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Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas

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Detailed Information

Program of Study

The Department offers a research-oriented program leading to a Ph.D. degree in biochemistry and molecular biology. A wide diversity of research interests are represented, with special strengths in developmental biology and cellular regulation, developmental biology and molecular embryology, genomics, neurobiochemistry, molecular immunology, macromolecular assembly and regulation, electron cryomicroscopy, X-ray crystallography, membrane and lipid biochemistry, molecular genetics and gene regulation, cell-cycle regulation, neurobiochemistry and signal transduction, protein design and engineering, and structural biophysics.

During the first year, students pursue a flexible curriculum, including basic course work in biochemistry and molecular biology as well as more advanced courses in such areas as genetic engineering and gene regulation, macromolecular design and analysis, enzymology, and biomembranes. Computer science and molecular biophysics courses may be pursued by those planning work in structural biophysics or computational biology. In addition, students conduct research during rotations spent in laboratories they select. These laboratory rotations help in the choice of an adviser for the thesis research that is the heart of the Ph.D. program. Students also participate in a lively series of seminars, research meetings, and journal clubs that help develop their skills in presentation and critical analysis of scientific data.

The research activities of the Department are strengthened by intellectual interactions and collaborations with other departments both at Baylor and at neighboring research institutions located in or near the Texas Medical Center. Students may pursue course work offered by these departments as well, including study at Rice University, the University of Texas–Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the University of Texas–Houston Medical School, and the University of Houston.

The Department also offers postdoctoral training in a variety of areas, as well as an M.D./Ph.D. program offered in conjunction with the medical curriculum.

Research Facilities

In addition to spacious and modern laboratories, the Department has state-of-the-art facilities for virtually all major areas of modern biochemical research. These include some of the most advanced equipment available for X-ray diffraction studies, high-resolution electron cryomicroscopy, automated DNA synthesis and sequencing, peptide sequencing, laser-induced time-resolved fluorescence and photochemistry, large-scale culture of microorganisms, microinjection of cells, fluorescence microscopy, and the production of transgenic mice. Library facilities are available both in the Department and across the street at the Jesse Jones Medical Library, which has one of the world’s largest collections of biomedical literature. The Keck Center for Computational Biology, operated jointly with Rice University, provides the most advanced computer technology for computational biology.

Financial Aid

Tuition costs are covered by scholarships awarded by the College or by national and local granting agencies. Additional stipends for entering students are currently $23,000 per year, provided through training and research grants. Various institutions in the Texas Medical Center offer many employment opportunities for spouses of students. A special office provides assistance to international students and their families.

Cost of Study

Students pay a one-time matriculation fee of $25, a one-time graduation fee of $140, and a yearly fee for the Learning Resource Center (first year, $150; thereafter, $20). Health insurance is provided by Baylor at no cost to the students. Family coverage is available at an additional cost.

Living and Housing Costs

Houston offers one of the lowest costs of living of major metropolitan areas. Several apartments and condominiums are conveniently located near or within the Texas Medical Center. One-bedroom apartments rent for about $475 monthly. Early reservations are suggested for on-campus accommodations.

Student Group

The Department has 40 graduate students and usually admits new students at the rate of 7 to 9 per year. Approximately 20 postdoctoral fellows and trainees, from laboratories in the United States and abroad, are working in the Department. The graduate student enrollment of the College amounts to about 350; the group comprises both U.S. citizens and international students. No limitations are applied on the basis of sex, age, race, or nationality.

Student Outcomes

The Department offers a research-intensive Ph.D. program that is designed to prepare students for careers in biomedical research, biotechnology, and teaching. In addition to the more traditional opportunities at academic institutions, many attractive positions are now available in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and agricultural industries. Some students use their backgrounds in biomedical research as the basis for successful careers in intellectual property law, marketing and sales, and science writing and reporting.

Location

With a population of approximately 2 million, Houston is the largest city in Texas. It is a dynamic scientific and industrial center, offering many cultural and recreational activities. The Wortham Center, the Menil Collection, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Houston Ballet and Grand Opera are only a few of the area’s cultural assets. The numerous universities in Houston and its environs offer inexpensive educational and sports events. The Astrodome and Compaq Center provide air-conditioned comfort for the city’s thousands of sports enthusiasts. The city’s mild climate and location favor outdoor sports; a number of beaches are only 45 miles from Houston.

