About the Department

Graduate teaching and research are primary commitments of the Department of Biochemistry. We offer formal training in Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry, Protein Chemistry, Enzymology, Physical Biochemistry, and in a number of special topic electives designed to focus on current problems in biochemistry. Students in their first year also receive laboratory training through methods courses in protein chemistry and molecular biology and rotations which provide opportunities to work on research projects with individual faculty. Through these interactions students become well trained in both theoretical and practical aspects of biochemistry, and acquainted with the research interests of the faculty. After completing the first year, students select mentors to supervise their research training. Students have the opportunity to select from a variety of research projects in different areas for their dissertation research. Opportunities for collaborative arrangements with clinical departments are also available, as several clinical faculty have joint appointments in the Department of Biochemistry.

Recently, the Department has joined with other basic science departments within the School of Medicine to create a new Integrated Programs in Biomedical Sciences (IPIBS). The goal of this program is to provide an interdisciplinary approach to the biomedical sciences in the first year. After the first year, students will chose to do their degree in one of the participating departments. This approach to graduate education gives students broad exposure to basic science disciplines and maximum flexibility in choosing a research area for their dissertation research.

Our philosophy is that a complete graduate education should include experience in teaching. However, the amount of teaching should not be so great as to impede a student's research progress. Consequently, students assist in teaching for one semester, usually in the Medical Biochemistry course, during their second year of study.