MCB - Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology

Department Head

Jovanka Voyich, Ph.D, Professor

Welcome to the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology!

In 2019, our department merged with the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience and we have officially changed our name to reflect the diversity of educational and research opportunities we offer. Students can choose from several areas of study that form the foundations and basic level of understanding to solve a variety of problems faced by modern society including human physical and mental health, environmental health, alternative energy, and climate change. You can explore all of our undergraduate programs in the cards below.

Our faculty are renowned for their expertise in biomedical and environmental research including neuroscience, infectious diseases, immunology, host/pathogen interactions, disease ecology, microbiome, cellular signaling and pathogen biology, biofilm biology, geomicrobiology, astrobiology, bioremediation and biofuels.

Our students consistently receive major awards including Goldwater, Udall, Truman, Fulbright, Rhodes and NSF fellowships. Our curricula can prepare students for job placement, advanced degrees or health professions. MCB graduate students successfully compete for funding and fellowships from the NIH, NASA, NSF, American Heart Association, Fulbright and more.

We are the primary department at MSU for pre-medical and pre-veterinary training. We provide advising for all pre-vet students and offer a Certificate in Pre-Veterinary Medicine. The department is home to the Montana Medical Laboratory Science Professional Program, and our faculty participate in both the WWAMI Medical Education Program and the WIMU Regional Program in Veterinary Medicine. The department contributes significantly to MSU’s Centers for Biofilm Engineering and Mental Health Research and Recovery.

Students doing research in our department have access to state-of-the-art facilities for biochemistry, flow cytometry, genomics, proteomics, cell biology, microbiology, and (meta)genomics/bioinformatics. If you are a student interested in research, please reach out to one of our academic advisors for help in finding professors with available positions. With any questions, contact [email protected].