Curriculum

Course Work

Within the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, considerable emphasis is placed on becoming an effective scientific investigator. However, during the first two years of the program there are formal course work requirements. During this time, students complete a core sequence of courses, as well as advanced courses offered by the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate Program and other graduate programs.

Research

The first-year research program is structured to enable students to become acquainted with, and learn research methods in different disciplines, work closely with individual investigators and members of their laboratories, and decide upon a permanent research advisor. During the first part of the Fall Semester, conferences are scheduled with each faculty member to introduce students to ongoing research in the department and opportunities available in each laboratory. During the first semester, students will have two technique rotations in the areas of structure/function biochemistry and molecular biology.  The first will be assigned; the students will have input into the second rotation.  The students will then select two additional rotations.  Following the laboratory rotations, each student, in consultation with the departmental chair, chooses a permanent thesis advisor from among the members of the training faculty. Assignments of a Research Advisor are based on student preference, ability of the faculty members to accept students, faculty member's approval, and departmental resources. Shortly thereafter, each student will form a doctoral committee that will assist the student and thesis advisor both in choosing an elective supplementary curriculum and developing an original research program leading to the PhD thesis.

Teaching

Students will normally be asked to tutor individual or small groups of medical students for the Medical Biochemistry lectures. Tutoring responsibilities will usually be confined to a portion of one semester. During the semester you tutor, you are expected to attend all the lectures. Actual tutoring time usually amounts to 2 to 4 hours per week. Students may also be called on to assist in the graduate courses. There are also opportunities to facilitate case-based learning sessions for first year medical students.  The tutoring and assistance experience is a valuable part of the PhD training experience.

Academic Requirements

Students must maintain a 3.0 (B) average to remain in good academic standing. Students are evaluated for admission to candidacy for the PhD degree at the end of the first year by consideration of their academic performance, acquired laboratory skills, and a formal written examination. At the completion of substantially all course work (and prior to completion of the fifth semester), students will take the comprehensive examination which usually consists of a written research proposal and an oral defense of that proposal. After completion of the thesis research, students present and defend their PhD thesis at the final oral examination.

MD/PhD Program

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology participates in the Penn State University MD/PhD Program, which provides the opportunity for students interested in careers in academic medicine and research to obtain the necessary training in clinical and basic sciences in a seven year period. The dual degree provides the student with knowledge of the breadth of clinical science, plus the ability to design experiments and conduct biomedical research with modern technology. The research experience provides depth in fundamental disciplines.

Students in the program will take the graduate school core curriculum and an integrated lecture and problem-based learning curriculum in medicine in the first year. The second year is spent primarily with the medical student class with some interactions with the chosen graduate program. Years 3 through 5 are concentrated in the graduate department to complete graduate school requirements and thesis-related research. Years 6 and 7 focus on clinical rotations.

Prospective students interested in earning a dual degree should apply through the MD program. For further information, visit the MD/PhD Program site.