Overview
A Research-Focused Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Ph.D. Program
As with all of the institution's doctoral programs, the biochemistry and molecular biology Ph.D. program requires that all first year students complete three research rotations through various laboratories. This requirement is meant to assist students in selecting their thesis adviser, as well as giving them a solid introduction to a diversity of experimental approaches and systems.
Biochemistry and molecular biology Ph.D. program students have access to the Kimmel Cancer Center's core facilities and most mentors are members of the Kimmel Cancer Center.
Faculty research interests within the biochemistry and molecular biology Ph.D. program include cancer molecular biology, G-protein signaling, tRNA structure-function relationships, mitochondrial genetics, structural biology of DNA replication and repair, structural biology of nucleocytoplasmic transport, SUMO modification and its role in protein function, protein misfolding in neurologic disease, gene therapy and therapeutics in relation to nucleotide chemistry, and biochemical features of viral transport and entry.
The program provides full funding assistance, as full-time Ph.D. students receive fellowships consisting of a stipend, as well as tuition and health insurance.
Campus and Research Facilities
Thomas Jefferson University is a distinctive academic health center; its three colleges (Jefferson Medical College, Jefferson College of Health Professions, and Jefferson College of Graduate Studies) provide students with a first-rate education in research and health sciences.
The university's environment for research is outstanding; students have access to many state-of-the-art research facilities and resources. The biochemistry and molecular biology department offers students a core of laboratories in the Bluemle Life Sciences Building; each floor includes shared autoclave, coldrooms, darkrooms, and a glass-washing facility that is staffed. Large equipment is located in shared equipment corridors and includes gel imaging systems, spectrophotometers, shakers, incubators, scintillation counters, ultracentrifuges, and high-speed centrifuges.
Thomas Jefferson also partners with the Kimmel Cancer Center, giving students access to shared resources including a transgenic/knockout mouse facility, confocal microscope facility, flow cytometry facility, protein/peptide chemistry facility and nucleic acid facility.
The university also runs several other resources, to which students have access including a laboratory animal facility and a BL-3 (biosafety level-3) facility. Furthermore, Thomas Jefferson's Scott Memorial Library boasts a collection of about 170,000 bound journals and books, and has subscriptions to more than 2,200 journals -- both in clinical medicine and basic biomedical science. Additionally, Scott Memorial Library gives students access to online versions of relevant journals, available via campus computers.
Students of Thomas Jefferson University have the option of living in three on-campus accommodations, two of which are apartment-style housing and one that is dormitory style. For those who prefer to live off campus, there are abundant living accommodations located within a convenient distance from campus.
Experience Cultural Diversity in Philadelphia
Located between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, Philadelphia is Pennsylvania's largest city as well as the second-largest city on the East Coast. Philadelphia was an early capital of the United States and is rich in both historical sites and culture. Some of the city's famous points of interest include Independence Hall, the Constitution Center, and the Liberty Bell. Philadelphia is also known for being the home of Benjamin Franklin and sports several intriguing exhibits that are dedicated to his life and memory.
The art and culture scene in Philadelphia is as vibrant as its history, with several fascinating museums (including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rodin Museum, Franklin Institute, and Academy of Natural Sciences), a world-class orchestra, and a center for performing arts (The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts) all located within the city.
Philadelphia's more than one hundred culturally diverse neighborhoods have produced a rich and colorful backdrop for Thomas Jefferson University. From the Italian Market abuzz with shops and vendors, to the Amish community filled with produce and eatables, to the city's many energetic festivals, every corner of Philadelphia is brimming with vitality.
Because of its well laid-out grid pattern, Philadelphia is easy to navigate, and also has an extensive mass transit system that includes trolleys, subway trains, and buses. Students of Thomas Jefferson University get a full spectrum of seasons here with blooming springs, hot and humid summers, blustery winters, and colorful autumns filled with the changing leaves of millions of deciduous trees.
