRB330qc: Experimental Methods in Stem Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology and CB207: Vertebrate Developmental Biology course.
  3. DRB PhD candidates are expected to participate enthusiastically and regularly in DRB activities and events, including the student-faculty seminar series, the student data club, the annual DRB Program retreat.

 

DRB 330qc: Experimental Methods in Stem Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology

  • This hands-on immersive boot-camp style class exposes students to a diverse array of model systems and techniques relevant to the study of stem cell, developmental and regenerative biology.
  • Each day of the two-week program is taught by a different DRB faculty member or collaborative pair and consists of an introductory lecture and hands-on laboratory skills session.
  • The course ends with a unique mini-presentation wrap-up event where students have 5 minutes/5 slides to propose what they would want to do next, and how, for any line of research discussed during the course .

Enrollment for DRB 330qc: Experimental Approaches to Stem Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology will open through my.harvard in the Fall. The two-week hands-on course begins the second week of January and covers a wide spectrum of techniques and tools applied to various model systems (in vivo and in vitro) studied in DRB/SCRB-affiliated labs across Harvard.  It’s always interactive, fun and you’ll learn a lot – so, plan to join us today! More information on DRB330, including class goals, student experiences and sample course format, can be found here.

 

CB207: Vertebrate Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology

  •  This team-taught lecture style class reviews the fundamental processes and pathways utilized to build tissue and organ systems, using lessons from across vertebrate species.
  •  Complementary small group paper review sessions allow students to learn how to extract detailed information from primary sources and highlight experimental methods
  •  Required project proposal writing and formal oral presentation and defense significantly bolsters trainee skills in each area

More information on CB207, including class goals, student experiences and sample course format, can be found here.

 

Workshops

A recent addition to the DRB curriculum programming, workshops will provide students the opportunity to focus on learning specific lab techniques, develop career skills, and investigate other topics of interest. More information on DRB workshops can be found here.