phd biochemistry stanford

• Office of Graduate Education

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in the 14 Biosciences PhD Programs at Stanford University! The online application for Autumn 2024-25 will open in mid-September 2024.

The Stanford Biosciences Programs recognizes that the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June 2023 about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during upcoming application cycles will be reviewed in conformance with that decision.

Applying and Deadline

In addition to the information below and our FAQ page, please review the Graduate Admissions website and their FAQ page prior to starting your application. When you are ready to start your application, click here to Apply Now.

The 14 Stanford Biosciences PhD programs only accept applications once per year for the Autumn quarter entry only. The application deadline for Autumn 2025-26 is Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 11:59:59 pm (PST) . Late applications will not be accepted.  Note : Knight-Hennessy Scholars applicants are required to submit their Stanford Biosciences PhD application by Sunday, December 1, 2024, at 11:59:59 pm (PST).

The admissions committees of the 14 PhD programs will promptly begin to review applicant files the day following the application deadline.  It is important that all of your application materials, including letters of recommendation, are submitted by the deadline. We cannot guarantee the review of any materials received after the deadline.

To check your application status,  click here to  Visit Your Status Page . There you will find the most current status of your application materials.

Eligibility for Admission

To be eligible for admission to graduate programs at Stanford, applicants must meet  one of the following conditions:

• Applicants must hold, or expect to hold before enrollment at Stanford, a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association.
• Applicants from institutions outside the U.S. must hold, or expect to hold before enrollment at Stanford, the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a college or university of recognized standing. See the Office of Graduate Admissions for the minimum level of study required of international applicants .
• A Master’s degree is only required if you do not meet the above eligibility requirements.

The majority of the 14 Biosciences PhD programs do not have specific course requirements for admission.  The faculty like to see that you have taken a rigorous course load, but they will be particularly interested in your research experience.  While many of our graduate students have undergraduate preparation in a life sciences curriculum, it is feasible to enter from other programs, including chemistry, computer science, mathematics, psychology, or physics.

The Biomedical Data Science , Biophysics , Molecular and Cellular Physiology , and Structural Biology programs have some course background requirements.  We strongly recommend that you reach out to the programs to which you plan to apply, to ask for specific course requirements/suggestions.

Application Fee and Fee Waivers

The  application fee is $125 and is non-refundable. You will be prompted to pay the application fee at the time you submit your application. The acceptable form of payment is via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club) or bank transfer from a U.S. checking account. If you do not have a credit card then you should make arrangements with a family member or friend to use theirs. Checks by mail are not accepted.

Fee Waivers Applicants who need assistance with the application fee are encouraged to apply for a fee waiver. Priority for fee waivers is given to applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. International applicants who need assistance with the application fee are eligible to apply for the School-Based fee waiver. For a complete list of fee waiver options and eligibility requirements, please visit the Graduate Admissions website . The deadline to submit an Application Fee Waiver Request is Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 11:59:59 pm (PST) . Note that our office does not process the application fee waiver requests.

Home Program Selection and Faculty of Interest

Home Program Overview The Biosciences program encourages students to explore research opportunities, carry out rotations, and choose dissertation research in any of the 14 Home Programs. Each student is admitted to a particular Home Program, which then provides a primary academic base. Your program selection should be based on the alignment of your interests with a program’s faculty, and the specifics of the program curriculum. Regardless of your Home Program, you have full access to faculty in all of the other Home Programs for laboratory rotations and potential thesis work. The Biosciences program at Stanford encourages students to explore research opportunities, do rotations, and eventually decide on dissertation research in any of the 14 Home Programs. Each student is admitted to a particular Home Program, which then provides the primary base for training during the first year. Please review the Home Program Overview web page carefully before making your Home Program Selection on your application.

Home Program Selection When completing the “Program Selection” section of the application, you will be asked to select your primary Degree Program.  In addition, you will also be able to select one alternative Home Program. Only select an additional program if you have a genuine interest in the field. Including a poorly matched program will not necessarily increase your chances of being accepted.  You will be required to answer additional questions related to your Home Program selection(s) on the Supplemental Form. The information you provide in this section will help the Admissions Committee match you with the Home Program that seems most suited to your background and research interests.

Faculty of Interest When completing the “Program Supplemental” section of the application, you will be required to submit a rank-ordered list of eight to twelve Biosciences faculty of interest to you. The majority should be in your primary Home Program . Being admitted through any individual Home Program allows you full access to faculty in all of the other Home Programs for laboratory rotations and potential thesis work. You will not need to secure a research supervisor prior to applying . For more information on faculty research interests, please visit the Biosciences Faculty database.

Statement of Purpose

Because each Home Program requires significant original research activities in fulfillment of the requirements for the PhD degree, the admissions committees are interested in obtaining as much information as possible about your previous research experiences. Those who already have such experience are in a better position to know whether they are truly interested in performing laboratory research as part of a graduate program. Please include specific information about your research experience in your Statement of Purpose. You may also use the Statement to amplify your comments about your choice of Home Program(s), and how your past experiences and current interests are related to your choice.

The Statement of Purpose should not exceed two pages in length, single-spaced, and font size 12 . Make sure to set your computer to Western European or other English-language settings. We cannot guarantee the ability to access your statement if it is submitted in other fonts.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters  of recommendation  are required , but you may have up to four letters submitted on your behalf.   As part of the online application, you will be required to register the names and contact information, including e-mail addresses, of your recommenders. Recommenders will then receive an e-mail with directions on how to proceed. All recommendations must be submitted using the online application system as recommenders are required to respond to specific evaluation questions on the recommendation form. Letters of recommendation cannot be mailed, emailed, faxed, or submitted through a letter service (with the exception of Interfolio). For letters submitted via Interfolio, please remember that letters written specifically for your Stanford graduate program tend to be stronger than letters written for general use purposes.

Please be sure that you ask for a recommendation from at least one individual who can address your potential for original and creative research. In most cases, that individual would be the person guiding your most recent research activities. It is very important that you contact your recommenders before submitting their information in the online application. You must choose whether or not to waive your right to see a recommendation. It may be that a recommender will not submit a recommendation if you have not waived the right to see it. This should be discussed in advance. Your choice will be transmitted to the recommender in the instructional email they will receive.

Transcripts (Academic Records)

When completing the “Academic History” section of the application, you will be asked to list and provide your unofficial transcript for every post-secondary institution where you were enrolled — or are currently enrolled — in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.

