BIOCHEMISTRY

Direct inquiries to: Dr. Charles T. Grubmeyer, Associate Professor and Chair of the Graduate Admissions Committee, 4th floor, Medical Research Bldg. (556-21), Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140,(215) 707-3263.

E-mail: ctg@ariel.fels.temple.edu

Graduate Faculty

David E. Ash, Professor, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania; Andrei Z. Budzynski, Professor, Ph.D., Polish Academy of Sciences (Warsaw, Poland); James Burke, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Mt. Sinai School of Medicine; Parkson L.G. Chong, Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of Illinois; Jimmy H. Collins, Professor and Vice Chair, Ph.D., University of Texas-Austin; Danny N. Dhanasekaran, Associate Professor, Ph.D., I.I.Sc. (India); Kathleen M. Giangiacomo, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania; Xaviar Grana, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Barcelona (Spain); Charles Grubmeyer, Professor, Ph.D., University of Alberta (Canada); Barbara Hoffman, Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of Michigan; Keith E. Latham, Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of Virginia; Dan Liebermann, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Weizmann University (Israel); Prabhakar D. Lotlikar, Professor, Ph.D., Oregon State; Dawn B. Marks, Professor, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania; Warren E. Masker, Professor, Ph.D., University of Rochester; Elizabeth Moran, Professor, Ph.D., New York Medical College; Emilla L. Oleszak, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Ph.D., Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland); Ronald A. Pieringer, Professor, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin; E. Premkumar Reddy, Professor and Chair, and Director, Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Ph.D., Osmania University (India); Scott K. Shore, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Drexel University; Dianne R. Soprano, Professor, Ph.D., Rutgers University; Barbara L. Stitt, Associate Professor, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology; Robert J. Suhadolnik, Professor, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University; Peter N. Walsh, Professor, M.D. Washington University (St. Louis); D. Phil., University of Oxford, England.

General Statement

The Department of Biochemistry offers full-time day programs of study leading to the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The graduate program is designed to provide training in the theory and practice of biochemistry for eventual service in research and teaching positions. The program is aimed at broad training in the various major areas of biochemistry and molecular biology with in-depth training in one area of specialization. Students will be given opportunities for instruction in diverse laboratory techniques through a series of lecture and laboratory courses, together with a program of experimental research under the guidance of a faculty member.

Areas of Concentration

Specialized graduate training is available in the fields of enzymology, structure and biosynthesis of membranes, biochemical regulation of metabolism and of cell division, biochemical mechanisms of blood coagulation, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, physical chemistry and kinetics, mechanisms of hormone action, nucleic acid and protein synthesis, and regulation of gene expression. Also, multidisciplinary instruction is available in the fields of molecular biology, chemical carcinogenesis, tumor enzymology, and the biochemistry of aging.

Application Deadline

Applications are reviewed periodically throughout the year. Early application is encouraged. Applications must be received by November 15 for the spring semester and by April 15 for the fall semester. Late applications may be considered.

Financial Aid

The Biochemistry Department offers research assistantships and departmental fellowships.

Master of Science

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements are essentially the same as for the Doctor of Philosophy degree except that applicants also must have a Biochemistry faculty sponsor at the time of their admission.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 24 credits of course work, which are to be chosen in consultation with their advisory committee. All students must pass an oral preliminary examination, as well as write and defend an acceptable thesis representing the successful completion of an independent research project.

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or a higher degree. They should have a background in chemistry, including general chemistry, quantitative analysis of instrumental methods, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry. One year of undergraduate biological science is desirable. At least one year of physics and mathematics through calculus is required. Applicants should have a grade point average of at least a B or its equivalent in these courses. Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general and subject test, transcripts of undergraduate and graduate coursework (including Temple University), and two letters of recommendation are required. Exceptions may be made to these requirements for students of demonstrated special capabilities.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete at least 30 credits of course work that are chosen in consultation with their committee. At the discretion of their committee, students may be required to pass a written qualifying examination. All students must pass an oral preliminary examination and must submit a written research proposal, a seminar on their research, and an acceptable dissertation.

Course Descriptions -Biochemistry

Note: Registration for all courses is subject to departmental approval.

502. Mammalian Biochemistry. (8 s.h.)

The chemical reactions that occur in normal organisms, with particular emphasis on metabolic regulation and fluxes of metabolites between tissues, as affected by changes in nutritional states and levels of certain hormones. The effects of disease states and nutritional abnormalities on growth, development, and metabolism.

503. Graduate Biochemistry. (3 s.h.)

A basic course in general biochemistry plus selected current topics.

505. Biochemistry Seminar. (1 s.h.)

506. Biochemistry Seminar. (1 s.h.)

508-511. Introduction to Research Methodology. (variable credit)

Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

Instruction in biochemical research techniques such as column and gel chromatography, isotope tracer techniques, purification and assay of enzymes, cell culture and fractionation techniques, electrophoretic separation methods.

514. Macromolecular Control. (4 s.h.)

Introductory description of cellular mechanisms of gene and hormonal control. Emphasized are processes of nucleic acid and protein synthesis, properties of membranes, and control of metabolic processes by hormones.

523. Enzymes and Proteins. (4 s.h.)

Theory and practice of techniques used in the physical and chemical properties of proteins, including active site chemistry. Use of physical, steady-state, perturbation, and equilibrium techniques for the determination of the mechanism of action of enzyme catalysis.

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