The College

Baylor College of Medicine, a nonsectarian private corporation, has a strong commitment to training and research in basic biological sciences. The Albert B. Alkek Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences building houses additional classrooms for the Graduate School, a graduate student lounge, a reading room, and additional research space for the College. Baylor prides itself on the research accomplishments of its faculty, students, and fellows. Strong interactions among departments, between faculty members and students, and between basic and clinical researchers provide a rich environment for training and research.

Applying

Admission requires a bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline, strong undergraduate performance, and high scores on the General Test and one advanced Subject Test of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). Students are encouraged to obtain a strong background in chemistry, including organic and physical chemistry. Those interested in structural biophysics should also be adequately prepared in mathematics, physics, and computer science. Students are also encouraged to pursue undergraduate research, and can contact the Department about summer research opportunities available to undergraduates. The application deadline is January 1. Electronic applications may be obtained by visiting the biochemistry and molecular biology Web site (http://www.bcm.tmc.edu/biochem). The $30 application fee is waived for applications received via the Web site.

The Faculty and Their Research

M. Zouhair Atassi, Professor; Ph.D., 1960, D.Sc., 1973, Birmingham (England). Design and synthesis of protein active sites; molecular and cellular immunology; neurochemistry and neuroimmunology; structure, function, and autoimmune recognition of ion channels and hormone receptors.
Susan M. Berget, Professor; Ph.D., Minnesota, 1974. Molecular mechanism of RNA processing in higher eukaryotes.
A. Craig Chinault, Professor; Ph.D., MIT, 1976. Eukaryotic DNA replication; replication/transcription relationships.
Wah Chiu, Professor; Ph.D., Berkeley, 1975. Structural studies of macromolecules and macromolecular assemblies by electron cryomicroscopy and crystallography.
Mark L. Entman, Professor; M.D., Duke, 1963. Cellular and molecular basis of cardiovascular inflammation.
H. F. Gilbert, Professor; Ph.D., Wisconsin, 1975. Mechanism of chaperone-mediated protein folding; chemistry and biology of disulfide formation.
Ido Golding, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Tel Aviv, 2001. Single-cell studies of gene regulation in E. coli.
Xiangwei He, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine, 1997. Chromosome segregation: interaction between spindle and kinetochores.
Adam Kuspa, Professor and Chairman, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Ph.D., Stanford, 1989. Cell differentiation and functional genomics of Dictyostelium.
Olivier Lichtarge, Professor; Ph.D., 1987, M.D., 1990, Stanford. Protein structure-function: molecular basis of protein catalysis and interaction, design of peptides and proteins, and annotation of protein sequence and structure.
Steven J. Ludtke, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Rice, 1996. Electron cryomicroscopy of biological molecules and macromolecular assemblies.
Jianpeng Ma, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., 1996, Boston University. Energetics and dynamics of protein structures; application of conformational dynamics to the refinement of X-ray structure; ligand design for anticancer compounds.
Andreas Mayer, Professor; Ph.D., Munich, 1995. Membrane fusion and fission; organelle homeostasis; lysosome biogenesis and dynamics.
Joel D. Morrisett, Professor; Ph.D., North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1968. Atherosclerosis; characterization of atherosclerotic lesions by NMR spectroscopy and imaging; expression of atherosclerosis-associated genes and proteins by microarray and immunohistochemical technologies.
Timothy Palzkill, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Iowa, 1988. Genome-wide protein-protein interaction studies.
Xuewen Pan, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Duke, 1993. Genetic networking, chemical genomics, and technology development; dissection of genetic network and elucidation of chemical mechanisms of action.
B. V. Venkataram Prasad, Professor; Ph.D., Indian Institute of Science (Bangalore), 1981. Three-dimensional structural analysis of medically important animal viruses; understanding structure-mechanism correlation in cell entry, uncoating, assembly, and neutralization processes.
Jun Qin, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Rockefeller, 1996. Proteomics analysis of the human DNA damage signaling network.
Florante A. Quiocho, Professor; Ph.D., Yale, 1966. X-ray crystallographic analysis of biological macromolecules; molecular recognition.
Susan M. Rosenberg, Professor; Ph.D., Oregon, 1986. Molecular mechanisms of mutation, DNA repair, and recombination; genetic instability; genome rearrangement; antibiotic resistance; adaptive mutation.
Shelley Sazer, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Stanford, 1988. Cell-cycle control in fission yeast.
Michael F. Schmid, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Washington (Seattle), 1974. High-resolution structural studies of crystals and macromolecular complexes by electron cryomicroscopy and image processing.
Anna Marie Sokac, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Wisconsin–Madison, 2001. Live imaging and molecular characterization of actin and membrane dynamics in developing embryos of Drosophila and Xenopus.
Zhou Songyang, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Tufts, 1995. Molecular mechanisms of signal transduction; genetic and biochemical analyses of cell growth and survival; genome-wide examination of protein-protein interactions and networks; specificity and structural analysis of protein domains.
Kimberly Tolias, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Harvard, 1998. Molecular and cellular mechanisms that control synapse development and plasticity.
Francis T. F. Tsai, Assistant Professor; D.Phil., Oxford (England), 1997. Structure-function studies of macromolecular complexes and assemblies involved in transcriptional regulation and protein folding.
Salih J. Wakil, Professor; Ph.D., Washington (Seattle), 1952. Mechanisms and hormonal control of fatty acid metabolism; structure-function relationship of fatty acid synthase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase; characterization of genes coding for fatty acid synthase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase; metabolic consequences of FAS and ACC knockout in transgenic mice.
Jue Wang, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., California, San Francisco, 2002. Control of replication, elongation, and implications for genomic stability.
Theodore G. Wensel, Professor; Ph.D., California, Davis, 1984. Biochemistry and biophysics of membranes; mechanisms of signal transduction in the retina; biochemical applications of lasers and fluorescence; G proteins.
John H. Wilson, Professor and Graduate Program Director; Ph.D., Caltech, 1971. DNA repair and recombination; genomic instability induced by triplet repeats; oligonucleotide-directed genome modification; mouse models for treatment of retinal diseases.
E. Lynn Zechiedrich, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Vanderbilt, 1990. DNA topoisomerases and antibiotic resistance in E. coli.
Pumin Zhang, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Wisconsin–Madison. Control of cell division cycles in development and disease; how cell-cycle checkpoints are activated in response to internal and external stimuli and how these checkpoints prevent cell-cycle progression.
Zheng Zhou, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine, 1994. Molecular genetics and cell biology; identification and characterization of genes controlling the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and other substances.