• Stanford considers unofficial transcripts to be sufficient for the review process.  If you are offered admission to Stanford and accept the offer, you will be required to submit official transcripts/degree conferral documents. Please do not send or have sent any official transcripts to us or to your program.
• Your academic records should give detailed information on the content and quality of your performance, the courses you took each year, and the grades you received (including any legends/keys for the institution’s grading scale).
• If your institution does not issue records in English, you must submit original language records with official English translations. We accept translations issued by the institution or a professional translating service. Translations must be literal and complete versions of the original records.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) - General Test and Subject Test

The GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test score requirements vary across the 14 Home Programs. Some programs have optional score submission, while others do not consider the scores in their review process. Please consult the table below for specific program GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test score requirements. For those programs with a listing of “Optional”, scores will be considered if submitted and may be helpful for applicants to complement their academic records, or for applicants with gaps or weaknesses in their academic records. For those programs with “Not Considered”, that admission committee will not have access to your self-reported or official GRE scores.

If you are reading this in early November, you should have already taken the GRE General Test and/or GRE Subject Test so that your scores can reach us by the application deadline. Since our initial reviews of all applications are virtually complete by mid-January, it is unlikely that scores from those who take the late November or December tests will reach us in time for adequate review.

Reporting Official Scores

Official scores must be reported directly to Stanford from Educational Testing Service (ETS) . Stanford’s ETS institutional code is 4704 . Individual department code numbers are not necessary.  As long as the institutional code of  4704 is selected, the score will be electronically delivered to Stanford.  Scores expire after five years and will not be available from ETS. The earliest valid test date is September 1, 2019. Any scores you self-report on the application are considered unofficial, but sufficient for the initial review process.

Please Note : It can take up to three weeks for Stanford to receive official GRE Test scores from ETS. Once received, scores are connected to your application in Stanford’s database after approximately seven business days from the date the online application is received. If after checking your application status you find that the test information is not received, contact the Biosciences Admissions Office .

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Requirements, Exemptions, and Waiver Requests

If your first language is not English, you are required to submit an official test score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and earn at least the University minimum required TOEFL score to be eligible for admission.

• We accept the TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL iBT Paper Edition if you are unable to take the traditional TOEFL iBT test in a test center. If you take the Home Edition or Paper Edition, you may be required to complete additional  English placement testing  prior to enrollment.
• We do not accept TOEFL Essentials scores or any other English proficiency test (e.g., IELTS, PTE).
• The TOEFL Test must be taken prior to the application deadline to confirm your eligibility for admission.

Minimum TOEFL Requirements

• A minimum TOEFL  score of 100.
• If you score below 109 on the TOEFL and you are admitted, you will likely be required to complete additional English placement testing prior to the start of classes.

Official scores must be reported directly to Stanford from Educational Testing Service (ETS). Stanford’s ETS institutional code is 4704 . Individual department code numbers are not necessary.  As long as the institutional code of  4704 is selected, the score will be electronically delivered to Stanford.

Scores expire after two years and will not be available from ETS. The earliest valid test date is September 1, 2022 . Any scores you self-report on the application are considered unofficial but, sufficient for the initial review process.

We accept  MyBest scores , which combine your highest section scores from all test dates within the last two years.

Please Note : It can take up to three weeks for Stanford to receive official TOEFL Test scores from ETS. Once received, scores are connected to your application in Stanford’s database after approximately seven business days from the date the online application is received. If after checking your application status you find that the test information is not received, contact the Biosciences Admissions Office .

TOEFL Exemptions

You are  exempt  from submitting a TOEFL score if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You (will) have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a regionally-accredited college or university in the United States (excluding territories and possessions).
• You (will) have an equivalent degree from an English-language university in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, or the United Kingdom.

The online application will not require you to submit a TOEFL score if you meet one of the criteria listed above for an exemption.

U.S. citizenship does not automatically exempt you from taking the TOEFL if your first language is not English.

TOEFL Waivers

You may request a  waiver  in the online application if you (will) have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a recognized institution in a country other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom in which English was the language of instruction.

You will be asked to provide the following:

• Upload an official statement certifying that your program was taught exclusively in English
• You may also link to your institution’s official website stating the language of instruction

Your waiver request will be routed to Graduate Admissions  after you submit your application and pay the application fee . Allow up to 15 business days after submitting your application for a response. This will not delay the receipt of your application by your graduate program.

Additional Supporting Application Materials

Research Experience While research experience is not an application requirement, admission committees assume that applicants will have some prior experience, as they are applying for a research-related degree.

When completing the “Experience” section of the application, you will be asked to list experiences in order of significance to you, with the most meaningful experience listed first. Do not include labs associated with a course (e.g. organic chemistry course with lab). You may list up to six experiences in this section. If you wish to share more, include this information in your Resume/CV.

Resume/CV Applicants will be required to submit a current copy of their Resume/CV in the “Experience” section of the application.  A good resource for developing your Resume/CV would be your college’s or university’s Career Center.

Other Supporting Materials For most applicants, the credentials described in the “How to Apply” are sufficient to allow the Admissions Committee to reach a decision regarding an interview or further action on the application. Please do not upload/send additional materials or information to us if they have not been requested . For example, reprints of recent publications, copies of master’s degree dissertations, etc. are not used by the Admissions Committee.

Application Review Timeline and Decisions

Application Deadline The deadline to apply to the Stanford Biosciences PhD Programs is Tuesday, December 3, 2024 , at 11:59:59 pm (PST) .

Note : Knight-Hennessy Scholars applicants are required to submit their Stanford Biosciences PhD application by Sunday, December 1, 2024, at 11:59:59 pm (PST).

Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program Deadline The deadline to apply to the  Knight-Hennessy Scholars program is Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 1:00 pm (PST) .

Application Review The admissions committees of the 14 Home Programs will promptly begin to review applicant files the day following the application deadline. It is important that all of your application materials, including letters of recommendation, are submitted by the deadline. We cannot guarantee the review of any materials received after the deadline.

Interviews During the week of January 20, 2025 (and the weeks that follow), the Home Programs will start to contact those applicants who have been selected for an in-person interview. The selected applicants will be invited to interview, at our expense, arriving on Wednesday, March 5 and departing on Saturday, March 8, 2025. This is our only interview session . Highly qualified applicants residing in other countries and for whom a visit would not be possible may be selected for a virtual interview.

Decisions In general, if an applicant has not heard about a possible invitation by mid-February, it is unlikely that they will be invited or admitted. Applicants who are not selected for an interview will receive a letter that states that no further action will be taken on their application.

Decision Feedback Feedback is not available to applicants denied admission. We recognize that you devote a great deal of time and effort to your application, and may wish to discuss it with a member of our admissions committee or a faculty member. Regrettably, we are unable to provide individual feedback to any applicant.

