Graduate Programs in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences offers programs of instruction leading to the Masters of Science and/or the Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The departmental research interests encompass the study of biological processes at the molecular level including replication of nucleic acids, eukaryotic and prokaryotic transcription and translation, synthesis and regulation of glycoproteins and other complex carbohydrates, enzyme catalysis and mechanisms, molecular and developmental genetics, signal transduction and cytotoxicity, molecular biology of aging, and xenobiotic metabolism and detoxification.  Disease states such as cancer, diabetes, viral and bacterial infection, and aging are being investigated.  Because of the breadth of training in our graduate program, job opportunities exist in university and medical school research centers, as well as many applied areas such as pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, clinical laboratories and environmental testing laboratories.  The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology will usually provide stipend support and tuition waiver for Ph.D. degree candidates, but stipends are not currently available for M.S. degree candidates.

Degrees Conferred: M.S., Ph.D.
Each degree program focuses on laboratory research and requires a thesis (Masters) or a dissertation (Ph.D.).   The first year of the program consists of a series of courses that are designed to lay the groundwork for pursuing biomedical research.   A student chooses his/her research advisor after completion of the first year, or earlier for Master's students. Following a student's first year course sequence, a research project will be developed by the student and his/her advisory committee during the second year.  The advisory committee is comprised of the student's primary faculty research advisor and at least four other faculty members.  The committee will meet at least twice a year to provide advice and assess a student's research progress.  The graduate faculty of the department is well qualified to provide the research experience that is essential to the development of the student for a career as an independent scientist.  Individual faculty members and their research interests are listed on the previous pages. More detailed information about the research interests of individual faculty members can be obtained by contacting the graduate program director of the department.

Research Areas of Concentration:
Glycobiology, aging and development, mechanisms of apoptosis, DNA replication and recombination, signal transduction, transcription, translation, metabolism, enzyme mechanisms, chromatin structure and function, proteomics, and genetics.

Prerequisites to Degree Program.
In addition to a Bachelor of Science or Arts degree in a biological science, chemistry or biochemistry, and the stated admission requirements of the Graduate School, results of the verbal, quantitative and analytical sections of the Graduate Record Examinations must be provided. Undergraduate grade point average and course transcripts, GRE scores and letters of evaluation from at least three former instructors will be evaluated by the Departmental Admissions Committee.  Related research experience will also be considered when applicable.  Candidates for admission to the program should have at least a "B" average in science and math courses. Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must have two semesters of general chemistry and one semester of organic chemistry.  One semester of physical chemistry, which includes thermodynamics and kinetics, is recommended.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree.
The Master of Science degree will be awarded after completion of all general requirements of the Graduate School, satisfactory performance in courses required by the advisory committee, and presentation and defense of an original thesis based on a student's research. This degree program is designed for completion in two years.  The first year consists predominantly of course work, and the second year is for completion of the research requirements and writing of the Masters Thesis.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree.
Graduate students formally qualify for the pursuit of the Ph.D. after completion of all general requirements of the Graduate School, satisfactory performance in courses required by the department and the advisory committee, and passing of a comprehensive qualifying examination.  The candidacy examination is usually presented at the end of the second year of the program and consists of a written examination and oral defense of a research proposal.  The balance of the degree requirements consists of original research conducted in the dissertation advisor's laboratory.  Upon completion of the research project, the student writes and defends an original dissertation based on the student's own research work.   This degree program is designed for completion in four to five years.

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First Year Course Requirements

Requirements in the second year include one course in the area of biostastics.  Other courses are chosen dependent upon the specific research project developed by the student with advice from the primary faculty advisor and the research advisory committee.  Formal coursework is usually completed by the end of the second year.  Subsequent years are focused on laboratory research.

Course Descriptions:

BIOC 5103 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
A modern presentation of biochemistry and molecular biology for first year graduate students including structure and function of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids. Prerequisite: General and Organic Chemistry and College Algebra.

BIOC 5093 Cell Biology  
The structure and function of cells and cellular organelles with particular attention to how these interact in larger units of organization. (Same as ANAT 5093 and PHYO 5093).

BIOC 5114 Gene ExpressionDuplication and control of biological information transfer from DNA to RNA to protein.  DNA replication, repair and transcription, RNA processing and translation are covered along with their regulatory mechanisms.

BIOC 5031 Biochemistry Seminar
Student development and presentation of a topic of current interest in biomedical research. Seminars are developed with advice of a faculty member.

BIOC 5203 Biological Chemistry
This course builds on BIOC 510C and presents advanced concepts in biochemistry and molecular biology with an emphasis on research topics currently under study in the laboratories of faculty members in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.  Prerequisites:  BIOC 5103.

BIOC 604V Special Topics in Biochemistry (1-6) (I,II)
Gives in-depth treatment to topics of current research importance and to specialized subjects not covered in general courses. Each topic is narrowly defined. One or two topics in 1-2 credit-hour modules are offered each semester. Representative topics include: proteomics, gene therapy, molecular biology of aging, glycobiology, structure and function of membranes, neurochemistry, bio-organic catalysis, human genetics and cancer. Complements BIOC 5103, 5203, which are also prerequisites: May be taken for multiple credit to a maximum of 6 hours.

BIOC 506V Research in Biochemistry (1-9) (I,II,S)
Practical experience in experimental design and manipulation.  Research rotations provide sutends with an opportunity to work in a specific laboratory for a short period in order to learn about new techniques and new research areas.

BIOC 600V Master's Thesis (1-6) (I,II,S)
Prerequisite: graduate standing and consent

BIOC 700V Doctoral Dissertation (1-10) (I,II,S)
Prerequisite: candidacy and consent

For further information about the graduate program contact Dr. Kevin Raney