Correspondence and Information

Baylor College of Medicine
Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
One Baylor Plaza, MSC BCM125
Houston, Texas 77030-3498
Telephone: 713-798-0124
Fax: 713-796-9438
Email: ccherry@bcm.tmc.edu

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Enter Username Enter Password: Forgot Username/Password? New User? Register Now!	Jump To: Graduate Search > Institution > College/School > Department/Program My Saved Schools \| Print Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas Admissions Student Body Financial Aid Programs and Degrees Faculty Research Contact Info Detailed Information Others also viewed: Brown University, Program in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry Cornell University, Field of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology Rice University, Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology View full list Detailed Information Program of Study The Department offers a research-oriented program leading to a Ph.D. degree in biochemistry and molecular biology. A wide diversity of research interests are represented, with special strengths in developmental biology and cellular regulation, developmental biology and molecular embryology, genomics, neurobiochemistry, molecular immunology, macromolecular assembly and regulation, electron cryomicroscopy, X-ray crystallography, membrane and lipid biochemistry, molecular genetics and gene regulation, cell-cycle regulation, neurobiochemistry and signal transduction, protein design and engineering, and structural biophysics. During the first year, students pursue a flexible curriculum, including basic course work in biochemistry and molecular biology as well as more advanced courses in such areas as genetic engineering and gene regulation, macromolecular design and analysis, enzymology, and biomembranes. Computer science and molecular biophysics courses may be pursued by those planning work in structural biophysics or computational biology. In addition, students conduct research during rotations spent in laboratories they select. These laboratory rotations help in the choice of an adviser for the thesis research that is the heart of the Ph.D. program. Students also participate in a lively series of seminars, research meetings, and journal clubs that help develop their skills in presentation and critical analysis of scientific data. The research activities of the Department are strengthened by intellectual interactions and collaborations with other departments both at Baylor and at neighboring research institutions located in or near the Texas Medical Center. Students may pursue course work offered by these departments as well, including study at Rice University, the University of Texas–Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the University of Texas–Houston Medical School, and the University of Houston. The Department also offers postdoctoral training in a variety of areas, as well as an M.D./Ph.D. program offered in conjunction with the medical curriculum. Research Facilities In addition to spacious and modern laboratories, the Department has state-of-the-art facilities for virtually all major areas of modern biochemical research. These include some of the most advanced equipment available for X-ray diffraction studies, high-resolution electron cryomicroscopy, automated DNA synthesis and sequencing, peptide sequencing, laser-induced time-resolved fluorescence and photochemistry, large-scale culture of microorganisms, microinjection of cells, fluorescence microscopy, and the production of transgenic mice. Library facilities are available both in the Department and across the street at the Jesse Jones Medical Library, which has one of the world’s largest collections of biomedical literature. The Keck Center for Computational Biology, operated jointly with Rice University, provides the most advanced computer technology for computational biology. Financial Aid Tuition costs are covered by scholarships awarded by the College or by national and local granting agencies. Additional stipends for entering students are currently $23,000 per year, provided through training and research grants. Various institutions in the Texas Medical Center offer many employment opportunities for spouses of students. A special office provides assistance to international students and their families. Cost of Study Students pay a one-time matriculation fee of $25, a one-time graduation fee of $140, and a yearly fee for the Learning Resource Center (first year, $150; thereafter, $20). Health insurance is provided by Baylor at no cost to the students. Family coverage is available at an additional cost. Living and Housing Costs Houston offers one of the lowest costs of living of major metropolitan areas. Several apartments and condominiums are conveniently located near or within the Texas Medical Center. One-bedroom apartments rent for about $475 monthly. Early reservations are suggested for on-campus accommodations. Student Group The Department has 40 