Please note the Biosciences Admissions Office will be closed on Thursday, November 28 through Friday, November 29, 2024, and Monday, December 23, 2024, through Friday, January 3, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

A list of the most frequently asked Biosciences questions (i.e. Eligibility, Funding, Knight-Hennessy Scholars, etc.) can be found on the Biosciences FAQ web page.  In addition, please also visit the Graduate Admissions FAQ web page for a more expansive list.

Contact Information

Biosciences PhD Admissions

For Stanford Biosciences PhD Admissions inquiries, visit our  How to Apply and FAQ pages along with the  Graduate Admissions website and their FAQ page for more information. Please be sure to read through these pages carefully.  A vast majority of the commonly asked application questions will be answered there. If you are unable to find the answer to your questions, please contact us .

Home Programs

For Home Program-specific questions, please  contact the program(s)  to which you are applying to for further information.

The Biosciences Admissions Office will be closed on Thursday, November 28 through Friday, November 29, 2024, and Monday, December 23, 2024, through Friday, January 3, 2025.

Ph.D. Program

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Advances In Basic Science And Molecular Medicine

The Department of Chemical and Systems Biology explores the frontiers of basic science and molecular medicine, particularly at the crossroads of cellular, chemical, and computational biology. We train Ph.D. students to apply genetic, chemical, cell biological, and quantitative methods to decipher the complex regulatory systems associated with normal physiology and disease states.

Specific research areas include cell signaling pathways, cell cycle control, epigenetics, cell fate specification, and genomic stability. The Chemical and Systems Biology Ph.D. program also emphasizes collaborative learning, and our research community includes scientists trained in molecular biology, cell biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering.

Our Ph.D. program consistently ranks among the top graduate training programs in the world. Most recently the National Research Council named us the top pharmacology-related training program in the United States, based on students’ GRE scores, faculty publications, median time to degree, program requirements, and training resources. The Chemical and Systems Biology graduate program was especially commended for the quality of its research activities.

Why Chemical And Systems Biology?

How do cells achieve directed migration? Why doesn’t a skin cell become a neuron? How do drug-resistant cancers arise and how might they be prevented or overcome? Finding answers to these and other biomedical questions increasingly requires molecular, quantitative, and interdisciplinary approaches.

The Department of Chemical and Systems Biology is uniquely focused on understanding cell biology at the molecular and systems levels, and many of its faculty have expertise in biochemistry, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Developing novel technologies for basic research and translating discoveries into therapeutic strategies are also areas of special interest in the Chemical and Systems Biology community.

Our goal is to train a new generation of scientists with the interdisciplinary skills and creative thinking required to tackle emerging challenges in biomedical research. We invite all interested students to apply to the Chemical and Systems Biology Ph.D. program through the Stanford Biosciences online application form. Applicants whose research interests match well with our scientific mission are encouraged to select Chemical and Systems Biology as their primary home program.

[email protected]

Steven Artandi

Onn Brandman

Patrick O. Brown

Gilbert Chu

Karlene Cimprich

James Ferrell

Pehr Harbury

Daniel Herschlag

Chaitan Khosla

Silvana Konermann

Mark Krasnow

Sharon Long

Suzanne Pfeffer

Rajat Rohatgi

Florentine Rutaganira

Julia Salzman

James Spudich

Aaron Straight

Haopeng Xiao

Founding faculty and emeriti.

Robert Baldwin

Doug Brutlag

David Hogness

Dale Kaiser

Arthur Kornberg

Robert Lehman

Distinguished fellow.

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• Biochemistry
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• Graduate Advising

Courses offered by the Department of Biochemistry are listed under the subject code BIOC on the Stanford Bulletin's ExploreCourses web site .

Biochemistry is a department within the School of Medicine, with offices and labs located in the Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine at the Stanford Medical Center, the Shriram Center for Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering, and the Stanford Genome Technology Center. Courses offered by the department may be taken by undergraduates as well as graduate and medical school students.

Advanced courses offered in more specialized areas emphasize recent developments in biochemistry, cell biology, and molecular biology. These courses include the physical and chemical principles of biochemistry, enzyme reaction mechanisms, membrane trafficking and biochemistry, molecular motors and the cytoskeleton, mechanisms and regulation of nucleic acid replication and recombination, the biochemistry of bacterial and animal viruses, the molecular basis of morphogenesis, the molecular and cell biology of yeast, and the structure and function of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic chromosomes.

Opportunities exist for directed reading and research in biochemistry and molecular biology, using the most advanced research facilities, including those for light and electron microscopy, chromatography and electrophoresis, protein and nucleic acid purification, rapid kinetic analysis, synthesis and analysis, single molecule analyses using laser light traps, microarray generation and analysis, and computer graphic workstation facilities for protein and nucleic acid structural analysis. Ongoing research uses a variety of organisms from bacteria to animal cells.

• Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry

Requirements for the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are described in the " Graduate Degrees " section of this bulletin. The department does not offer undergraduate degrees.

The Department of Biochemistry offers a Ph.D. program which begins in the Autumn Quarter of each year. The program of study is designed to prepare students for productive careers in biochemistry; its emphasis is training in research, and each student works closely with members of the faculty. In addition to the requirement for a Ph.D. dissertation based on original research, students are required to complete six advanced courses in biochemistry and related areas among the 135 total units required for the Ph.D. Selection of these courses is tailored to fit the background and interests of each student. A second requirement involves the submission of two research proposals which are presented by the student to a small committee of departmental faculty members who are also responsible for monitoring the progress of student curricular and research programs, and a journal club presentation. All Ph.D. students are expected to participate actively in the department's seminar program, and students are encouraged to attend and to present papers at regional and national meetings in cellular biochemistry and molecular biology. Teaching experience is an integral part of the Ph.D. curriculum and is required for the degree.

The Department of Biochemistry offers an M.S. degree only to students already enrolled in the Ph.D. program. Students should contact the Graduate Studies adviser for more details.

Those applying for graduate study should have at least a baccalaureate degree and should have completed work in cell and developmental biology, basic biochemistry and molecular biology, and genetics. Also required are: at least one year of university physics; differential and integral calculus; and organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry. The department is especially interested in those applicants who have research experience in biology or chemistry. Students must submit an application, including transcripts and letters of recommendation, by December for admission in the following Autumn Quarter.

Applications should be submitted at the Office of Graduate Admissions web site. Applicants are notified by March 31 of decisions on their applications. The Biochemistry Department has made scores from the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (verbal, quantitative, and analytical) optional on our application.

