Bioorganic Chemistry
G = Objectives
Graduate Program in Bioorganic Chemistry
The interdepartmental graduate program in bioorganic chemistry, leading to the degree of doctor of philosophy, is designed to give students a broad background in organic chemistry and in biochemistry, and to provide an appreciation for, and expertise in, the multiple disciplines that are currently being applied to problems at the interface of organic chemistry and biology. The program combines research opportunities in organic synthesis, organic reaction mechanisms, enzyme structure and function, molecular recognition, and structure determination of peptides and nucleic acids by X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. Thesis research will be carried out with two advisors, in accordance with the multidisciplinary aspects of bioorganic chemistry.
G = How to Be Admitted to the Graduate Program
The general requirements for admission to the Graduate School are listed in an earlier section of the Bulletin. Applicants are normally expected to have strong backgrounds in physical or biological science, with undergraduate concentrations in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, or pharmacology. Applications should include, in addition to three letters of reference, a personal statement giving reasons for choosing the field of bioorganic chemistry and indicating areas of special interest. Applicants are expected to take the Graduate Record Exam and are encouraged to visit Brandeis for an interview.
S = Faculty Advisory Committee
Robert Abeles, Chair
(Biochemistry)
Dana Gordon
(Chemistry)
Lizbeth Hedstrom
(Biochemistry)
James Hendrickson
(Chemistry)
Daniel Oprian
(Biochemistry)
Gregory Petsko
(Biochemistry and Chemistry)
Thomas Pochapsky
(Chemistry)
Dagmar Ringe
(Biochemistry and Chemistry)
Barry Snider
(Chemistry)
G = Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Program of Study
Each doctoral candidate must
successfully complete seven courses. All participants in the program
will take BCHM 101a, 101b, CHEM 134b, and either 131a or 133a.
Students must also take at least one course dealing with spectroscopy
or crystallographic methods; choices include CHEM 132b, 229b,
and 235b. An additional course will be chosen from the offerings
of the chemistry and biochemistry departments. Students are also
required to take CONT 300b (Ethical Practice in Health-Related
Sciences). First-year students undertake six, six-week laboratory
rotations in different laboratories in the program. In the course
of their graduate career, students will present three seminars
in the organic chemistry and biochemistry programs and one seminar
in the bioorganic program. Thesis research is performed under
the direction of two faculty members in different fields of expertise
so that students will gain expertise in more than one discipline.
Financial Support
Graduate students generally
receive financial support (tuition and stipend) throughout their
participation in the graduate program.
Teaching
Students participate as teaching
assistants for two terms.
Language Requirement
Students are required to show
proficiency in the use of a commonly used software package (e.g.,
QUANTA, MM2) and operating system (e.g., UNIX, VMS).
Residence Requirement
The minimum residence requirement
for the Ph.D. degree is three years.
Qualifying Examinations
At the end of the first year,
students will develop and defend an original proposition for a
research problem in his or her area of interest. In addition,
students must demonstrate general knowledge of bioorganic chemistry
by passing three of four area examinations. All students are expected
to pass area examinations in (1) organic chemistry and (2) metabolism
and enzymology. Students must also pass an examination in either
(3) molecular biology or (4) spectroscopy and structure determination.
Students are expected to have completed this requirement by the
end of the third year. Two of these must be completed by the end
of the second year. This general knowledge outside the student's
own field of specialization must be demonstrated to the satisfaction
of a committee of three faculty members appointed by the Student
Advisory Committee.
Dissertation and Thesis Defense
Each doctoral candidate will submit a dissertation describing his or her research and will defend it in a Final Oral Examination.
S = Courses of Instruction
G = (200 and above) Primarily for Graduate Students
BIOC 200a,b Bioorganic Seminar
Usually offered every year.
Staff
BIOC 303d Lab Rotations
L =
CONT 300b Ethical Practice in Health-Related Sciences
Required of all first-year graduate students in health-related science programs. Not for credit.
Scientists are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of addressing ethical issues and values associated with scientific research. This course, taught by University faculty from several graduate disciplines, will cover major ethical issues germane to the broader scientific enterprise, including areas or applications from a number of fields of study. Lectures and relevant case studies will be complemented by two public lectures during the course. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Jones
S = Cross-Listed Courses
BCHM 101a
Advanced Biochemistry I
BCHM 101b
Advanced Biochemistry II
BCHM 104b
Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules
BCHM 202b
Chemistry of Enzyme-Catalyzed
Reactions
CHEM 111a
Computational Chemistry
CHEM 131a
Advanced Organic Chemistry:
Topics in Structure and Reactivity
CHEM 132b
Advanced Organic Chemistry:
Spectroscopy
CHEM 134b
Advanced Organic Chemistry:
Synthesis
CHEM 137b
The Chemistry of Organic Natural
Products
CHEM 229b
Special Topics in Inorganic
Chemistry: Introduction to X-ray Structure Determination
CHEM 235b
Advanced NMR Spectroscopy