About MCDB 199ABCD
Directed Research in the Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology


General Information


  • 199A-B, C, D work must be experimental laboratory research and not a literature search, literature evaluation, or survey work. Familiarity with the scientific literature is essential and must be part of any independent research, but it should not be the only part. We expect direct, hands-on laboratory exposure.
  • Students may enroll in a maximum of four units of 199A-B/C/D per quarter. One unit of credit strictly corresponds to three hours of work per week. For four units of credit, you should therefore anticipate putting in at least 12 hours of work per week toward your project.
  • A maximum of 12 units of any permissible combination of MCDB 199, 199A-B/C/D or 198A-B/C/D credit may be applied toward the MCDB major.
  • Enrollment in 199A-B/C/D courses is not offered for summer.


MCDB 199A-B


  • must be taken for at least two consecutive quarters and for a total of at least eight units.
  • has "In Progress" grading over two quarters. Students are enrolled in MCDB 199A, and then 199B in the following quarter. The two-quarter course can be initiated in Fall or Winter but not in Spring. Unit credit and grades are given upon completion of 199B (end of the second quarter). Your transcript will always show an IP (in progress) grade for 199A and eight units of the grade assigned for the 199B entry.
  • A research paper must be presented to both the MCDB faculty undergraduate adviser and the research sponsor in each quarter an MCDB 199A-B/C/D course is taken.


MCDB 199C and 199D


  • are each for a single quarter, but are an adjunct to the project proposed for MCDB 199A-B. Enrollment is not permitted unless MCDB 199A-B has been satisfactorily completed. For 199C or 199D, you must write a follow-up proposal which outlines the specific one-quarter project you will do and explains how it relates to your 199A-B project. When your proposal has been approved, the Student Affairs Office will enroll you in the course.
  • Enrollment is limited! Any individual faculty member can take on no more than seven students in any one MCDB research course per quarter. If more than seven students apply for 199A with a particular faculty member, enrollment will be limited to the first seven students whose applications were received in the Student Affairs Office. Please be sure that your sponsor has signed your proposal, and that the time and date of your application are noted when you turn it in.