Courses

Biomolecular Chemistry 609 is a three credit course intended to provide a rigorous foundation for mathematical modeling of biological systems. Mathematical techniques include dynamical systems and differential equations. Applications to biological pathways, including understanding of bistability within chemical reaction systems, are emphasized. Spring semester, T,R, even years. In order to count towards the minimum graduate course requirement, graduate students will be required to complete a final project. Prerequisites: Math 340 or 341; Math 415; or consent of instructor. (Professor Gheorghe Craciun)

Biomolecular Chemistry 668 is a three credit course. Three-dimensional protein structures form the basis for discussions of high-resolution microbiology; how particular problems are solved with given protein architectures and chemistries and how themes of protein structure are modified and recycled. Prerequisites: Biochemistry (e.g. Biochem 501), molecular biology (e.g. Micro 526 or 612) required, one semester of physical chemistry preferred. (Professor Katrina Forest)

biochemistry course taken previously or concurrently. This course is offered in the spring and summer semesters and fulfills the CALS capstone experience for Biology majors.

Offered Spring Semester T/Th and Summer M/T/W/Th: Taught by Dr. Angela Kita (Spring & Summer) & Professor Matt Merrins (Spring).

Self-directed work under the supervision and guidance of an Instructor and often in conjunction with a day-to-day mentor that is a graduate student or postdoc researcher in the instructor’s group. Students normally participate in aspects of ongoing research projects.

Prerequisites: Consent of Instructor

Course Designation: Level – Advanced
L&S Credit – Counts as Liberal Arts and Science credit in L&S

Repeatable for Credit: Yes, unlimited number of completions

Last Taught: Fall 2022

Biomolecular Chemistry 700 is a three credit course designed to introduce methods used in biophysical measurements. Thermodynamics and kinetics are introduced along with the theory and instrumentation used for several complementary biophysical approaches. Hands-on experimentation is done using state-of-the-art instrumentation and data interpretation. Learning outcomes include describing the strengths and weaknesses of several biophysical methods, and use that method to design biophysical experiments for their research, explaining the fundamentals of thermodynamics, kinetics, and fluorescence and practically apply this model to modern research problems. You will also learn data interpretation skills to interpret results from several biophysical instruments and integrate that knowledge in the form of an experimental plan within a grant application. This course will meet twice each week for 75 minutes of direct faculty instruction, with an estimated six hours of work outside of class for students. For the laboratory component, students will work as teams in the Biophysics Instrumentation Facility to carry out experiments use state-of-the-art biophysical equipment.

Prerequisites: Graduate/professional standing

Grad 50% – Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Instructors: Assistant Professor Andrea Putnam & Professor James Keck

Biomolecular Chemistry 701 is a two credit course designed to provide introductory training in the practical aspects of being a graduate-level scientist and the professional standards and expectations of ethical researchers. Covers a wide variety of professional development topics, including choosing a research laboratory and a thesis mentor, transitioning to self-education, managing stress in graduate school, and the importance of diversity in science. Ethics topics include conflicts of interest, the protection of human subjects, the welfare of laboratory animals and workers, safe laboratory spaces, mentor and mentee responsibilities, collaborative research, peer review, data acquisition and data management practices, research misconduct, responsible authorship and publication, contemporary ethical issues in biomedical research, and the roles of responsible scientists in society. Covers all NIH-recommended topics for Responsible Conduct of Research, thus meeting the requirements for trainees involved in NIH-sponsored research programs.

Biomolecular Chemistry 720 is a three credit graduate level discussion and literature-based course replacing 710 taught in module format and covering the following areas from historical to modern contexts: Biochemistry of post-translational modification of proteins (Professor John Denu); Model Organisms (Assistant Professor Melissa Harrison); Transcriptional Switches (Assistant Professor Peter Lewis); Chromosome Replication (Professor Catherine Fox); RNA in Biological Regulation (Professor Michael Sheets). Spring semester T,R 2:30-4:00 PM, Rm 1220 A/B HF DeLuca Biochemical Sciences Building. (Professor Catherine Fox, Course Director).

Biomolecular Chemistry 901 is a one credit weekly seminar course held on noon Fridays in the fall and spring semesters. Fourth and Fifth year IPiB students should register twice and present one research seminar. Attendance is mandatory except when conflicts arise with other duties that cannot be rescheduled (e.g., courses, professional meetings, illness, personal emergency). (Matthew Merrins and Zachary Campbell, Course Directors)

Biomolecular Chemistry 913 is a one credit course of student-led discussions of RNA-related problems. Prerequisites: Biomchemistry 603, Genetics 466 or equivalent. Spring semester (Professors David Brow, Marvin Wickens and Sam Butcher).