Courses

BCHM 5801 (3 credits): Advanced Topics in Signaling Transduction and Cellular Regulation

Lecture and discussion of current research in signal transduction, emphasizing molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics. Topics include receptors and signaling pathways, control of transcription, DNA replication, epigenetics, development, and cell cycle progression.

Responsible Conduct of Research (1 credit):

GRAD 5000: All MCDB graduate students take RCR/GRAD 5000 in Fall semester of year 2, taught by Instructor Dr. Mary Allen and faculty discussion leaders.

All SCR students are required to complete refresher training after four years, which can be fulfilled by a 2-day RCR Refresher Training Course, which is offered most spring semesters. Alternatively, refresher training can be fulfilled by retaking GRAD 5000.

BCHM 5821 (1 credit): Special Topics in Signaling and Cell Regulation

Journal club for review of literature in signal transduction, transcription, cell cycle progression, and cell differentiation. Students are required to take two semesters of this course.
 

NSRSC 7102 (1 credit): Alternative Careers to Academia

This course features weekly guest speakers, with degrees ranging from bachelor's through postdoctoral training prior to leaving academia. 

BCHM 5770/5772 (4 credits): Advanced General Biochemistry 1 (Biochemistry CORE)

Lecture and discussion on fundamentals of protein and nucleic acid structure, purification, folding, thermodynamics and biophysical methods for measurement (Elective for MCDB majors).

BCHM 5781 (5 credits): Advanced General Biochemistry 2 (Biochemistry CORE)

Lecture and discussion of cellular regulation, including transcription, replication, chromatin structure and modulation, cell cycle regulation, and intercellular communication (Elective for MCDB majors).

MCDB 5210 (3 credits): Cell Structure and Function (MCDB CORE)

Lecture and discussion of cellular structure and ultrastructure, methods in microscopy and structure determination, with focus on literature review and critical analysis (Elective for Biochemistry majors).

MCDB 5230 (3 credits): Gene Expression (MCDB CORE)

Lecture and discussion of gene regulation and expression, examined by genetics and molecular, cellular and developmental biology, including DNA structure/function, RNA, regulatory proteins, human genetic diseases and gene therapy (Elective for Biochemistry majors).

MCDB 5312 (3 credits): Quantitative Optical Imaging

This class explores the fundamentals of optical imaging in biology. Covered topics include an introduction to optics and microscopes, fluorescence microscopy, and an introduction to image analysis and coding in MATLAB.

MCDB 5520 (3 credits): Bioinformatics and Genomics

A survey in bioinformatic algorithms and technological developments that have enbaled the field of genomics to impact diverse fields of biology, including cell biology, evolution, population genetics, and human disease.

MCDB 5615 (3 credits): Biology of Stem Cells

Course covers the fundamentals of stem cell biology, including properties of stem cells, technology used to identify and study stem cells, current controversies and future directions in stem cell research.  

Short Read Sequencing Summer Workshop

A 9-day summer workshop introducing students to sequencing pipelines, data analysis, quality control, read mapping, and Genome Browser Visualization. The workshop also covers basic data analysis seen with popular sequencing techniques, including ChIP-seq, RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, DNA-seq, and single-cell sequencing.
 

Required courses for first-year students:
Biochemistry Students:
     BCHM 5771 - Advanced Biochemistry 1
     BCHM 5781 - Advanced Biochemistry 2

MCDB Students:
     MCDB 5210 - Cell Structure and Function
     MCDB 5230 - Gene Expression
     MCDB 6442 - Writing Skills for Scientists