Graduate Program in Biochemistry	Application Information Current Students Curriculum Courses Research & Dissertation Life in Boston
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• structure-based drug design based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and crystallographic analysis

• molecular basis of cancer: 1) oncogenic proteins such as receptors, GTPases, tyrosine kinases, and lipid kinases, and 2) tumor suppressor genes

• pathophysiology of inflammatory disorders mediated by mast cells

• molecular basis of auto-immune diseases like lupus: disease-associated anti-DNA antibodies

• thrombosis associated with hear disease through the study of cell surface protease activated receptors

• corneal disease through the study of the galectin protein family

• biochemistry of calcium signaling in neurons and its role in neurodegeneration

• molecular basis of gene function including DNA replication, regulation of RNA transcription and RNA processing

Graduates have gone on to careers in research and teaching in universities, professional schools, and government labs; biotechnology industry research and management; communications; and biotechnology patent law.

APPLYING TO THE PROGRAM:

Students interested in joining the graduate program in biochemistry should make their applications through the Integrated Studies Program (ISP) of the Sackler School.  The ISP is a joint admissions and first year academic program.  It is administered by three graduate programs; the Biochemistry program, the Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology program, and the Cellular and Molecular Physiology program. There are over 50 research laboratories associated with the ISP. During their first year, ISP students take a common set of courses and do three laboratory rotations.  These rotations are designed to expand the student's repetoir of experimental skills and help students make an informed choice before settling down at the end of their first year to begin their thesis research.  In general, only those students who decide to join biochemistry department laboratories enter the Ph.D. program in biochemistry.

For more information on the Biochemistry program, please contact Dr. Larry Feig.  For additional information on the ISP, click here.  You may also contact the Biochemisry Department Office at (617) 636 6867.  Our fax number is (617) 636 2409.  The department office is located at 136 Harrison Ave. in room 704 of the Stearns Building. For a map, click here.

To receive a catalog that describes the Sackler School and the Biochemistry program in more detail, please fill out the following form. To apply online - please fill out the online application here.

CURRICULUM

During the first year, students interested in Biochemistry; Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology; or Cellular and Molecular Physiology participate in a common Integrated Studies Program. Students in the second year and beyond take additional required didactic courses (Biochemistry 227 and 293H) and two credits of electives. They are also required to participate in the weekly journal club (Biochemistry 295, 296) and the seminar course (Biochemistry 291, 292). They must pass a qualifying examination, conduct graduate research (Biochemistry 297, 298, and 299), and prepare and defend a thesis.

QUALIFYING EXAM AND CANDIDACY

Promotion to candidacy for the Ph.D. signifies that the faculty believes the student has the potential to complete the degree requirements and to carry on with a successful research and teaching career.
In the second year, the student must present and defend a proposal for research in a field other than that of the dissertation. The proposal consists of the statement of an original research problem in which a scientific question is asked and the experimental approach to answering the question is described. After the written proposal has been prepared, it is presented orally to the faculty. A review of the student's academic and laboratory performance is also conducted at this stage.

TEACHING

In the third year, graduate students assist in conference and tutorial group teaching of medical students as part of their training.

RESEARCH AND DISSERTATION

Upon successful completion of the first year, students select a research adviser and begin their research. During the second year, the student presents a thesis project proposal to an advisory committee consisting of three faculty members familiar with the general area of the student’s research. The student, the research adviser, and the advisory committee meet twice a year to review progress. When the advisory committee is satisfied that the aims of the research project have been met, the research is presented in a written dissertation and defended orally before a committee of faculty consisting of the advisory committee plus an outside faculty member. Successful dissertation defense is the final requirement for the degree.