graduate students and usually admits new students at the rate of 7 to 9 per year. Approximately 20 postdoctoral fellows and trainees, from laboratories in the United States and abroad, are working in the Department. The graduate student enrollment of the College amounts to about 350; the group comprises both U.S. citizens and international students. No limitations are applied on the basis of sex, age, race, or nationality. Student Outcomes The Department offers a research-intensive Ph.D. program that is designed to prepare students for careers in biomedical research, biotechnology, and teaching. In addition to the more traditional opportunities at academic institutions, many attractive positions are now available in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and agricultural industries. Some students use their backgrounds in biomedical research as the basis for successful careers in intellectual property law, marketing and sales, and science writing and reporting. Location With a population of approximately 2 million, Houston is the largest city in Texas. It is a dynamic scientific and industrial center, offering many cultural and recreational activities. The Wortham Center, the Menil Collection, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Houston Ballet and Grand Opera are only a few of the area’s cultural assets. The numerous universities in Houston and its environs offer inexpensive educational and sports events. The Astrodome and Compaq Center provide air-conditioned comfort for the city’s thousands of sports enthusiasts. The city’s mild climate and location favor outdoor sports; a number of beaches are only 45 miles from Houston. The College Baylor College of Medicine, a nonsectarian private corporation, has a strong commitment to training and research in basic biological sciences. The Albert B. Alkek Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences building houses additional classrooms for the Graduate School, a graduate student lounge, a reading room, and additional research space for the College. Baylor prides itself on the research accomplishments of its faculty, students, and fellows. Strong interactions among departments, between faculty members and students, and between basic and clinical researchers provide a rich environment for training and research. Applying Admission requires a bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline, strong undergraduate performance, and high scores on the General Test and one advanced Subject Test of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). Students are encouraged to obtain a strong background in chemistry, including organic and physical chemistry. Those interested in structural biophysics should also be adequately prepared in mathematics, physics, and computer science. Students are also encouraged to pursue undergraduate research, and can contact the Department about summer research opportunities available to undergraduates. The application deadline is January 1. Electronic applications may be obtained by visiting the biochemistry and molecular biology Web site (http://www.bcm.tmc.edu/biochem). The $30 application fee is waived for applications received via the Web site. The Faculty and Their Research M. Zouhair Atassi, Professor; Ph.D., 1960, D.Sc., 1973, Birmingham (England). Design and synthesis of protein active sites; molecular and cellular immunology; neurochemistry and neuroimmunology; structure, function, and autoimmune recognition of ion channels and hormone receptors. Susan M. Berget, Professor; Ph.D., Minnesota, 1974. Molecular mechanism of RNA processing in higher eukaryotes. A. Craig Chinault, Professor; Ph.D., MIT, 1976. Eukaryotic DNA replication; replication/transcription relationships. Wah Chiu, Professor; Ph.D., Berkeley, 1975. Structural studies of macromolecules and macromolecular assemblies by electron cryomicroscopy and crystallography. Mark L. Entman, Professor; M.D., Duke, 1963. Cellular and molecular basis of cardiovascular inflammation. H. F. Gilbert, Professor; Ph.D., Wisconsin, 1975. Mechanism of chaperone-mediated protein folding; chemistry and biology of disulfide formation. Ido Golding, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Tel Aviv, 2001. Single-cell studies of gene regulation in E. coli. Xiangwei He, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine, 1997. Chromosome segregation: interaction between spindle and kinetochores. Adam Kuspa, Professor and Chairman, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Ph.D., Stanford, 1989. Cell differentiation and functional genomics of Dictyostelium. Olivier Lichtarge, Professor; Ph.D., 1987, M.D., 1990, Stanford. Protein structure-function: molecular basis of protein catalysis and interaction, design of peptides and proteins, and annotation of protein sequence and structure. Steven J. Ludtke, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Rice, 1996. Electron cryomicroscopy of biological molecules and macromolecular assemblies. Jianpeng Ma, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., 