Students looking through microscope

Designated Emphases

A Designated Emphasis (DE) is an area of specialization that overlaps with a traditional Ph.D. program. The curriculum of a DE typically focuses on emerging fields or technologies that are interdisciplinary in nature and relevant to more than one doctoral program. 

  • Biophotonics and Bioimaging
  • The designated emphasis in Biophotonics and Bioimaging, housed in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, is intended to serve as a hub of biophotonics and bioimaging research and education at UC Davis and includes members across the Davis and Sacramento campuses, including the College of Engineering, School of Medicine, and College of Letters and Science. The DE in Biophotonics and Bioimaging offers specific training in fundamental principles of the interaction of light with biological organisms, tissues, cells, and molecules and develops new technology for basic science and applications based on these principles in biology and medicine.

    Open to students in:

    Biophysics

    Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology

    Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology

    Neuroscience

  • Biotechnology
  • The designated emphasis in Biotechnology provides a very effective multidisciplinary biotechnology concentration, which includes exposure to bioethics, business and legal aspects of biotechnology as well as a 3-6 month internship in a biotechnology company or research laboratory in another college or national laboratory. Dr. Kjelstrom, the Program Coordinator assists the students in locating internships, preparation of a strong cover letter and curriculum vitae, and the development of professional skills related to the business environment.

    Open to students in:

    Biophysics

    Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology

    Integrative Genetics and Genomics

    Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology

    Neuroscience

    Plant Biology

  • Reproductive Biology
  • The DE in Reproductive Biology offers research opportunities ranging from molecular to organismal, and from basic research to applied studies in agricultural and health related sciences. The astonishing breadth and depth of the campuses research programs in this field have created a dynamic research environment that promotes collaborative investigations and provides outstanding opportunities for graduate education.

    Open to students in:

    Integrative Genetics and Genomics

    Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology

  • Translational Research
  • The Designated Emphasis in Translational Research (DETR) is an inter-graduate group program that allows Ph.D. students to receive and be credited for training in the area of translational research. This training is a key component of a larger UCD strategy for creating a groundbreaking translational research program that is team-based and multidisciplinary and to make bold new changes in how we train our basic scientist students to discover answers to medical challenges. The overarching goal of the initiative is to provide an innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable model for training a new cadre of PhD biologists who will have productive careers in clinically relevant basic research.

    Open to students in:

    Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology

    Integrative Genetics and Genomics

    Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology