phd in cell biology salary

Cell Biologist Salary in the United States

How much does a Cell Biologist make in the United States? The average Cell Biologist salary in the United States is $58,083 as of July 29, 2024, but the salary range typically falls between $52,589 and $65,603 . Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education , certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target. 

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61 PhD jobs in Cell Biology

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• PhD positions in Biology (129)

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Search results (61)

PhD PROJECT IN ENDOTHELIAL CELL HETEROGENEITY DURING STROKE

A pre-doctoral position in the context of a KU Leuven competitive 4-year C1 funding project entitled ‘Is the cerebroprotective function of Prdm16 during ischemic stroke mediated by controlling the ...

PhD in 3 years: Doctoral Researcher in Nanomedicine Based Cancer Therapy

The University of Oulu is a multidisciplinary, international research university, with about 3,600 employees who produce new knowledge based on high-standards research and provide research based ed...

Open PhD position: "Regulation of the Integrated Stress Response"

Start date October 1st.Application till September 1st.Cells respond to a variety of environmental cues, including viral infection, by activating the integrated stress response (ISR), a central pathway that controls host protein synthesis [1]. Our ...

Biozentrum PhD Fellowships – Winter Call 2024/25

The Biozentrum of the University of Basel is one of the leading life sciences institutes in the world. Its fundamental research embraces a wide range of topics such as biochemistry, biophysics, phy...

Open PhD position "Molecular mechanisms of stress granule phase separation"

Start date October 1st.Application till September 1st.We are looking for a talented and highly motivated PhD student to join our team.The assembly of stress granules is an integral part of the host stress response, a central pathway that controls ...

PhD position: Understanding defective calcium handling contributing to cardiac arrhythmias

The Lab of Experimental Cardiology is part of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the KU Leuven and includes research teams led by Prof. Eef Dries and Prof. Llewelyn Roderick. The joint fo...

PhD position (100%, Start from October 2024)

The Department of Biomedicine is a joint effort between the University of Basel and the University Hospitals Basel. It unites basic and clinical scientists to advance our understanding of health an...

PhD position on novel mRNA nanotherapeutics against antibiotic-resistant pulmonary infections (P2405)

The Swiss Nanoscience Institute (SNI) at the University of Basel invites highly motivated scientists to apply for the SNI PhD program in Nanoscience.Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global healt...

PhD Positions in Cancer Research

Are you looking for excellent research opportunities for your PhD studies at the forefront of cancer research? The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg invites international students holding a Master’s degree in (molecular) biology, ...

International Fully Funded PhD Positions in the Life Sciences in Switzerland

*New application deadlines for two open calls per year: November 1 and May 1!Life Science Zurich Graduate School offers more than 100 funded PhD positions. With around 500 research groups and more than 1600 Ph.D. students, the Life Science Zurich ...

Three 2-year Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Zukunftskolleg

(Fulltime, E 13 TV-L)Reference No: 2024/114. The preferred start date is April 1st, 2025. Conditionally on the submission of an external grant, the position can be extended for an additional year. In principle, the position can be divided into two...

Two Research Assistants (m/f/d)

-english version below-STELLENAUSSCHREIBUNGDie AG Alban (Glykochemie / -biologie) im Pharmazeutischen Institut - Abteilung Pharmazeutische Biologie - der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU) sucht im Rahmen von zwei Drittmittelprojekten (...

PhD FELLOWSHIPS & POSITIONS in Life Sciences starting April 2025

Want to start a PhD?The University of Lausanne, Switzerland, offers:PHD FELLOWSHIPS & POSITIONSin Life SciencesStarting April 2025Talented and motivated candidates who have or will have obtained their Master degree (or equivalent) in a relevant fi...

Upcoming PhD Positions at the International Max Planck Research School for Molecules of Life in Autumn 2024

The next application round will start in September 2024. Stay tuned!The International Max Planck Research School for Molecules of Life (IMPRS-ML) currently has an open call for fully funded PhD student positions in the areas of biochemistry, struc...