All applicants are urged to compete for non-Stanford fellowships or scholarships, and U.S. citizens should complete an application for a National Science Foundation Predoctoral Traineeship. Students are provided with financial support to cover normal living expenses; Stanford tuition costs are paid. Applicants for admission to the department are considered without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, or marital status.

Postdoctoral research training is available to graduates who hold a Ph.D. or an M.D. degree. Qualified individuals may write to individual faculty members for further information.

The Department of Biochemistry focuses on the molecular basis of life, by studying the structures and functions of proteins and nucleic acids, the control of development, molecular motors and the cytoskeleton, trafficking of proteins between organelles, regulation of gene expression, protein homeostasis, structure and design, genetic and epigenetic control of chromosome function, and the application of genomics, all towards the understanding of health and disease.

On July 30, the Academic Senate adopted grading policies effective for all undergraduate and graduate programs, excepting the professional Graduate School of Business, School of Law, and the School of Medicine M.D. Program. For a complete list of those and other academic policies relating to the pandemic, see the " COVID-19 and Academic Continuity " section of this bulletin.

The Senate decided that all undergraduate and graduate courses offered for a letter grade must also offer students the option of taking the course for a “credit” or “no credit” grade and recommended that deans, departments, and programs consider adopting local policies to count courses taken for a “credit” or “satisfactory” grade toward the fulfillment of degree-program requirements and/or alter program requirements as appropriate.

Graduate Degree Requirements

The Biochemistry Department counts all courses taken in academic year 2020-21 with a grade of 'CR' (credit) or 'S' (satisfactory) towards satisfaction of graduate degree requirements that otherwise require a letter grade provided that the instructor affirms that the work was done at a 'B-' or better level.

• Graduate Advising Expectations

The Department of Biochemistry is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by both the adviser and the advisee. As a best practice, advising expectations should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the adviser and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

Faculty advisers guide students in key areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, developing of teaching pedagogy, navigating policies and degree requirements, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways.

Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.

For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the " Graduate Advising " section of this bulletin.

Emeriti: (Professors): Robert L. Baldwin, Paul Berg, Patrick O. Brown, Douglas L. Brutlag, David S. Hogness, A. Dale Kaiser, I. Robert Lehman

Chair: Aaron F. Straight

Director of Graduate Studies:  Daniel Herschlag

Professors:  Steven Artandi, Gilbert Chu, Ronald W. Davis, James E. Ferrell, Jr., Daniel Herschlag, Peter Kim, Mark A. Krasnow, Suzanne R. Pfeffer, James A. Spudich, Aaron F. Straight

Associate Professors:  Onn Brandman, Rhiju Das, Pehr A. B. Harbury, Rajat Rohatgi

Assistant Professors:  Silvana Konermann, Lingyin Li, Julia Salzman

Courtesy Professors:  Chaitan S. Khosla, Sharon Long, Karlene Cimprich

BIOC 109A. Building Blocks for Chronic Disease. 3 Units.

Researchers have come a long way in developing therapies for chronic disease but a gap remains between current solutions and the ability to address the disease in full. This course provides an overview to the underlying biology of many of these diseases and how they may connect to each other. A "think outside of the box" approach to drug discovery is needed to bridge such a gap in solutions, and this course teaches the building blocks for that approach. Could Legoland provide the answer? This is a guest lecture series with original contributions from prominent thought leaders in academia and industry. Interaction between students and guest lecturers is expected. Students with a major, minor or coterm in Biology: 109A/209A or 109B/209B may count toward degree program but not both. Same as: BIO 109A , BIOC 209A , HUMBIO 158

BIOC 109B. Advances in Therapeutic Development: Neuronal Signaling and Immunology. 3 Units.

This is a seminar course focused on teaching students about novel research and applications in the fields of neuroscience and immunology. The course will cover topics that range from the neuronal pathways in opioid addiction and the mechanics of pain, to advances in immunotherapy. Students will engage with diverse material from leading neuroscience and cancer immunotherapy experts in the Bay Area. Guest lecturers will visit from both academia and neighboring pharmaceutical/biotechnology companies. Active participation is required. Prerequisite: Biology or Human Biology core. Students with a major, minor or coterm in Biology: 109A/209A or 109B/209B may count toward degree program, but not both. Same as: BIO 109B

BIOC 199. Undergraduate Research. 1-18 Unit.

Students undertake investigations sponsored by individual faculty members. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

BIOC 200. Applied Biochemistry. 2 Units.

Enrollment limited to MD candidates. Fundamental concepts of biochemistry as applied to clinical medicine. Topics include vitamins and cofactors, metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids and nucleotides, and the integration of metabolic pathways. Clinical case studies discussed in small-group, problem-based learning sessions.

BIOC 202. Biochemistry Mini-Course. 1 Unit.

Open to first year Biochemistry students and to other PhD students with consent of instructor. Hands-on, week-long immersion in biochemical methods and practice, high-throughput sequencing and data analysis, theory and application of light microscopy, and computational approaches to modern biological problems.

BIOC 205. Molecular Foundations of Medicine. 4 Units.

For medical students. The course examines the impact of molecular biology on medicine. Topics include DNA replication, recombination, and repair; genomics; gene transcription; protein translation; and proteins in cell decision-making. Medical impact is examined in patient presentations and small group discussions of papers from the medical literature.

BIOC 209A. Building Blocks for Chronic Disease. 3 Units.

Researchers have come a long way in developing therapies for chronic disease but a gap remains between current solutions and the ability to address the disease in full. This course provides an overview to the underlying biology of many of these diseases and how they may connect to each other. A "think outside of the box" approach to drug discovery is needed to bridge such a gap in solutions, and this course teaches the building blocks for that approach. Could Legoland provide the answer? This is a guest lecture series with original contributions from prominent thought leaders in academia and industry. Interaction between students and guest lecturers is expected. Students with a major, minor or coterm in Biology: 109A/209A or 109B/209B may count toward degree program but not both. Same as: BIO 109A , BIOC 109A , HUMBIO 158

BIOC 215. Frontiers in Biological Research. 1 Unit.

Students analyze cutting edge science, develop a logical framework for evaluating evidence and models, and enhance their ability to design original research through exposure to experimental tools and strategies. The class runs in parallel with the Frontiers in Biological Research seminar series. Students and faculty meet on the Tuesday preceding each seminar to discuss a landmark paper in the speaker's field of research. Following the Wednesday seminar, students meet briefly with the speaker for a free-range discussion which can include insights into the speakers' paths into science and how they pick scientific problems. Same as: DBIO 215 , GENE 215

BIOC 221. The Teaching of Biochemistry. 3 Units.

