Curriculum, PhD in Biochemistry
INTRODUCTION
Biochemistry has had a long-standing tradition of excellence in the study of biomembranes and membrane proteins. To reflect the increasing use of genetics, molecular biology, and computational biology in identifying and characterizing the structure and activities of important cell constituents, our faculty includes geneticists, biochemist, molecular biologists, and biophysicists, whose research focuses on computational biology, DNA replication, transcriptional regulation, chromatin folding, cell cycle traverse, genetic instability, nuclear import, structure of membranes and nucleoprotein complexes, extracellular matrix formation, protease function, and antibody selectivity and design. Thus the department represents a broad range of research interests with special emphasis on biochemistry of the nucleus. Biochemistry PhD Degree Requirements:
The backgrounds of students admitted to the program are diverse, and the program attempts to educate all students up to a level of basic understanding in several areas deemed fundamental to modern biochemistry and molecular genetics. In addition, it is hoped that students will become more expert in some one area related to their research, thus gaining a measure of confidence. It is likely that most students would have had (or would make up remedially) calculus, physical chemistry, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, genetics, and several courses in biology. They will then be required to satisfy the following departmental requirements:
* BIMS 503 Macromolecular Structure and Function, 4-credits
* BIMS 512 Cell Structure and Function, 5-credits
* BIMS 811 Gene Structure & Expression, 5-credits
* BIMS 710 Research Ethics, 1-credit
Topical research courses and other graduate courses in appropriate fields such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, math, physics, etc., selected by the student with the advice of the Central/Proposal/Research committees.
* Journal Club, 4-credits
* Colloquium, 4-credits
__________________________________________________________________________
Total number of credits: 54
The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences requirements for the PhD degree are that students complete a minimum of 72 hours of graduate course work and at least 54 of these hours must be in courses other than non-topical research. Every effort should be made to see that these students complete the 54 hours of course work and topical research by the end of the second year, after which the student should register for non-topical research only, thereby going on reduced tuition fees. Even though these students will not be registered for Journal Club and Colloquium after their second year, attendance and participation in these Departmental functions will be expected.