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PROGRAM
Overview
Thesis Research
Curriculum
Courses
Journal
Club
Seminars
Qualification Examinations
Advancement to Candidacy
Graduate Committee
Overview: Graduate students in Chemistry, Physics or
the Life Sciences may petition for admission to the
interdisciplinary program in Molecular Biophysics/Chemical
Biology (MBCB). Students participating in the MBCB Program
pursue a course of study and research that often overlaps the
disciplinary boundaries of chemistry, biology, molecular biology
and physics. Graduate training opportunities are available for
students with undergraduate background in any one of these
areas. Individualized programs of study are provided
in order that each student obtains the necessary
interdisciplinary background for advanced study and research in
molecular biophysics.
Thesis Research: Students entering the program engage in
dissertation research under the mentorship of one of the program
faculty. Joint mentorships are available for appropriate special
cases. In order to choose a research mentor, during the
first year students participate in 2-3
“rotations” of 1-2 months duration in the laboratories
of participating faculty. A placement mutually acceptable
to the student and proposed thesis mentor is typically achieved
from this process; if not, further rotations may be pursued.
During the rotation period, the responsibility is on the student
to demonstrate ability and motivation in independent research
sufficient to gain acceptance into a faculty research
group. Students are expected to have chosen a research
mentor by the end of their first academic year of study and begin
research full-time the following summer.
Curriculum: Students are expected to complete core
courses of their home department unless grated a waiver by their
committee and approved by the home department. Molecular
Biophysics Program expectations are a) Molecular Biophysics or
the equivalent, b) Structural Biology Laboratory or the
equivalent c) regular participation in the Molecular Biophysics
Journal Club, and c) at least two credits of elective
advance courses offered by the program faculty. In addition,
students are expected to either have appropriate general
background in Biology, Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Physics.
If necessary, in consultation with their graduate committee,
students may take additional courses which fill in any gaps.
Graduate Courses: (specific to Molecular Biophysics and
Chemical Biology)
| CHEM 301 |
Molecular Biophysics |
| CHEM 318 |
Biochemistry |
| CHEM 321 |
Biomedicinal Chemistry |
| CHEM 339 |
Advanced Physical Chemistry |
| CHEM 340-341 |
Phys. Chem IV: Quantum Chemistry |
| CHEM 353 |
Applications of Spectroscopic Methods in Organic Chemistry |
| CHEM 358 |
Structure and Mechanism |
| CHEM 361 |
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry |
| CHEM 363 |
Organometallic Chemistry |
| CHEM 370 |
Biological NMR Spectroscopy |
| CHEM 381 |
Physical Chemistry for Life Scientist |
| CHEM 382 |
Practical NMR |
| CHEM 383 |
Biochemistry |
| CHEM 385 |
Enzyme Kinetics (.5 Cr) |
| CHEM 386 |
Biological Thermodynamics |
| CHEM 387 |
Enzyme Mechanics (.5 Cr) |
| CHEM 388 |
Molecular Dynamics and Molecular Modeling |
| CHEM 390 |
Physical Biochemistry |
| CHEM 395 |
Structural Biology Laboratory |
| CHEM 399 |
Intro of Nanotechnology and Micro-Fabrication |
| CHEM 509 |
Foundations of Molecular Biophysics |
| CHEM 519 |
Structural Mechanisms of Protein-Nucleic Acid Structures and Interactions |
| CHEM 538 |
Phys. Chem II: Thermodynamics, Statistical Mechanics & Kinetics |
| CHEM 540 |
Advanced Quantum Chemistry |
| CHEM 545 |
High Resolution Molecular Spectroscopy |
| MBB 505 |
Mechanisms of DNA Damage and Repair |
Related
Undergraduate Courses (see also general offerings in life
sciences at departmental web sites).
| CHEM 325 |
Biomolecular Structures |
| CHEM 345 |
Molecular Spectroscopy |
Journal Club, Seminars, etc.
| CHEM 320 |
Scientific Research Ethics |
| CHEM 350 |
Scientific Method |
| CHEM 507-8 |
Molecular Biophysics Journal Club |
| CHEM 547-8 |
Chemical Physics Seminar |
| CHEM 557-8 |
Organic and Inorganic Chemistry Seminar |
| CHEM 587-8 |
Biochemistry Seminar |
Molecular Biophysics Journal Club is a weekly gathering of all students, research
associates and faculty associated with the program for critical
consideration and discussion of research described in the current
literature. Here, in addition to exposure to advanced subject
matter, students gain experience with research design, and
presentation and discussion skills. Molecular Biophysics
Journal Club is a centerpiece of the program and regular
participation is required.
Seminars: Students of the program are expected to
attend all relevant departmental seminars on a regular
basis. A regular event on Wednesday evenings is the Biochemistry
Seminar in which advanced students, faculty and invited visitors
present their research (Professor Pratt, coordinator). The MBB
and Biology Departments cosponsor a regular seminar series on
Thursday afternoons. The Chemistry Department hosts a regular
seminar on Fridays of each week.
Conferences:
Extramurally, We are affiliated with interest groups such as the
New York Structural Biology (NYSB) and the New York
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (NYCBC) groups, both of
which offer seminar programs and mini-conferences at various New
England venues. All students are encourage to join and
attend national meetings of the Biophysical Society.
Qualification Examinations: Students are expected to stand for the
qualification process particular to their home department. In
MB&B, this consists of examinations in the major
subdisciplinary areas of the department, including molecular
biophysics. In Chemistry, this consists of monthly progress
examinations, some contributed by program faculty, and
molecular biophysics students are expected to pass 20 elementary
and 10 advanced to be considered for advancement to
candidacy.
Advancement to
Candidacy:
Upon successful completion of the qualification examinations, the
preparation and defense of a research proposal, and satisfactory
progress in dissertation research, students advance to
Ph.D. candidacy by the approval of a petition to the home
department. Advancement to candidacy typically occurs after
two years of graduate study in the program.
Graduate
Student Committees: The graduate committee of a student in the
Molecular Biophysics program will consist of representation from
at least two participating departments. Students confer with
their committee at least once per year to establish curricular
objectives and to review research projects. Minutes of the
proceedings of each thesis committee meeting serve as a record of
student progress through the program.
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