Course of Study
First & Second Year Course Requirements
Students in the IPiB program immediately engage in laboratory rotations during the first semester with a goal of selecting a laboratory in which to conduct Ph.D. thesis research. By the second semester, most students have begun their thesis research. During the second semester, students assemble their faculty thesis committees and meet to determine overall curriculum. During the first two years, the coursework requirements are as follows:
First Year
Fall semester
- Biochemistry 660 – Biochemical Techniques
- Biochemistry/BMC 701 – Professional Responsibility
- Breadth Requirement – Biological Science Course or Physical Science Course
- Laboratory rotations
- Laboratory orientation
Spring Semester
- Biochemistry/BMC 710 – Exploring Biochemical Functions of Macromolecules
- Breadth Requirement – Biological Science Course or Physical Science Course
- Advanced Seminar
- Teaching Requirement (The Program requires two semesters of teaching, normally during the second or third year, to acquaint graduate students with education methods and provide important teaching experience).
Second Year
Fall semester
- Advanced Seminar
- Coursework recommended by committee
- Teaching Requirement (The Program requires two semesters of teaching, normally during the second or third year, to acquaint graduate students with education methods and provide important teaching experience).
Spring Semester
- Prepare preliminary exam proposal
- Advanced Seminar
- Coursework recommended by committee
Course Details
Biochemistry/BMC 701 Professional Development in Biochemistry
This class provides an introduction to aspects of research including the scientific method, research documentation, publication, grant writing, critical thinking, ethics, and societal impact.
Biochemistry/BMC 710 – Exploring Biochemical Functions of Macromolecules
This class is directed at offering a two-semester survey of concepts and approaches in contemporary biochemical research. Teams of faculty members will focus on research problems utilizing interdisciplinary approaches. Focus topics include protein structure, enzyme catalysis, gene transcription, RNA structure and function, metabolism and regulation, biology of the cell cycle and development, membrane structure and function, virus life cycles and the immune system.
Breadth requirement: Students will take one course from a list of physical science courses and one course from a list of biological sciences courses.
Biochem 660 Biochemical Techniques is focused on understanding biochemical methods and is taught by individuals utilizing a wide range of methods in their research.
Departmental Seminar Series
Attending seminars on a wide range of subjects is also part of the formal Ph.D. program. Each year, there are departmental (Biochemistry and Biomolecular Chemistry) seminar series with a different focus.
Milestones for the Ph.D. Program
Thesis Committee:
In consultation with their major professor, students select the faculty members they would like to have serve on their committee. The first graduate committee is convened prior to the start of the second year to consult on coursework and discuss the student’s research program. Annual progress meetings are held until the time of the Ph.D. thesis defense.
Preliminary examination:
Students complete the preliminary exam by the end of the spring semester of their second year. The student prepares a written research proposal along the lines of an NIH grant application. Successful defense of the proposal advances the student to dissertator status.
Ph.D. defense:
Successful completion of a research program culminates in the written and oral presentation of the work and its defense to the thesis committee. Students generally reach this final stage in ~5 years.