Required for teaching assistants in Biochemistry. Practical experience in teaching on a one-to-one basis, and problem set design and analysis. Familiarization with current lecture and text materials; evaluations of class papers and examinations. Prerequisite: enrollment in the Biochemistry Ph.D. program or consent of instructor.

BIOC 224. Advanced Cell Biology. 4 Units.

For Ph.D. students. Taught from the current literature on cell structure, function, and dynamics. Topics include complex cell phenomena such as cell division, apoptosis, signaling, compartmentalization, transport and trafficking, motility and adhesion, and differentiation. Weekly reading of current papers from the primary literature. Advanced undergraduates may participate with the permission of the Course Director. Same as: BIO 214 , MCP 221

BIOC 227. Connections: Life, Science, and, Community. 1 Unit.

¿Connections¿ aims to welcome first-year students into the Biochemistry Department by fostering connections between you as a scientist and you as an individual with the broader communities of the department, Stanford, and local, national and international communities. The students, staff and faculty who have organized Connections believe that a sense of oneself and of belonging are foundations for doing transformative science and for doing so with purpose and wellness. We strive not just to be scientists but rather citizen-scientists, with broad and manifold aspirations for ourselves and those around us. The sessions planned, in addition to providing practical information, are aimed at continuing your exploration of your values and goals and placing that exploration in context of the multiple communities that you can embrace and that will embrace you. They will do so in ways that are inclusive to all individuals, thereby empowering individuals to be whoever they are, strengthening community, and promoting the ongoing causes of social and societal fairness and justice.

BIOC 236. Biology by the Numbers. 3 Units.

For PhD students and advanced undergraduates. Students will develop skills in quantitative reasoning over a wide range of biological problems. Topics: biological size scales ranging from proteins to ecosystems; biological times time scales ranging from enzymatic catalysis and DNA replication to evolution; biological energy, motion and force from molecular to organismic scales; mechanisms of environmental sensing ranging from bacterial chemotaxis to vision. Same as: APPPHYS 236

BIOC 239. Introduction to Analysis of RNA Sequence Data. 1-2 Unit.

Introduction to analysis of RNA-sequencing data including theory and napplications. Topics discussed will include computer scientific approaches to sequencing alignment such as dynamic programming, and statistical techniques that are that are used in analysis of next-generation sequencing data: Poisson models, the Expectation-Maximization algorithm, bootstrapping, multivariate linear models. Time permitting, we will cover single cell RNA sequencing, analysis and topics that arise in the analysis of multiple or large numbers of samples.

BIOC 241. Biological Macromolecules. 3-5 Units.

The physical and chemical basis of macromolecular function. Topics include: forces that stabilize macromolecular structure and their complexes; thermodynamics and statistical mechanics of macromolecular folding, binding, and allostery; diffusional processes; kinetics of enzymatic processes; the relationship of these principles to practical application in experimental design and interpretation. The class emphasizes interactive learning, and is divided among lectures, in-class group problem solving, and discussion of current and classical literature. Enrollment limited to 30. Prerequisites: Background in biochemistry and physical chemistry recommended but material available for those with deficiency in these areas; undergraduates with consent of instructor only. Same as: BIOE 241 , BIOPHYS 241 , SBIO 241

BIOC 257. Currents in Biochemistry. 1 Unit.

Discussions with Biochemistry faculty on their research careers. Getting to know the faculty, how they think, what drives them, how they chose their directions, and how they made tactical and strategic research decisions along the way.

BIOC 281. Introduction to Single Cell Expression. 2 Units.

Student lead: In the last decade single cell expression profiling has contributed to nearly every facet of biology, from uncovering new cell types to mapping stem cell lineages to molecularly dissecting disease. Single cell projects¿ scale and scope have grown as mRNA and cell capture have improved, and it is now possible to profile millions of cells across entire organisms. The data deluge has spurred development of hundreds of tools to analyze and extract as much information from these rich datasets, creating a dizzying landscape for biologists. This minicourse breaks down single cell expression analysis into phases, exploring important considerations and software for each and provides a hands-on environment to implement them.

BIOC 294. Chemistry for Biologists and Others. 3 Units.

Chemical transformations are central to biology and function, and chemical methods provide some of the most powerful tools for everyday experimental biology. Yet, most practitioners of biology have learned chemistry through memorization and do not use chemical principles or intuition in their research, even though chemistry underlies most processes and experiments carried out in biology and by biologists. Fortunately, a basic understanding and working knowledge can be gained in a short time, through a small set of simple concepts and limited number of memorized ¿facts¿. These concepts and facts will be introduced and then mastered through use in highly interactive, in-class problems and evaluation of selected literature. At the end of the three-week course students will have an ability to understand the chemistry underlying cellular processes and to better discuss and evaluate chemical tools and approaches. Prerequisites: High school or college introductory chemistry recommended but not required. Same as: BIOS 294

BIOC 299. Directed Reading in Biochemistry. 1-18 Unit.

Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

BIOC 350. Development of Thesis Research. 2 Units.

Biochemistry 2nd year PhD students with permission of instructor only. Students place their thesis research into a broader scientific perspective, identify important questions to ask, and learn to communicate these clearly. The course includes a series of roundtable discussions with students and faculty about the students' proposed research topics. The initial focus is on developing the equivalent of a specific aims page for a research grant.

BIOC 360. Developing an Original Research Proposal. 1 Unit.

Biochemistry 3rd year PhD students with permission of instructor only. Students foster broad familiarity with the biomedical literature and learn to develop new research directions. Topics well outside of each student's research topic are chosen for regular informal journal club presentations. Students work with faculty to hone skills for identifying important open scientific questions, formulating hypotheses, and refining experimental logic. Students work collectively to create a "model" research proposal on a topic of general interest to the group, and then individually to develop an original proposal on a topic of each student's choice.

BIOC 370. Medical Scholars Research. 4-18 Units.

Provides an opportunity for student and faculty interaction, as well as academic credit and financial support, to medical students who undertake original research. Enrollment is limited to students with approved projects.

BIOC 399. Graduate Research and Special Advanced Work. 1-18 Unit.

Allows for qualified students to undertake investigations sponsored by individual faculty members.

BIOC 459. Frontiers in Interdisciplinary Biosciences. 1 Unit.

Students register through their affiliated department; otherwise register for CHEMENG 459 . For specialists and non-specialists. Sponsored by the Stanford BioX Program. Three seminars per quarter address scientific and technical themes related to interdisciplinary approaches in bioengineering, medicine, and the chemical, physical, and biological sciences. Leading investigators from Stanford and the world present breakthroughs and endeavors that cut across core disciplines. Pre-seminars introduce basic concepts and background for non-experts. Registered students attend all pre-seminars; others welcome. See http://biox.stanford.edu/courses/459.html. Recommended: basic mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics. Same as: BIO 459 , BIOE 459 , CHEM 459 , CHEMENG 459 , PSYCH 459

BIOC 801. TGR Project. 0 Units.

BIOC 802. TGR Dissertation. 0 Units.

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School of Medicine

Showing 1-10 of 124 results.

Olusola Oluwafemi Adebayo

Undergraduate, biochemistry.

• Contact Info [email protected]

Ayan Adhikari

Postdoctoral scholar, biochemistry.

• Contact Info Mail Code: 5307 [email protected]

Patrick Almhjell

• Contact Info Mail Code: 5307 [email protected]

Steven Artandi, MD, PhD

Laurie kraus lacob director of the stanford cancer institute (sci), jerome and daisy low gilbert professor and professor of biochemistry.

Current Research and Scholarly Interests Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes that protect chromosome ends and shorten with cell division and aging. We are interested in how telomere shortening influences cancer, stem cell function, aging and human disease. Telomerase is a reverse transcriptase that synthesizes telomere repeats and is expressed in stem cells and in cancer. We have found that telomerase also regulates stem cells and we are pursuing the function of telomerase through diverse genetic and biochemical approaches.

• Contact Info Mail Code: 5456 [email protected]

Maria D. Arzate

Administrative associate 3, biochemistry.

• 279 CAMPUS DR
• STANFORD, California 94305
• (650) 736-2879 (office)

Graduate, Biochemistry

• Contact Info [email protected]

Professor Emeritus, Biochemistry

Onn Brandman

Associate professor of biochemistry and, by courtesy, of chemical and systems biology.

Current Research and Scholarly Interests The Brandman Lab studies how cells sense and respond to stress. We employ an integrated set of techniques including single cell analysis, mathematical modeling, genomics, structural studies, and in vitro assays.

• (650) 725-8986 (office)
• Web page: http://web.stanford.edu/people/onn

Patrick O. Brown

Professor of biochemistry, emeritus.

Current Research and Scholarly Interests Dr. Brown, currently an emeritus professor, is founder of Impossible Foods, a company dedicated to replacing the world's most destructive technology - the use of animals to transform plant biomass into meat, fish and dairy foods - by developing a new and better way to produce the world's most delicious, nutritious and affordable meats, fish and dairy foods directly from plants. Visit impossiblefoods.com for more information. He is also founder and president of the Impossible Foundation.

• BECKMAN B439
• Stanford, California 94305-5307
• (650) 725-7567 (office)
• Other Names: Pat Brown

Rachel Brown

Ph.d. student in biochemistry, admitted autumn 2020.

• Contact Info Mail Code: 5307 [email protected]

DBIO-PHD - Developmental Biology (PhD)

Download as pdf, program overview.

A fundamental problem in biology is how the complex set of multicellular structures that characterize an adult animal is generated from the fertilized egg. Recent advances at the molecular level, particularly concerning the genetic control of development, have been explosive. These advances represent the beginning of a significant movement in the biological sciences toward understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying developmental decisions and the resulting morphogenetic processes. This new thrust in developmental biology derives from the extraordinary methodological advances of the past decade in molecular genetics, immunology, and biochemistry. However, it also derives from groundwork from classical developmental studies, the rapid advances in cell biology and animal virology, and models borrowed from prokaryotic systems. The work is increasingly related to human diseases, including oncogene function and inherited genetic disease.

The department is located in the Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine within the Stanford University Medical Center.

Peter S. Kim

Virginia and d. k. ludwig professor of biochemistry.

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Academic Appointments

• Professor, Biochemistry
• Member, Bio-X
• Member, Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance
• Member, Maternal & Child Health Research Institute (MCHRI)
• Institute Scholar, Sarafan ChEM-H
• Member, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute

Administrative Appointments

• Lead Investigator, Infectious Disease Initiative, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub (2017 - Present)
• Institute Scholar, Stanford ChEM-H (2014 - Present)
• Virginia & D.K. Ludwig Professor of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine (2014 - Present)
• President, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc. (2003 - 2013)
• Executive Vice President, Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc. (2001 - 2002)
• Associate Head, Department of Biology, MIT (1999 - 2001)
• Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (1997 - 2001)
• Professor of Biology, MIT (1995 - 2001)
• Associate Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (1993 - 1997)
• Member, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research (1992 - 2001)
• Associate Professor of Biology, MIT (1992 - 1995)
• Assistant Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (1990 - 1993)
• Assistant Professor of Biology, MIT (1988 - 1992)
• Associate Member, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research (1988 - 1992)
• Whitehead Fellow, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research (1985 - 1988)

Honors & Awards

• Arthur Kornberg and Paul Berg Lifetime Achievement Award in Biomedical Sciences, Stanford University (2018)
• Member, National Academy of Sciences (1997)
• Member, National Academy of Medicine (formerly, Institute of Medicine) (2000)
• Member, National Academy of Engineering (2016)
• Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2008)
• Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa, Pohang University of Science and Technology (2011)
• Presidents' Circle, The National Academies (2006)
• Harvey Lecture, The Harvey Society (2002)
• Fellow, Biophysical Society (1999)
• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (1999)
• Hans Neurath Award, The Protein Society (1999)
• Ho-Am Prize for Basic Science, The Samsung Foundation (1998)
• Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology (1997)
• DuPont Merck Young Investigator Award, The Protein Society (1994)
• Eli Lilly Award in Biological Chemistry, American Chemical Society (1994)
• NAS Award in Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences (1993)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

• Medical Advisory Board, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2016 - Present)
• Scientific Advisory Board, Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH (2014 - Present)
• MIT Corporation Visiting Committee, Department of Biology, MIT (2004 - Present)
• Council, National Academy of Sciences (2015 - 2018)
• Board of Scientific Advisors, Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund (2015 - 2018)
• Advisory Council, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University (2015 - 2021)
• External Scientific Advisory Board, Harvard Program in Therapeutic Science, HMS (2014 - 2021)

Professional Education

• A.B., Cornell University, Chemistry (1979)
• Ph.D., Stanford University School of Medicine, Biochemistry (1985)
• the Peter Kim Lab

Current Research and Scholarly Interests

We are studying the mechanism of viral membrane fusion and its inhibition by drugs and antibodies. We use the HIV envelope protein (gp120/gp41) as a model system. Some of our studies are aimed at creating an HIV vaccine that elicits antibodies against a transient, but vulnerable, intermediate in the membrane-fusion process, called the pre-hairpin intermediate. We are also interested in protein surfaces that are referred to as "non-druggable". These surfaces are defined empirically based on failure to identify small, drug-like molecules that bind to them with high affinity and specificity. Some of our efforts are aimed at characterizing select non-druggable targets. We are also developing methods to identify ligands for non-druggable protein surfaces.

2023-24 Courses

• Directed Investigation BIOE 392 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
• Directed Reading in Biochemistry BIOC 299 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
• Directed Reading in Biophysics BIOPHYS 399 (Win, Spr, Sum)
• Directed Reading in Immunology IMMUNOL 299 (Win, Spr)
• Directed Study BIOE 391 (Win, Spr)
• Early Clinical Experience in Immunology IMMUNOL 280 (Win, Spr)
• Graduate Research BIOPHYS 300 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
• Graduate Research IMMUNOL 399 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
• Graduate Research MI 399 (Win, Spr)
• Graduate Research and Special Advanced Work BIOC 399 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
• Medical Scholars Research BIOC 370 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
• Out-of-Department Undergraduate Research BIO 199X (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
• Teaching in Immunology IMMUNOL 290 (Win, Spr)
• The Teaching of Biochemistry BIOC 221 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
• Undergraduate Research BIOC 199 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
• Undergraduate Research IMMUNOL 199 (Win, Spr)

Stanford Advisees

• Med Scholar Project Advisor Theodora Bruun
• Doctoral Dissertation Reader (AC) Anthony Buzzanco , Angel Kuo , Anahita Nejatfard, Kalani Ratnasiri , Delaney Smith , Valentino Sudaryo , Izumi de los Rios Kobara
• Orals Chair Gita Abhiraman
• Postdoctoral Faculty Sponsor Soohyun Kim , Hyeonseob Lim , Thi Thuy Tien Nguyen , Chu Zheng
• Doctoral Dissertation Advisor (AC) Theodora Bruun , Rebekah Costello, Gokul Kannan, Dominic Pham , Katie Travisano, Ashley Utz , Arvie Violette

Graduate and Fellowship Programs

• Biochemistry (Phd Program)
• Biophysics (Phd Program)
• Cancer Biology (Phd Program)
• Chemical and Systems Biology (Phd Program)
• Immunology (Phd Program)
• Microbiology and Immunology (Phd Program)
• Molecular and Cellular Physiology (Phd Program)

All Publications

Publications (10).

• All Publications (10)
• Featured Publications (10)
• Journal Articles (10)

Profiles With Related Publications

Catherine Blish

George e. and lucy becker professor in medicine.

Scott D. Boyd, MD PhD

Stanford professor of food allergy and immunology and professor of pathology.

Axel Brunger

Professor of molecular and cellular physiology, of neurology, of photon science and, by courtesy, of structural biology.

Wallenberg-Bienenstock Professor and Professor of Bioengineering and of Microbiology and Immunology

Steven Foung

Professor of pathology.

Chris Garcia

Younger family professor and professor of structural biology.

Philip Grant

Clinical associate professor, medicine - infectious diseases.

Postdoctoral Scholar, Immunity Transplant Infection

Mark Holodniy

Professor of medicine (infectious diseases).

Possu Huang

Assistant professor of bioengineering.

Ted Jardetzky

Professor of structural biology.

Michael Kozal

Senior associate dean for veterans affairs and professor of medicine (infectious diseases), publication topics for this person.

• AIDS Vaccines
• Amino Acid Sequence
• Anti-HIV Agents
• Carrier Proteins
• Cell Membrane
• Drug Design
• Guinea Pigs
• HIV Antibodies
• HIV Envelope Protein gp41
• HIV Fusion Inhibitors
• HIV Infections
• Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus
• Hemagglutinins
• Hemagglutinins, Viral
• Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
• Immune Sera
• Membrane Fusion
• Models, Molecular
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Peptide Fragments
• Protein Conformation
• Protein Structure, Secondary
• Protein Structure, Tertiary
• Tumor Cells, Cultured
• Vaccination
• Virus Replication

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The ambitious campus construction project at Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) is more than just a series of upgrades designed to benefit future generations of educators. It’s a comprehensive approach to sustainability that considers history and people, as well as the planet.

From preserving roofing tiles, windows and entire buildings to establishing more energy-efficient infrastructure, architects, engineers, and construction teams have been working behind the scenes to ensure that the new GSE is a greener one.

“The first step for this project was figuring out the smaller parts we wanted, and how they fit into a larger whole,” said Mousam Adcock, a principal at CAW Architects who has been involved with the project since 2017. “Sustainability was obviously a very important part of this process, and we think of it as something that can be achieved environmentally, socially, and historically.”

Reducing waste while recycling and reusing materials

One of the biggest ways that the project has minimized its ecological impact is by preserving the exterior of the historic north building (also known as the education building), which was originally designed in the 1930s. The building was effectively gutted and kept intact to make room for interior renovations.

Many other aspects of the building's original makeup also were retained, including columns, windows, and floor and roofing tiles.

“The best thing about it from a sustainability standpoint is that we’re reusing the whole structure, rather than tearing it down and pouring tons of concrete to build anew,” said Susan Vargas, senior energy management specialist at Stanford. “Doing that adaptive reuse of the massive structure of the building is the best, because all of that embodied energy in the concrete and other building materials is being retained.”

For other parts of the GSE project, which include the Barnum Center renovation and construction of a new south building adjacent to it, all nonhazardous materials were either recycled or repurposed.

“Every material that was demolished was removed and sorted in a sustainable way,” Adcock said. “Every piece of rebar in the old [north] building that was removed from the interior core was recycled, and every chunk of concrete was crushed to be reused elsewhere.”

Energy efficiency as a priority

In addition to avoiding physical waste, teams involved in the GSE construction project are building to ensure that it is as energy efficient as possible. This means updating the heating and cooling systems, and minimizing energy use while still meeting building needs.

“There’s a central energy facility on the west side of campus that generates hot water, puts it into pipes and sends it all the way around the university, and this will be the first time that the north building and Barnum will be connected to this system,” Vargas said. “When the campus was getting switched over from steam to hot water, we couldn’t do the education building because it had old steam radiators and there wasn’t a way for those to work properly with hot water.”

These hydronic radiant cooling systems, which use hot and cold water to heat and cool buildings, are more energy efficient, and will be used in the north building’s forum space from the ground up to focus conditioned air at the people level, expending less energy in higher areas of the building.

“For high-volume spaces, the most effective way to heat and cool is to have it where people are,” Adcock said. “So if it’s radiated off of the floor and about six feet up, then you don’t have to condition the whole room. This way you’re actually using less energy to condition large-volume spaces.”

Right off the bat, the new and remodeled buildings will use a third less energy than they would have if they were served by a conventional chiller and boiler, Vargas said.

Creating socially and historically sustainable spaces

Another aspect of the project’s sustainability efforts centers around the idea of social sustainability, which prioritizes the needs of people in a building. The facets of design created with people in mind have more to do with ensuring the areas are conducive to learning, working, and convening.

“We think a workspace should be pleasant, a place where people want to go,” Adcock said. “Giving almost every desk in the building access to natural light and a view outside is really important in how we design. It’s taking care of everyone’s well-being by having that access to nature.”

The outdoor areas around the buildings were also designed to be comfortable, with access to shade, which also speaks to the idea of social sustainability, she said.

When it comes to historic sustainability, she said retaining elements of the north building like the exterior, roof tiles, columns, and windows honors the original construction while modernizing the building as a whole.

“When you enter the north building lobby once it’s all renovated, it will have a lot of the old pieces from the original, but as you move toward the new forum, you transition from the historic space to the new space, and it’s quite clear where that happens,” Adcock said. “It’s a gradual transition from the old to the new, so we’re being respectful to what came before.”

Her favorite aspect of the project’s design and construction is the fact that no matter where someone is on the GSE campus, they won’t be far from the outdoors.

“Whether you’re on the first floor in the north building or the fourth floor terrace of the south building, you can instantly be connected to the fact that you’re learning and working on a beautiful campus in California.”

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Course closed:

Chemistry is no longer accepting new applications.

The PhD is offered by the Department of Chemistry as a full or part-time period of research and introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge. 

Please note: part-time study may not always be viable and will be considered on a case-by-case basis, so please discuss this option with your proposed supervisor before making an application for this mode of study. There are attendance requirements and part-time students will need to live close enough to Cambridge to fulfil these.

Students are integrated into the research culture of the Department by joining a research group, supervised by one of our academic staff,  in one of the following areas of chemistry:

Biological Chemistry

Life is the chemistry that goes on inside every one of us. We seek to understand this chemistry, both the physical processes occurring at the molecular level and the chemical reactions, and we also seek to control the chemistry as a way to treat diseases. Biological Chemistry at Cambridge comprises several research groups with additional contributions from many more. The major themes are biological polymers, proteins and nucleic acids - how they interact with each other and with small molecules. How do proteins fold to a defined structure and why do they sometimes not fold properly but aggregate causing neurodegenerative diseases? How do proteins catalyse the reactions that they do and can we make small molecules that inhibit these processes? What structures can nucleic acids adopt? How can we detect and what is the role of modifications of individual nucleotides? How can we target medicinally active compounds to where they are needed in the body? By addressing these questions, we seek to improve human health and the treatment of diseases.

Materials Chemistry

The technological devices we depend on, from aeroplanes to mobile phones, rely upon ever-increasing structural complexity for their function. Designing complex materials for these devices through the art of chemical synthesis brings challenges and opportunities.

Members of the Materials RIG invent new materials in view of potential applications. Modern materials chemistry is a wide ranging topic and includes surfaces, interfaces, polymers, nanoparticles and nanoporous materials, self assembly, and biomaterials, with applications relevant to oil recovery and separation, catalysis, photovoltaics, fuel cells and batteries, crystallisation and pharmaceutical formulation, gas sorption, energy, functional materials, biocompatible materials, computer memory, and sensors. 

Physical and Atmospheric Chemistry

Physical Chemistry at Cambridge has two broad but overlapping aims. One is to understand the properties of molecular systems in terms of physical principles. This work underpins many developing technological applications that affect us all, such as nanotechnology, sensors and molecular medicine. The other is atmospheric chemistry where the interactions between chemical composition, climate and health are studied using a range of computer modelling and experiment-based approaches. Together these two areas form a richly interdisciplinary subject spanning the full range of scientific methodologies: experimental, theoretical and computational. It is a research area with something for everyone.

Synthetic Chemistry

Synthetic research at the University of Cambridge is focused on the development of innovative new methods to make and use molecules of function. Our interests range from the innovative catalytic strategies to make small molecules, to supramolecular assemblies or the total synthesis of biologically important compounds and natural products. Our research is diverse, pioneering and internationally leading. The dynamic environment created by the research groups working at the cutting edge of the field, makes postgraduate research at Cambridge the best place for outstanding and motivated students.

Theoretical Chemistry

Research in Theoretical Chemistry covers a wide range of lengths and timescales, including the active development of new theoretical and computational tools. The applications include high-resolution spectroscopy, atomic and molecular clusters, biophysics, surface science, and condensed matter, complementing experimental research in the Department.

We develop new tools for quantum and classical simulations, informatics, and investigate molecules using descriptions that range from atomic detail to coarse-grained models of mesoscopic matter. This work often begins with analytical theory, which is developed into new computer programs, applied to molecules and materials of contemporary interest, and ultimately compared with experiment.

Educational aims of the PhD programme:

• give students with relevant experience at the master's level the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision;
• give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests;
• provide all students with relevant and useful researcher development training opportunities to broaden their horizons and properly equip them for the opportunity which they seek following their PhD studies.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme, students will have

• a comprehensive understanding of techniques, and a thorough knowledge of the literature, applicable to their own research;
• demonstrated originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in their field;
• shown abilities in the critical evaluation of current research, research techniques and methodologies;
• demonstrated some self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and acted autonomously in the planning and implementation of research; and
• taken up relevant and highly useful researcher development training opportunities to develop skills and attributes for their desired future career.

Students currently studying for a relevant Master's degree at the University of Cambridge will normally need to obtain a pass in order to be eligible to continue onto the PhD in Chemistry.

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the  Postgraduate Open Day  page for more details.

See further the  Postgraduate Admissions Events  pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

The Department of Chemistry hosts a virtual open day for prospective postgraduate students comprising online laboratory tours, a chance to meet with current students and academic staff, and an opportunity to talk to professional services staff about the application process. 

Key Information

3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time, study mode : research, doctor of philosophy, department of chemistry, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, lent 2024 (closed).

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Easter 2024 (Closed)

Michaelmas 2024 (closed), lent 2025 (closed), easter 2025 (closed), funding deadlines.

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.

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