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Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology Program
The Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology offers graduate study and research focused in the areas of molecular, cellular and regulatory biochemistry, molecular biophysics, chemical biology, and structural biology. Students receive a rigorous foundation in modern biomedical science through an integrated program of laboratory research, advanced coursework, and attendance and participation in seminar programs. Students also organize and participate in a weekly informal seminar series in which they present recent research results.
Specific areas addressed within program laboratories include protein structure, function and evolution, regulation of gene expression, chromatin structure and epigenetics, translational regulation, membrane transport, ion channel function, drug resistance, cell cycle control, DNA replication, and neurodegenerative disease.
REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIALIZATION
All Basic Biomedical Science students must complete the core curriculum as well as electives required by their program. Students in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology (BMB) program must take 3 graded elective courses of 2-4 credits each, two of which must be part of the BMB program course curriculum. The third elective is typically taken in Year 2; however, the student should enroll in a course (regardless of when it is offered) that is most relevant to their graduate research. The plan of coursework is designed to be flexible in order to accommodate each student’s needs and areas of interest.
All students in thesis research are required to give an annual research presentation to the Department in a seminar series that runs from September through May each academic year.
OUR LEADERSHIP & FACULY
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Brian Kelch, PhD
Associate Professor
email Dr. Kelch | Learn more about the Kelch Lab
FACULTY
Our faculty include, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators, W. M. Keck Foundation Distinguished Young Scholars, Burroughs Wellcome Fellows, Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research Scholars, a Pew Scholar and a faculty member who patented discoveries in RNAi.
Research areas of our faculty inlcude:
- Biophysics
- Chemical Biology
- Computational Biology
- Cell & Developmental Biology
- DNA/RNA & Epigenetics
- Human Disease & Therapeutics
- Membrane Biology
- Neurobiology
- Structural Biology
View the affilated faculty listing for the Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology Program.
OUR STUDENTS
The Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology is an integral part of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology. Our graduate students are core members of our world-class research teams and a central part of our departmental culture. Students organize our weekly departmental research seminar and happy hour, where they and other department members present their research. They also present at our annual departmental research retreat, the university research retreat and at national and international meetings. Many of our students are funded by NIH pre-doctoral fellowships and several have been awarded the prestigious Harold Weintraub award.
Getting Results…
POST-DEGREE CAREERS
Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology graduates pursue a variety of career options. Many go on to postdoctoral training and subsequent academic careers. Others pursue opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry and biotech, with recent graduates taking positions at Vertex, Biogen, Pfizer, Moderna, and Genzyme, among others. Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology graduates have also pursued diverse career paths, such as law, publishing and policy.