About

The objective of the Physiology and Cellular Biophysics program is to provide a stimulating and supportive environment which enables graduate students to acquire fundamental training in cellular and molecular biology and biophysics while participating in the rich intellectual life of Columbia University. 

The centerpiece of our program is the close interaction between graduate students and faculty which occurs in graduate courses, laboratory rotations, and thesis research. We make special efforts to tailor each student's educational program to his or her professional and personal goals enabling them to pursue careers as independent research scientists and educators.

Research opportunities 

The research interests of the faculty encompass many of the major themes of modern cell physiology and neurobiology. The PhD program provides advanced training in biochemistry, biophysics, and cell and molecular biology in addition to thesis research. Specific processes under study include analysis of the principles that determine how neural networks develop and mediate behavior, how neural interactions are changed when learning occurs, neural control of endocrine secretion, structure and developmental biology of the spinal cord, the physical basis for ion selectivity in channels of excitable membranes, neuromuscular transmission, development of the kidney, epithelial transport of salt and water, structure of biological membranes, biophysical properties of blood cells, mechanisms of phagocytosis, structure and function of surface receptors of leukocytes and endothelial cells, transport of water across cellular membranes, structure and function of mammalian glucose transporters, and cellular immunology. Diseases under study include AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, hypertension, Legionnaires disease, septic shock, and tuberculosis.