The BMB Graduate Program

Course Work in the First Year

The courses required for a Ph.D. in Biochemistry are designed to provide a thorough background in modern biochemistry and associated methodologies. These requirements are usually completed in the first year, leaving ample time for research in subsequent years. Required and elective courses are listed below.


Required Courses

FALL SEMESTER SPRING SEMESTER
BMB 801 (3 credits) Molecular Biology
Organization of genes and regulation of their expression, replication, and recombination.

BMB 803 (2 credits) Protein Structure and Function
Structure and folding of proteins, interaction with other molecules, structure prediction, protein trafficking, peptide libraries and drug design.

BMB 829 (2 credits) Methods of Analysis and Synthesis
Modern techniques used in biochemistry including chromatography, electrophoresis, sequence analysis, DNA analysis, flow cytometry, etc.
 BMB 802 (3 credits) Metabolic Regulation and Signal Transduction
Molecular basis for metabolic regulation, signaling mechanisms and mechanisms for allosteric and covalent protein modifications.

BMB 804 (3 credits) Biochemical Mechanism and Structure
Structures and methods of structural analysis and synthesis, and reaction mechanisms of biological substances, including proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, porphyrins, phosphate esters, enzymes and coenzymes.

Other Academic Activities

Rotations

Elective Courses

BMB 825 - Cell Structure and Function
Molecular basis of structure and function in cells. Fundamental properties of cells: reproduction, dynamic organization, integration, programmed and integrative information transfer considered through original investigations in all five kingdoms.

BMB 831 - Physiological Biochemistry
Mammalian physiological biochemistry with metabolic interpretation of normal and altered physiological states of humans and other mammals.

BMB 856  Plant Molecular Biology
Recent advances in genetics and molecular biology of higher plants.

BMB 864  Plant Biochemistry
Biochemistry unique to photosynthetic organisms. Photosynthetic and respiratory electron transport, nitrogen fixation, carbon dioxide fixation, lipid metabolism, carbon partitioning, cell walls, biosynthesis of plant hormones.

BMB 960 and BMB 961 Selected Topics in Biochemistry
One and two credit courses are offered in areas of contemporary interest which can include: hormonal regulation, transcription, protein and drug design, NMR methodology, method of Flow cytometry, apoptosis etc.

BMB 978  Seminars in Biochemistry
Seminars on research topics in biochemistry, mainly by visiting scientists.

Journal Clubs and Seminars:


Stipend

All Ph.D. candidates are provided a stipend at a competitive rate throughout their career at MSU. Health benefits and tuition waivers are also provided.

The graduate assistant rates for 2007-08 are as follows:

Level I - 1st year
Stipend  $20,940    
 Level II - 2nd year
Stipend    $21,660 
 Level III - 4th year
Stipend    $22,500

Housing

Our students usually choose one of the following options:

Information regarding the University dormitory and apartments can be obtained at http://www.hfs.msu.edu/uh/. Typical housing costs range from $587-693 per month.

Career Development

To increase the marketability of our graduate students and make them aware of the many career options available to them, we provide special workshops and a career day. A writing workshop that focuses on preparation of grants is provided. In regards to speaking, faculty oversee and video graduate students who give a short presentation of their research. It is critiqued and then re-presented by the student in an effort to improve communication skills. Finally, a career day is offered that includes scientists from the biotech industry, government agencies, small colleges, etc., who discuss career opportunities available to young scientists.

Teaching

Every Ph.D. candidate obtains valuable teaching experience serving as an assistant for a 400 level biochemistry laboratory and lecture course. Seniors from biochemistry and other areas of the life sciences are enrolled in these courses, which makes it a useful and challenging experience. Moreover, Ph.D. candidates are trained in "Instructional Methods in Biochemistry," thereby gaining extensive direct contact with the students. Additional teaching experience both on and off the MSU campus can be obtained by those interested in teaching at smaller colleges, etc.

MSU and Community Links

Michigan State University, the nation's first land-grant university, is located in south central Michigan in the town of East Lansing. To find out more about MSU or the communities of Lansing and East Lansing, please visit their websites listed below.
“Si queris peninsulum amoenum, circumspice.”
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