Upcoming PhD positions at the IMPRS for Molecular Organ Biology in Autumn 2024

Thanks to all the academics who submitted their application!The application deadline has passed and the selection process started. More information for the new call-out will come up during this Autumn 2024. Stay tuned!PhD Studies in the Heart of E...

PhD Position in Chemical Biology 2025

PhD Position in Chemical Biology 2025The research group for Chemical Biology and Molecular Imaging (Frei Research Group) at ETH Zurich is looking for a doctoral researcher to develop chemistry insp...

PhD student position – Infection Biology

Phd in 3 years: doctoral researcher in computational cancer biology, ecm-hypoxia research unit.

PhD Position in Fungal Biotechnology

Employment as Project Assistant / 30h, 4 yearsBackgroundThe Biochemistry Working Group at TU Wien focuses on using the metabolic capabilities of microorganisms to produce valuable biochemicals. We want to understand how filamentous fungi are able ...

PhD-student: Transmembrane protein mimics for communication between synthetic cells

As a PhD-student in our Physics of Cellular Interactions group headed by Dr. Kristina Ganzinger, you will apply state-of-the-art techniques to generate transmembrane protein mimics for communicatio...

Nano-Enhanced Hydrogels for Probing Cellular Mechanotransduction

The selected candidate will conduct interdisciplinary research under the supervision of Prof. Susana Rocha (KU Leuven, Belgium) and Dr. James Hutchison (Melbourne University, Australia). This role ...

Doctoral (PhD) student position in Functional Genomics/Regulatory Transcriptomics

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research? To be a doctoral student means to devote oneself to a research project under supervision of experienced researchers and following an indiv...

Doctoral researcher positions, Turku Doctoral Programme of Molecular Medicine (UTUGS/iCANDOC)

You can apply for a fixed-term doctoral researcher position under an employment contract at the University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS) and/or iCANDOC doctoral education pilot at the Faculty of...

PhD in Learning in living adaptive networks

Prof. Karen Alim’s Group on Biological Physics and Morphogenesis at the TUM Campus Garching uses theoretical and experimental methods to investigate information in biological systems.Web: https://www.bpm.ph.tum.de/research/ We are looking for a Ph...

Upcoming PhD positions at the CGA

Call for applications for up to 12 PhD positions at the Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research opens soon!The Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research (CGA) in Germany is a joint venture of the University of Cologne Excellence Cluster on Str...

16 PhD and 11 Postdoctoral Positions in Austria in the Research Field “Metabolic Control of Healthy Aging”

Positions Start Date: March 1, 2025Application Deadline: September 10, 2024We invite exceptional graduates from around the globe to join our interdisciplinary research team within the Cluster of Excellence “Metabolic Control of Aging and Disease (...

12 fully funded PhD positions

The Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research (CGA) in Germany is a joint venture of the University of Cologne Excellence Cluster on Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), the University Hospital Cologne, the Max Planck Institute ...

PhD position (f/m/d) in Pediatric Cancer Initiation

Are you looking for a PhD project that will combine the cutting-edge human stem cells models, stem cell engineering and multi-omic approaches?In our group we have all of this and even more and  we apply it to the burning questions of pediatric can...

Fully funded PhD positions in Psychiatric, Translational Research and Basic Neuroscience

Fully funded (and no tuition) PhD program in genetic, molecular, cellular, circuit based Neuroscience and translational, clinical research in Psychiatry. There is the option for a residency track for medical doctors.We welcome applications startin...

PhD in Systems Medicine - Training the future leaders in Biomedicine and Personalized Medicine

In the multi and interdisciplinary scientific environment of the European School of Molecular Medicine (SEMM) network, that includes 8 Italian Research Centers and 7 Italian Universities, we offer for the 2024, additional 16 positions within the i...

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Molecular biologist salary

The average salary for a molecular biologist in the United States is around $61,001 per year.

Molecular biologists earn an average yearly salary of $ 61,001 . Wages typically start from $ 34,974 and go up to $ 106,399 .

1 % above national average ● Updated in 2023

Molecular biologist earnings by seniority

Top-level molecular biologist earnings begin at :.

$ 51.15 per hour

$ 106,399 per year

Senior-level molecular biologist earnings begin at :

$ 39.30 per hour

$ 81,751 per year

Mid-level molecular biologist earnings begin at :

$ 29.33 per hour

$ 61,001 per year

Junior-level molecular biologist earnings begin at :

$ 21.88 per hour

$ 45,518 per year

Starting level molecular biologist earnings begin at :

$ 16.81 per hour

$ 34,974 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Molecular biologist salary by state

How do molecular biologist salaries compare to similar careers?

Molecular biologists earn 6% more than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than epidemiologists but more than biotechnicians.

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

School of Molecular & Cellular Biology

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PhD Programs

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For over 150 years, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has been known around the world for its innovative, impactful, and collaborative research and educational programs. The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology, which includes the Departments of Biochemistry , Cell & Developmental Biology , Microbiology , and Molecular & Integrative Physiology , is at the forefront of life-changing research and education.

PhD students are an integral part of the university's and school’s traditions of excellence. Our accomplished faculty pride themselves on being accessible to their students, which creates a strong environment for mentoring. After graduating from Illinois, our PhD students become faculty at top academic research universities and leaders in industry, including pharmaceutical companies, national laboratories, and clinics.

Program overview

During your first year as a PhD student in MCB, you will rotate among three different laboratories to explore your interests. In December of your first year, you will choose a research adviser and laboratory and join a departmental graduate program . We have more than 65 active research labs that recruit PhD students.

Each department has specific degree requirements, such as successful passage of core relevant courses and advanced elective courses in related areas. Faculty and graduate students from the departments and school interact daily via courses, seminars, and other activities.

PhD program information by department

• PhD in Biochemistry
• PhD in Cell & Developmental Biology
• PhD in Microbiology
• PhD in Molecular & Integrative Physiology

Additional PhD programs

MCB is also home to the Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology , which offers a graduate program in biophysics. In addition, the school is affiliated with the campus-wide  Neuroscience PhD Program . Both programs have significant MCB faculty participation. Interested students should apply directly to those programs.

Title Research

Finding solutions to the complex challenges facing society today requires multi-investigator and cross-disciplinary endeavors. MCB researchers are propelling breakthroughs in foundational and translational research. Faculty and students are uncovering insights into neurological and metabolic disorders, such as epilepsy and diabetes. They are at the forefront of diagnosing and treating cancer and combatting infectious diseases like the novel coronavirus and influenza.

Financial Support

PhD students receive financial support through fellowships, traineeships, or graduate assistantships, all of which provide a generous stipend as well as a full tuition and partial fee waiver. Departments guarantee financial support to students as long as they make satisfactory progress toward their degree. Several fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis to outstanding applicants. Students may also be eligible to participate in training grants associated with their graduate program.

Fellowship information from Illinois Graduate College   School and department fellowships & awards

Applying to the PhD program

Applicants interested in one or more of the departmental PhD programs in the School of MCB ( Biochemistry , Cell and Developmental Biology , Microbiology , or Molecular and Integrative Physiology ) will apply to the Molecular and Cellular Biology PhD Program. Admission to the MCB PhD program requires a bachelor's degree in biological or physical sciences.

MCB is also affiliated with two robust interdisciplinary graduate-degree programs: the Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology and the Neuroscience PhD Program . Both programs have significant MCB faculty participation. Interested students should apply directly to those programs.

Deadlines & how to apply   Attend a recruiting event

Title MCB and the campus community

From iconic green spaces like the Quad and historic buildings like the Illini Union, the University of Illinois is an inspiring place. We’re home to vibrant arts, tech, and healthcare communities and a diverse dining and nightlife scene.

The School of MCB is a close-knit group of scholars. We gather regularly for scholarship and social activities, which creates an environment rich for collaboration and innovation.

Meet our PhD students   Explore Champaign-Urbana   Resources for graduate students

Lori Raetzman, Associate Director, MCB PhD Programs Shawna M. Smith, MCB Graduate Program Coordinator

217-333-1737 [email protected] B103 Chemical and Life Sciences Lab , MC-110 601 South Goodwin Avenue Urbana, IL 61801-3709

Tiny Test Tubes Sort Stem Cells for Improved Therapy

Mesenchymal stem cells with high levels of extracellular vesicle secretion promote vascular regeneration and improve heart function in mice..

Rebecca Roberts is a science writer and communicator. She earned her PhD in molecular biology from the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia and completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship...

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ABOVE: Scientists used nanovials (grey) lined with antibodies to capture single mesenchymal stem cells (green) and measure their secretion of extracellular vesicles (magenta). Doyeon Koo, UCLA

W ith the power of self-renewal and multipotency, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) offer the possibility of regenerative treatment for a variety of medical conditions, including spinal cord injury and damage following a heart attack. 1  

A leading hypothesis is that the therapeutic benefits of MSCs are conferred by their secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs): membrane-derived structures that contain a variety of important bioactive molecules . 2   Therapeutic cells like MSCs have variable EV production, contributing to inconsistent outcomes that hinder their clinical translation. Yet, scientists are unable to select cells based on their EV secretion levels. 

“How do you know how many extracellular vesicles the [MSCs are] secreting? How do you know this batch of cells is better than this batch?” said Dino Di Carlo , a bioengineer at the University of California, Los Angeles. 

In a new study published in Nature Communications , Di Carlo and his colleagues applied their expertise in microfluidics and nanotechnology to answer these questions. 3 They developed a method to identify subpopulations of MSCs that secrete high levels of EVs, an approach that could allow for the selection of more therapeutically active cells for clinical applications. 

Previously, Di Carlo and his team developed hydrogel-based microcontainers, which they called nanovials , that act as test tubes for single cells. 4 By coating the inside of the bowl-shaped nanovials with antibodies that are specific to proteins released by a cell of interest, the researchers could capture individual cells and quantify their secretions. In an earlier study, the team used this technology to measure protein secretion from individual B cells, which they then linked to cell surface markers and gene expression data from the same cell.  

Because their goal is to improve clinical outcomes for regenerative MSC therapies, Di Carlo and his team wanted to put their method to the test in an in vivo model. To do so, they selected high- and low-secreting primary mouse MSC populations and compared their therapeutic efficacies in a mouse model of myocardial infarction (heart attack). Twenty-eight days after treatment, mice injected with high-secreting MSCs displayed higher rates of vascular regeneration and improved heart function compared to those injected with low-secreting cells. 

Di Carlo and his team are pursuing preclinical studies of myocardial injury in pigs, the preferred large animal model for cardiovascular research. They are also exploring other potential therapeutic applications for high secretors—an enthusiasm shared by Wolfram.

“This is just the beginning in terms of what type of future applications can come from this technology,” said Wolfram. “If we find that a certain type of EV is more therapeutic, you could use the same technology to select for cells that release that type.” 

1. Kou M, et al. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles for immunomodulation and regeneration: A next generation therapeutic tool? Cell Death Dis . 2022;13(7):580. 2. Cheng L, Hill AF. Therapeutically harnessing extracellular vesicles .  Nat Rev Drug Discov . 2022;21(5):379-399.  3. Koo D, et al. Optimizing cell therapy by sorting cells with high extracellular vesicle secretion .  Nat Commun . 2024;15(1):4870. 4. Cheng RY-H, et al. SEC-seq: Association of molecular signatures with antibody secretion in thousands of single human plasma cells . Nat Commun . 2023;14(1):3567. 

Doctorate (PhD), Cancer Biology Degree

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