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Academic Dept. of Cell Biology & Biochemistry

Develop the skills to drive scientific discovery

Explore Our Ph.D. Concentration Meet Our Faculty

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Welcome to Cell Biology & Biochemistry (CBB)

Researcher in a laboratory examining equipment surrounded by bottles and scientific instruments.

The department has faculty members with internationally recognized research programs in reproductive biology, diabetes and obesity, structural biology, development, cancer, aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Our primary mission is to perform original, cutting-edge research that leads to new discoveries on the molecular mechanisms of biomedical science and disease, and to educate and mentor a diverse group of trainees for careers in biomedical research.

The department offers a Ph.D. degree in the Biochemistry, Cellular & Molecular Biology Graduate Concentration. Our department has a strong emphasis on graduate student participation. Our students perform exciting innovative research in top-tier laboratories using state-of-the-art equipment and techniques. Our faculty mentors, support our students in classroom teaching, research projects, communication skills, preparation of manuscripts and fellowship applications, and exposure to grant writing. Our graduates pursue careers in biotechnology, academia, pharmaceutical industries and government appointments, and are researchers and teachers at many well-respected colleges and universities around the country. We enjoy a collegial and cooperative research environment both within and between departments that is especially conducive to collaboration and scientific discourse.

Explore Our Ph.D. Concentration

Begin with the program overview below, or jump to the Biochemistry, Cellular & Molecular Biology Concentration.

Biomedical Sciences Ph.D.

Doctoral

In-Person

Recent Awards & Achievements

Give to Support Student Research

Excellence in research starts with the people behind it. Our students, trainees and faculty are earning recognition for their research, presentations, mentorship and contributions to biomedical science.

Give to Support Student Research
    • Tasmin Omy (Palle lab) 2026 Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Research Grant Award
       
    • Rachel Babcock (Dufour lab): 3rd place in the poster competition, 2026 Texas Forum for Reproductive Sciences in Houston, Texas
       
    • PhD students Kimberly Garza (Cornwall lab) and Alexis Rodriquez (Dufour lab), and postdoctoral fellow Rachel Babcock (Dufour) presented at the 2026 North American Testis Workshop and American Society of Andrology meetings in Arizona. All three were selected to give flashtalks and posters, and Alexis was also selected to give a platform presentation.
       
    • Nghi Tran (Skyler; Urbatsch lab) recently gave a platform presentation at the Biophysical Society meeting in San Francisco.
       
    • Alejandra Gomez from the Cornwall Lab spoke on “Sex-Specific Roles of Cystatin-Related Epididymal Spermatogenic (CRES) and CRES Amyloids in the Brain Extracellular Matrix” at the FASEB meeting on Protein Aggregation in Scottsdale, AZ.
       
    • Kimberly Garza from the Cornwall Lab also presented on “Germ Granules in Mammalian Spermatozoa: Proteinaceous Carriers of Cytosolic Inheritance?” at the FASEB meeting and won an award for her outstanding research/presentation.

    • Ganesh Archarya and Naresh Sah from Palle Lab receive the Phi Kappa Phi Dissertation Fellowship

      Ganesh Archarya

      Naresh Sah
      Ganesh Archarya, a Phi Kappa Phi Dissertation Fellow in CBB.
      Naresh Sah, a Phi Kappa Phi Dissertation Fellow in CBB.
  • Gail Cornwall, Ph.D., stands in her laboratory beside research equipment.
    • Gail Cornwall: 2026 Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Research Award
       
    • Drs. Hardy and MacDonald received the GSBS Life Time achievement awards.
       
    • Dr. Bhutia received the 2025 GSBS Outstanding Research and Mentor Award and gave the keynote lecture at the GSBS retreat.
       
    • 2025 TTUHSC President's Research Award: Dr. Dufour
       
    • TTUHSC University Distinguished Professor: Dr. Urbatsch
       
    • Jeremy Faculty Receive Chancellor: Clifford T. Morgan Distinguished Service Award from Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Comparative Psychology at the American Psychological Society. 
       
    • Dr. Bergeson Received the 2025 Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Award
    Susan Bergeson, Ph.D., with TTUHSC and Texas Tech University System leaders after receiving the 2025 Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Teaching Award.

  • 2025

    Research

    • Journal's Special Edition Recalls Landmark Discovery Made in Dr. Stocco's Lab

    Trainees

    • Alejandra Gomez and Kimberly Garza, Gail’s PhD students, presented at the FASEB meeting on Protein Aggregation and both received travel awards and were selected for Platform talks. Kim also won an award for her outstanding research/presentation.
    • Rachel Babcock (Dufour lab): 2025 Susan Talkmitt Motivator Award, TTU Center for the Integration of STEM Education & Research (CISER)
    • Phi Kappa Phi Dissertation Fellowship: Ganesh Acharya and Naresh Say from Dr. Palle’s lab

    Faculty

    • Susan Bergeson, TTU System Chancellor’s Teaching Award
    • 2025 SGA Outstanding Biomedical Sciences Faculty of the Year: Clint MacDonald
    • 2025 SGA Outstanding Biotechnology Faculty of the Year: Clint MacDonald
    • Dufour: Susan Talkmitt Motivator Award, TTU Center for the Integration of STEM Education & Research (CISER)

    DOME/SOM Block Teaching Awards for 2024-2025

    • Anatomy, Histology & Embryology: Dr. Dufour
    • General Principles: Dr. MacDonald

    2024

    • Drs. Karamyshev and Miller's paper selected for the cover photo of the Journal of Molecular Biology
    • Drs. Hardy, Karamysheva, and Karamyshev featured in the TTUHSC Pulse Magazine
    • American Society of Andrology, Distinguished Service Award: Dr. Cornwall
    • EMGS Student and Early Career Investigator Travel Award: Ganesh Acharya

    DOME/SOM Block Teaching Awards for 2023-2024

    • Anatomy, Histology & Embryology: Dr. Chilton
    • General Principles: Dr. Hardy
    • CBB Unsung Hero Award: Dr. Palle
    • Dean’s Year One Basic Science Teaching Award: Dr. Dufour

    2023

    • TTUHSC President's Research Award: Dr. Cornwall
    • Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science: Dr. Cornwall
    • Dean’s Doug Stocco Scholarship/Research Award: Dr. Palle
    • Dean’s Distinguished Faculty Service Award: Dr. Cornwall
    • CBB Unsung Hero Award: Dr. Bergeson
    • GSBS Dean’s Biotechnology Teaching Award: Dr. Palle
    • GSBS Dean’s Biomedical Sciences Teaching Award: Dr. Thomas
    • GSBS Dean’s GMES Teaching Award: Dr. Dufour

Faculty Recruitment

Explore TTUHSC Benefits

Thank you for your interest in joining the Department of Cell Biology & Biochemistry!

Explore TTUHSC Benefits

There are currently no available positions within the CBB Department. Please check back for future opportunities.

In the meantime, discover the benefits, resources, and opportunities available to TTUHSC team members through Human Resources

Contact Us

Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry

Meet our Faculty

  • Location

    3601 4th Street
    Lubbock, Texas 79430
    (Mail Stop 6540)