phd biochemistry courses

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The PhD program in the U-M Medical School Department of Biological Chemistry provides a broad scientific training along with research specialization that together equip students for outstanding careers. Current areas of research include structural biology, protein biochemistry, enzyme reaction mechanisms, molecular genetics, signal transduction, neurobiology, and cell and developmental biology, along with cooperative research between laboratories or departments.

The common theme in our research is an interest in understanding biological phenomena at the molecular and mechanistic level. Our PhD graduates include two Nobel Prize winners and numerous others holding academic positions or responsible positions in research institutes or research-oriented companies.

Biological Chemistry applications are through the Program in Biomedical Sciences (PIBS), which offers students access to most of the bioscience PhD programs at the University of Michigan during their first year. Students need only apply to PIBS and designate Biological Chemistry as their PhD program of interest. This allows incoming students to either focus primarily on Biological Chemistry immediately upon entering graduate school, or to explore their research interests more broadly during their first year before committing to a specific PhD program.

A complete description of the PIBS gateway program and application process can be found at the PIBS site .

Learn more about the online application

Graduate work in the Department of Biological Chemistry combines the rigor of advanced study with the flexibility for students to design their own optimal curriculum. Coursework consists of required classes and advanced electives in biochemistry, courses in critical analysis and scientific writing, graduate seminars, and elective courses for breadth. Graduate students present a research seminar to the department in their fourth year and informally present their research in poster sessions and at the annual retreat. Students are welcome and encouraged to actively engage in departmental service activities, including the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, the Graduate Program Committee, and the PhD Student Recruitment Committee.

BIOLCHEM 660 Molecules of Life: Protein, Structure, Function and Dynamics
BIOLCHEM 711 Graduate Seminar
BIOLCHEM 712 Biological Chemistry Seminar Series
PHRMACOL 502 Introduction to Scientific Communication
PIBS 503 Research Responsibility and Ethics
PIBS 504 Rigor and Reproducibility
Biological Chemistry Advanced Electives (two courses), including Eukaryotic Transcription and Epigenetics, Regulatory RNA and Control of Gene Expression, Enzyme Kinetics, Biochemistry of Membranes and Organelles, Protein Crystallography, and others
Electives for breadth, including Introduction to Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Cell Biology, Molecular Genetics, Techniques in Biophysical Chemistry, Cellular Biotechnology, and others

Department course descriptions and offerings can be found in the LSA Course Guide (search Credit Type: Graduate, and Subject: MED Biological Chemistry) and the LSA Graduate Course Catalog (search Department: MED Biological Chemistry).

At the end of their first year, students in Biological Chemistry write and orally defend an original research proposal. The written and oral components of the exam assess the student’s understanding of the required course content for the department and the student’s ability to reason analytically and to independently develop ideas and experimental approaches. Through this mechanism, students gain valuable experience in the preparation of a competitive research proposal and in the development of independence in scientific reasoning.

Incoming PIBS PhD students become familiar with graduate research opportunities by engaging in research rotations during both Fall and Winter terms. They may also inquire about their eligibility for a full-time summer research rotation. Students select a mentor and PhD program after completing the PIBS year.

To join the Biological Chemistry PhD program, students choose a mentor who is a faculty member or affiliate faculty member in Biological Chemistry. Full-time laboratory research begins by the summer following the PIBS year. A student's mentor provides guidance in selecting a dissertation research topic, in selecting a dissertation committee, and in other aspects of the student's graduate career and professional development. In addition, the graduate program director and graduate program advisors provide mentorship during the graduate school experience.

PhD students in Biological Chemistry gain valuable teaching experience by serving as teaching assistants for one semester. Students interested in developing teaching skills can also participate in workshops offered by the U-M Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT), such as “Preparing Future Faculty” and teaching certificate programs.

Our student handbook is an in-depth guide detailing the PhD program academic requirements, departmental events, graduate student commitments and more.

Our PhD students range from recent arrivals who are in the process of choosing their research mentors to advanced students who are completing their doctoral dissertations.

Annual Department Research Retreat - The student-organized Biological Chemistry research retreat, held at the beginning of Fall term at the Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center in Ohio in recent years , provides students, postdoctoral fellows, research staff, and faculty an opportunity to present and discuss research in a relaxed and informal setting. All first year PIBS and MSTP students are invited to attend.
Department Seminar Program - Biological Chemistry sponsors a weekly seminar program that features speakers of international reputation. Students can participate in the selection, invitation, and hosting of speakers for this seminar series.
Student Research Seminars - Students in the department meet for lunch, conversation, and an informal research talk. This gathering provides an opportunity for students to keep in touch with their colleagues and to share scientific expertise and advice.
Happy Hours - Students and other members of the department are regularly invited to gather at local establishments in Ann Arbor to enjoy conversation and appetizers.

By contributing their time, energy, and unique perspectives, our students provide valuable service to fellow students, the department, and the university community.

Sydney Alibeckoff
Carmen Castillo
Alexi Chabez
Vishakha Choudhary
Giselle Flores
Stephen Gonzalez
Arkajit Guha
Andres Herrera Tequia
Kira Holton
Kailyn Jessel
Chase Lindeboom
Claudia Mak
Alex Missman
Basila Moochickal Assainar
Mason Myers
Yulduz Rakibova
Natalia Harris
Andres Herrera Tequia
Cara Loomis (Main Campus)
Minli Ruan (Chemistry)
Sydney Alibeckoff (MSRB III)
Sharon Garrott
Rosa Romero
Anibal Tornes Blanco
Natalia Ubilla

DEI Committee Mission Statement

Our purpose is to foster a collaborative community that affirms our experiences.

Our mission is to provide consultation on initiatives important to inclusion efforts, promoting cultural sensitivity and integrating values of DEI into the Department.

We seek to:

Evaluate the departmental climate to identify and address existing issues
Create supportive spaces for engaging in uncomfortable conversations
Foster diverse interests and career goals of all trainees, faculty, and staff
Catalyze sense of belonging through social celebrations of our diverse community
Provide resources and organize pilot programs that accomplish these objectives

We do this because:

Individuals experience unique challenges navigating higher education
We want to ensure retention of members of our community at every level
Collaboration across different backgrounds produces innovations in fundamental medical research and fundamental change in society

We invite anyone in the Biological Chemistry community to communicate with us relevant to our mission: to discuss, suggest, and participate with us.

Arkajit Guha

Biological Chemistry students successfully compete for positions on NIH training grants and for numerous departmental, institutional, regional, and national awards.

Examples of honors received by our PhD students:

Department Awards
U-M Medical School Awards: Graduate Student Awards for Excellence
U-M Rackham Graduate School Awards: Barbour Scholarships, Rackham Predoctoral Fellowships, Distinguished Dissertation Awards
National awards: the Harold M. Weintraub Graduate Student Award, the P.E.O. Scholar Award, predoctoral fellowships from the American Heart Association, the Ford Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health

Students in the PhD program in Biological Chemistry typically receive their degree within 5 to 6 years (the average is less than 6 years, which is also the average for PhD programs in biological sciences at the University). Many of our graduates have gone on to hold major academic, government, and industrial research positions. Our students have also proceeded to careers in scientific public policy, public health, medicine, dentistry, patent law, and clinical or scientific editing. Two graduates of the department, Stanley Cohen, who discovered epidermal growth factor, and Marshall Nirenberg, who cracked the genetic code, were Nobel Prize laureates.

Our graduates stay connected to each other and to the department through friendships and scientific collaborations, a sense of shared community and history, and a common passion for discovery at the frontiers of biological chemistry.

Our interdisciplinary research into the molecular mechanisms of life offers a wide variety of investigative opportunities to students and fellows.

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Biochemistry, PhD

Integrated Program in Biochemistry graduate student pipettes a solution in the lab.

Biochemistry is the study of biological molecules, their roles in the cell, and the chemistry of their reactions in living systems. The Integrated Program in Biochemistry (IPiB) is the merged graduate program between the Department of Biochemistry (in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences) and the Department of Biomolecular Chemistry (in the School of Medicine and Public Health). The program trains the next generation of biochemists and prepares them for 21st-century challenges in science. IPiB offers a PhD degree with a major in biochemistry. Although an MS degree is officially offered, students are not admitted for a terminal master's degree.

From atoms and cells to plants and animals, biochemistry research in IPiB is at the forefront of modern science. We are home to around 100 graduate students and 56 world-class faculty pursuing cutting-edge research in all areas of biochemistry, including cell and developmental biology, chemical biology, endocrinology, enzymology, immunology, metabolism, molecular genetics, molecular medicine, physical biochemistry and biophysics, quantitative biology, structural biology, systems and synthetic biology, and virology. The program teaches critical thinking skills, applicable to a wide range of professional fields that students pursue after graduation.

The size and breadth of IPiB provide unique opportunities for graduate students who want to pursue a degree in one of the top biochemistry graduate programs in the nation. Our modern facilities are filled with labs carrying out groundbreaking research in a collaborative, friendly, and inspirational atmosphere. Welcome to IPiB, and we hope that you can share our enthusiasm for the biochemical sciences!

Dual Degrees

The program participates with the School of Medicine and Public Health in offering a dual degree program for students wishing to complete both the MD and PhD degrees. For the prerequisites and degree requirements for the MD degree, as well as the online application form, see Medical Scientist Training Program .

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online .

To qualify for admission to the program, an applicant must complete a bachelor's degree at a regionally accredited college or university. The basic background for graduate study in biochemistry ordinarily would be provided by an undergraduate degree in biochemistry, chemistry, physics, or in one of the biological or medical sciences. The Admission Committee assesses a candidate’s potential for success in the program by taking all aspects of their application into consideration. Most successful applicants have completed a rigorous undergraduate curriculum that includes courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and math. Most have also had a substantive laboratory experience that demonstrates commitment and talent for research. The applicant's undergraduate grade point average must be at least 3.0 (4.0 scale). For more information, please visit the Prospective Students tab on the program's website.

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

IPiB students receive a full stipend as well as tuition remission and comprehensive health insurance. The stipends take the form of traineeships, research assistantships, or fellowships, and are guaranteed for all IPiB PhD candidates in good academic standing and making satisfactory research progress. IPiB also assists its graduate students with outstanding academic records in competing for university or national awards.

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Major requirements.

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements , in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Mode of Instruction

Mode of instruction definitions.

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

Curricular Requirements

Required courses, graduate school policies.

The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Major-Specific Policies

Prior coursework, graduate credits earned at other institutions.

For well-prepared advanced students, the program may accept up to 12 credits of prior graduate coursework from an uncompleted degree from other institutions towards the minimum graduate degree credit and minimum graduate coursework (50%) requirement. The minimum graduate residence credit requirement can be satisfied only with courses taken as a graduate student at UW–Madison.

Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison

No credits from a UW–Madison undergraduate degree are allowed to transfer toward the graduate degree.

Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)

Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.

Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW–Madison

No credits taken as a University Special student are allowed to transfer toward the graduate degree.

Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.

Advisor / Committee

Every graduate student must have a faculty thesis advisor in the program. The thesis advisor advises the student about coursework, supervises the student's research, and acts as a mentor to the student through the student’s graduate career. The thesis advisor must approve the student's coursework before registration for a given semester and must also approve any subsequent changes to it.

A PhD thesis committee is composed of at least four graduate University faculty members, including the thesis advisor. The thesis committee is empowered by the program to advise the student about certification, administer the preliminary examination, oversee annual progress reports, approve thesis composition, and conduct the final PhD examination.

Credits Per Term Allowed

A maximum of 12 credits in fall and spring semesters and 2 credits in summer semesters is permitted for non-dissertators; 3 credits in fall, spring, and summer semesters for dissertators.

Time Limits

Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.

Grievances and Appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

Bias or Hate Reporting
Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
Office of the Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs
Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
Office Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences: Grievance Policy

In the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), any student who feels unfairly treated by a member of the CALS faculty or staff has the right to complain about the treatment and to receive a prompt hearing. Some complaints may arise from misunderstandings or communication breakdowns and be easily resolved; others may require formal action. Complaints may concern any matter of perceived unfairness.

To ensure a prompt and fair hearing of any complaint, and to protect the rights of both the person complaining and the person at whom the complaint is directed, the following procedures are used in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Any student, undergraduate or graduate, may use these procedures, except employees whose complaints are covered under other campus policies.

The student should first talk with the person at whom the complaint is directed. Most issues can be settled at this level. Others may be resolved by established departmental procedures.
If the complaint involves an academic department in CALS the student should proceed in accordance with item 3 below.
If the grievance involves a unit in CALS that is not an academic department, the student should proceed in accordance with item 4 below.
If informal mediation fails, the student can submit the grievance in writing to the grievance advisor within 10 working days of the date the student is informed of the failure of the mediation attempt by the grievance advisor. The grievance advisor will provide a copy to the person at whom the grievance is directed.
The grievance advisor will refer the complaint to a department committee that will obtain a written response from the person at whom the complaint is directed, providing a copy to the student. Either party may request a hearing before the committee. The grievance advisor will provide both parties a written decision within 20 working days from the date of receipt of the written complaint.
If the grievance involves the department chairperson, the grievance advisor or a member of the grievance committee, these persons may not participate in the review.
If not satisfied with departmental action, either party has 10 working days from the date of notification of the departmental committee action to file a written appeal to the CALS Equity and Diversity Committee. A subcommittee of this committee will make a preliminary judgement as to whether the case merits further investigation and review. If the subcommittee unanimously determines that the case does not merit further investigation and review, its decision is final. If one or more members of the subcommittee determine that the case does merit further investigation and review, the subcommittee will investigate and seek to resolve the dispute through mediation. If this mediation attempt fails, the subcommittee will bring the case to the full committee. The committee may seek additional information from the parties or hold a hearing. The committee will present a written recommendation to the dean who will provide a final decision within 20 working days of receipt of the committee recommendation.
If the alleged unfair treatment occurs in a CALS unit that is not an academic department, the student should, within 120 calendar days of the alleged incident, take his/her grievance directly to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. The dean will attempt to resolve the problem informally within 10 working days of receiving the complaint. If this mediation attempt does not succeed the student may file a written complaint with the dean who will refer it to the CALS Equity and Diversity Committee. The committee will seek a written response from the person at whom the complaint is directed, subsequently following other steps delineated in item 3d above.

All students, both US and international, receive an annual stipend and tuition remission for the duration of their studies, provided satisfactory progress is made toward their degree. Comprehensive medical coverage is also offered. In addition, some students are supported on fellowships or training grants. Students are chosen based on criteria specified by the different training grants.

Students may matriculate only in the fall semester.

Professional Development

Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.

Learning Outcomes
Gain a broad understanding of the biochemical principles that underlie all biological processes.
Become aware of the current limitations of the state of understanding of this discipline and the strategies that are required to advance the field.
Formulate and design new approaches that extend and apply biochemical principles beyond their current boundaries.
Conduct independent research using a diverse breadth of biochemical processes.
Think critically to address research challenges using a broad range of the theories, research methods, and approaches to scientific inquiry.
Collaborate with investigators within the program, university, and beyond since current and future advances in the biomolecular sciences demand interdisciplinary skills.
Foster professional and ethical conduct in the sciences, including but not limited to: exposition of the scientific method; ethical design of experimental protocols; reproducibility in science; professional behavior in industrial, government, and academic settings; documentation of scientific results; communication to other scientists and the public; peer review; and confidentiality.
Develop communications skills that enable the articulation of research to fellow scientists and non-scientists.
Explore career development opportunities in industry, government and academia to realize professional goals and paths.
Develop teaching and mentoring skills in both lecture and laboratory settings.

Faculty: Professors B. Fox (Chair, Department of Biochemistry), Kiley (Chair, Department of Biomolecular Chemistry), Amasino, Attie, Audhya, Bednarek, Brow, Buller, Butcher, Campbell, Cantor, Cavagnero, Chaudhari, Coon, Cox, Coyle, Craciun, Craig, Denu, Engin, Fan, C. Fox, Friesen, Galmozzi, Gellman, Gisriel, Grant, Harrison, Henzler-Wildman, Hess, Holden, Hoskins, Hull, Keck, Kirchdoerfer, Landick, Lewis, Lim, Merrins, Neugebauer, Ntambi, Putnam, Raman, Rayment, Rienstra, Romero, Senes, Sheets, Simcox, Sussman, Venturelli, Wang, Weeks, Wright, Xu

Requirements

Contact Information

Biochemistry, Biomolecular Chemistry College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health Integrated Program in Biochemistry http://www.ipib.wisc.edu/

For prospective students [email protected]

Kate Ryan, for current and former students, Graduate Program Manager [email protected] 608-265-2281 1142F HF DeLuca Biochemistry Building 420 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706-1532

David A. Brow, Director of Graduate Study [email protected] 608-262-1475 4204b Biochemical Sciences Building 440 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706-1544

Graduate Program Handbook View Here

Graduate School grad.wisc.edu