Biological Chemistry
General Information
Degree offered: Certificate program. Ph.D. offered through one of the participating departments (Biochemistry, Biology, Cell Biology, Chemistry, Molecular Cancer Biology, and Pharmacology)
Faculty working with students: 20
Students: 1
Students receiving Financial Aid: 100%
Deadline for Fall 2008 Application: December 15 (apply through a participating department)
Spring Application: no
Part time study available: no
Test required: GRE General. GRE Subject (Biology, Chemistry, or Biochemistry) recommended
Program Description
The University Program in Biological Chemistry is designed to provide training to students in synthetic and mechanistic aspects of the interface between chemistry and biology. Specializations include carbohydrate, lipid, nucleic acid, and protein synthesis; molecular recognition between biomolecules; and mechanisms of catalytic processes involving proteins and nucleic acids and their associated cofactors. Course offerings, including a core focusing on the mechanisms of enzymatic cofactors, are aimed at providing significant cross-training between chemistry and biology and developing a common language among students in different disciplines. Intensive laboratory rotations begin in the summer and continue in the fall and (in some cases) spring semesters of the first year of study. The research laboratories of program faculty are well-funded and use state-of-the-art equipment for magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and computer graphics, among others.
Students may apply and be admitted directly to the University Program in Biological Chemistry or may apply to one of the component departments with a request to be considered by the program. At the end of the first year of study at Duke, students must select a mentor and a department in which to earn the Ph.D. degree. (NOTE: For international students in particular, the designation on the application form of a department in addition to this interdisciplinary program may be helpful in securing funding.)