Our department offers outstanding training and guidance in the field of genetics.

We enthusiastically invite undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and visiting scientists to join our research community. Our faculty members are committed to nurturing the professional growth of individuals within their labs and are renowned for their expertise in genetics, genomics, molecular biology, and genetic research methodologies.


Postdoctoral Research

The genetics department at Washington University School of Medicine is dedicated to attracting talented young researchers and fostering an environment that supports their growth and development.

Event hosted by Washington University Postdoc Society (WUPS), City Museum, May 2019

Postdoctoral researchers play a crucial and essential role in Genetics Department’s research endeavors.


Graduate Programs


Most graduate students in the Genetics Department are participants in the Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (DBBS) programs. This umbrella PhD program, initiated in 1973 and nearing its 50th anniversary, has proven to be an influential model for numerous cross-disciplinary PhD research programs nationwide, including genetics.

Molecular Genetics & Genomics

Students in the Molecular Genetics & Genomics (MGG) program will typically take five (5) courses during their first year, although students with master’s degrees have the option of taking fewer classes. Students will participate in three lab rotations during the fall and spring semesters of Year 1 to identify a thesis lab.  Learn More

Within the DBBS, there are a total of 12 separate and self-contained PhD programs, with the Genetics Program being one of the prominent ones. DBBS students benefit from a broad pool of over 550 faculty mentors spanning across the School of Medicine. Additionally, faculty members in the Genetics Department are also actively involved in mentoring PhD students from various other DBBS programs.


Educational Outreach

For nearly three decades, the Genetics Department has passionately pursued the path of science education and outreach, participating in innovative programs that elevate the impact of teaching and learning for our entire community.

November 2019 – Joint meeting about Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) for IMSD, MARC, and SEPA students to prepare for ABRCMS in Anaheim