The Doctor of Philosophy in biochemistry requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit (34 s.h. of coursework and 38 s.h. of research). Students must maintain a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 3.00 to earn the degree. Qualified students interested in earning the Doctor of Medicine along with the Ph.D. may apply to the Medical Scientist Training Program, which offers a combined M.D./Ph.D. program.
Students have the opportunity to tailor their curriculum with courses that enhance their educational goals. They take a combination of graduate-level courses that include a first-year laboratory research rotation course, and seminar courses.
The Ph.D. with a major in biochemistry requires the following coursework.
Core Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BMB:5261 | Research Techniques (first-year laboratory rotation) | 1-6 |
| BMB:5282 | Seminar | 0-2 |
| BMED:7270 | Scholarly Integrity/Responsible Conduct of Research I | 0 |
| BMED:7271 | Scholarly Integrity/Responsible Conduct of Research II | 0 |
| Biophysical chemistry coursework (typically students take 6 s.h.) | 3-6 | |
| Four molecular medicine courses | 6-8 | |
| Additional courses offered by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and other departments, as appropriate for each student | ||
Typical Curriculum
First Year, Fall
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BMB:5240 | Biophysics and Advanced Biochemistry | 3 |
| BMB:5261 | Research Techniques | 4 |
| BMB:5282 | Seminar (discussion section 1) | 2 |
| BMED:5207 | Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology | 3 |
First Year, Spring
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BMB:5261 | Research Techniques | 4 |
| BMB:5282 | Seminar (discussion section 1) | 2 |
| MMED:6226/ACB:6226/MPB:6226 | Cell Cycle Control | 1 |
| MMED:6227/ACB:6227/MPB:6227 | Cell Fate Decisions | 1 |
| Electives | ||
Second Year, Fall
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BMB:5282 | Seminar (discussion section 2) | 1 |
| BMB:7292 | Research Biochemistry | arr. |
| BMED:7270 | Scholarly Integrity/Responsible Conduct of Research I | 0 |
| Electives | ||
Second Year, Spring
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BMB:7292 | Research Biochemistry | arr. |
| BMED:7271 | Scholarly Integrity/Responsible Conduct of Research II | 0 |
| Electives | ||
Examples of Elective Coursework
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BMB:3310/CBIO:3310/MMED:3310 | Practical Data Science and Bioinformatics | 3 |
| BME:2210 | Bioimaging and Bioinformatics | 4 |
| BME:4310/BMB:4310 | Computational Biochemistry | 3 |
| BMED:5207 | Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology | 3 |
| MMED:6220/ACB:6220/MPB:6220 | Mechanisms of Cellular Organization | 3 |
| MMED:6225/ACB:6225/MPB:6225/PCOL:6225 | Growth Factor Receptor Signaling | 1 |
| PCOL:5204 | Basic Biostatistics and Experimental Design | 1 |
| PCOL:6210 | Receptors and Cell Signaling | 3 |
Additional Requirements
Laboratory Rotations
Students rotate through at least three different laboratories during their first academic year; they enroll in BMB:5261 Research Techniques. The laboratory rotations are approximately ten weeks each. At the conclusion of each rotation, a student meets with an advisory committee of three faculty members. A student is required to present the research and training completed during that rotation. The advisory committee writes a short evaluation of the student's performance and assigns a grade for the laboratory work. The evaluation and grade becomes part of the student's departmental record.
Teaching
Students participate in the formal teaching programs of the department for at least one semester. First-year students as well as students who are within a year of receiving their Ph.D. degree are usually not asked to teach. Teaching may take a variety of forms, including tutoring, leading discussions and laboratory groups, correcting examinations, preparing teaching materials, and lecturing.
Thesis Research Proposal
During the fall semester of the second year, students in collaboration with their thesis advisor prepare a detailed thesis proposal that describes the proposed research to be conducted for the dissertation as part of BMB:5282 Seminar.
Comprehensive Examination
The comprehensive examination has two parts: a written proposal and an oral defense of the proposal. The examination must be taken before June 30 of the second year.
Written Report of Comprehensive Examination
Students receive their topic by March 1 and their written examination is submitted to their committee by April 22. The written proposal should have a cover page followed by no more than 20 pages. For more information, a detailed guide is located in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate Student Manual.
Oral Presentation of Comprehensive Examination
Questions during the oral examination may come from the examination proposal, the Ph.D. thesis proposal, or other general areas of biochemistry and molecular biology. To pass the oral comprehensive examination, students must perform satisfactorily both in defense of the examination proposal and in answering general biochemistry and molecular biology questions that are germane to the proposal or that are important for a full understanding of the proposed experiments and their interpretation.
The Fifth-Semester Seminar
After successful completion of the comprehensive examination, usually the fall semester of the third year (the fifth semester), students update and revise the written Ph.D. thesis proposal prepared during the fall semester of the second year (prior to the comprehensive examination), and present a seminar on the thesis research to the department at one of the weekly biochemistry workshops.
The Fourth-Year Workshop
In the fourth year, during fall or spring, students are asked to present at one of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology's weekly workshops. The presentation is based on their research.
The Fifth-Year Retreat
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology holds a yearly retreat where students and faculty present their current research. Students in their fifth year may be asked to give an oral presentation at the retreat.
Final Examination
The five member Ph.D. thesis committee serves as an advisory body for preparation of the thesis. This committee meets with students to review the material that is expected to be incorporated in the thesis. Although meetings of the candidates with the committee should be yearly, the candidates, thesis advisor, or the committee can request a meeting at any time. A final draft of the thesis must be given to all members of the committee two weeks before the final examination. The final examination takes the form of a seminar presented to the department. This presentation is announced according to Graduate College policy. Questions, comments, and discussion then follow. After the seminar, candidates meet with their committee for the final thesis defense. The Ph.D. degree is not awarded until the thesis is signed. In some cases, revisions may be required.
Ph.D./M.D.
Students may work toward the Doctor of Medicine degree and a Ph.D. in biochemistry in a combined degree program offered by the Department Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Carver College of Medicine. Applicants must be admitted to both programs before they may be admitted to the combined degree program. See the Medical Scientist Training Program (Carver College of Medicine) in the Catalog.
Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or an equivalent degree from another country as determined by the Office of Admissions. Those who apply must have an undergraduate g.p.a. of at least 3.00. Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website.
Appropriate preparation includes one-year, college-level courses in organic and physical chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics through calculus. Students are expected to have had one or more introductory courses in biochemistry.