Program Information

In addition to offering the Masters program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department faculty mentor Ph.D. students in the College of Medicine interdisciplinary program (IDP) in medical sciences as well. Students interested in pursuing a doctoral degree can view specific features of the biochemistry and molecular biology concentration at http://biochem.med.ufl.edu/ and http://idp.med.ufl.edu. For admission information, visit the IDP website.

The Department offers a wide variety of courses for graduate students studying in the life sciences. The research expertise of the faculty spans the areas from cell biology, metabolism, and molecular biology to physical biochemistry/structural biology. Current research interests include viral protease inhibitors, viral RNA replication, bioenergetics and proton translocation, X-chromosome structure and function, cytoskeletal assembly and dynamics, enzyme mechanism and control, chromatin structure, gene expression and regulation, mitochondrial biogenesis and evolution, the genetics of inherited disease, nutrient membrane transporters, protein site-directed mutagenesis, ribosome structure and function, signal transduction, structural biology and dynamics of macromolecules, protein-nucleic acid interactions, transgenic animal models, and virus crystal structure.

Prospective graduate students should have adequate training in chemistry and biology. Minor deficiencies may be made up immediately after entering graduate school. Previous undergraduate experience in a research laboratory is highly recommended. Doctoral students are required to take a core IDP course in fall term of their first year; and beginning in spring term, students take advanced classes in areas of interest. Specific advanced-level courses may be recommended by the student’s supervisory chair and committee. Courses are open to all graduate students and advanced undergraduates. Additional courses may be listed in the Advanced Concentration in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology section under the major of Medical Sciences.

Degrees Offered with a Major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

• Master of Science

Requirements for these degrees are given in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Courses

College of Medicine Courses

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (MS)

SLO1      Competency: Knowledge of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology   
Students will identify and explain fundamental principles in biochemistry and molecular biology by applying this knowledge to solve problems, to explain the background to a research project, and to answer novel questions in a research setting

SLO2      Competency: Research Methods             
Students will perform an independent research project that requires students to: develop technical expertise required to independently perform experimental work, independently analyze data, report key results from experiments in both written and oral formats, critically evaluate primary literature, and reproduce experimental methods from the literature

SLO3      Professionalism
Students will be professional in their conduct of research. They will adhere to and practice ethical conduct of research and implement established safety, regulatory, and administrative rules