1996, Boston University. Energetics and dynamics of protein structures; application of conformational dynamics to the refinement of X-ray structure; ligand design for anticancer compounds. Andreas Mayer, Professor; Ph.D., Munich, 1995. Membrane fusion and fission; organelle homeostasis; lysosome biogenesis and dynamics. Joel D. Morrisett, Professor; Ph.D., North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1968. Atherosclerosis; characterization of atherosclerotic lesions by NMR spectroscopy and imaging; expression of atherosclerosis-associated genes and proteins by microarray and immunohistochemical technologies. Timothy Palzkill, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Iowa, 1988. Genome-wide protein-protein interaction studies. Xuewen Pan, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Duke, 1993. Genetic networking, chemical genomics, and technology development; dissection of genetic network and elucidation of chemical mechanisms of action. B. V. Venkataram Prasad, Professor; Ph.D., Indian Institute of Science (Bangalore), 1981. Three-dimensional structural analysis of medically important animal viruses; understanding structure-mechanism correlation in cell entry, uncoating, assembly, and neutralization processes. Jun Qin, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Rockefeller, 1996. Proteomics analysis of the human DNA damage signaling network. Florante A. Quiocho, Professor; Ph.D., Yale, 1966. X-ray crystallographic analysis of biological macromolecules; molecular recognition. Susan M. Rosenberg, Professor; Ph.D., Oregon, 1986. Molecular mechanisms of mutation, DNA repair, and recombination; genetic instability; genome rearrangement; antibiotic resistance; adaptive mutation. Shelley Sazer, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Stanford, 1988. Cell-cycle control in fission yeast. Michael F. Schmid, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Washington (Seattle), 1974. High-resolution structural studies of crystals and macromolecular complexes by electron cryomicroscopy and image processing. Anna Marie Sokac, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Wisconsin–Madison, 2001. Live imaging and molecular characterization of actin and membrane dynamics in developing embryos of Drosophila and Xenopus. Zhou Songyang, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Tufts, 1995. Molecular mechanisms of signal transduction; genetic and biochemical analyses of cell growth and survival; genome-wide examination of protein-protein interactions and networks; specificity and structural analysis of protein domains. Kimberly Tolias, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Harvard, 1998. Molecular and cellular mechanisms that control synapse development and plasticity. Francis T. F. Tsai, Assistant Professor; D.Phil., Oxford (England), 1997. Structure-function studies of macromolecular complexes and assemblies involved in transcriptional regulation and protein folding. Salih J. Wakil, Professor; Ph.D., Washington (Seattle), 1952. Mechanisms and hormonal control of fatty acid metabolism; structure-function relationship of fatty acid synthase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase; characterization of genes coding for fatty acid synthase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase; metabolic consequences of FAS and ACC knockout in transgenic mice. Jue Wang, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., California, San Francisco, 2002. Control of replication, elongation, and implications for genomic stability. Theodore G. Wensel, Professor; Ph.D., California, Davis, 1984. Biochemistry and biophysics of membranes; mechanisms of signal transduction in the retina; biochemical applications of lasers and fluorescence; G proteins. John H. Wilson, Professor and Graduate Program Director; Ph.D., Caltech, 1971. DNA repair and recombination; genomic instability induced by triplet repeats; oligonucleotide-directed genome modification; mouse models for treatment of retinal diseases. E. Lynn Zechiedrich, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Vanderbilt, 1990. DNA topoisomerases and antibiotic resistance in E. coli. Pumin Zhang, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Wisconsin–Madison. Control of cell division cycles in development and disease; how cell-cycle checkpoints are activated in response to internal and external stimuli and how these checkpoints prevent cell-cycle progression. Zheng Zhou, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine, 1994. Molecular genetics and cell biology; identification and characterization of genes controlling the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and other substances. Correspondence and Information Baylor College of Medicine Director of Graduate Studies Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology One Baylor Plaza, MSC BCM125 Houston, Texas 77030-3498 Telephone: 713-798-0124 Fax: 713-796-9438 Email: ccherry@bcm.tmc.edu
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