Overview
Department Faculty Directs Research Efforts toward Sustainable Energy and Health
The faculty list in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, which is part of the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources, comprises expert instructors and dedicated researchers spanning a wide variety of subject areas. Experts in such areas as type II diabetes and the structure of cells are joined by other faculty members developing tools for analyzing large sets of genomic data and pushing forward with potentially life-saving cardiovascular research.
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is an integral part of the university's School of Medicine and the faculty has various research interests bridging the gap between "doing science" and applying the results to human diseases and conditions. Current faculty research programs include molecular modeling in infectious disease, insulin signal defects in diabetes, blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and congenital defects in brain development.
The department and its faculty are also widely recognized for world-class expertise in insect and plant studies, with research into the signaling network of cells promising answers to questions about the oxidative stresses common to all life. This research, like much of that undertaken at the university, can have a significant impact in human health, agriculture, and environmental sustainability. Salt basin algae are being studied for possible use as "a renewable energy crop," with the goal of research being the development of salt-loving algae as alternative biofuel feedstocks. Biofuel production from algae is being studied for its applicability to power plants running on biomass, and could potentially provide the intermountain western U.S. states with a major new "cash crop" in an energy-sustainable future.
Wide Range of Research Facilities for UNR Students
Research facilities for students at UNR are among the finest anywhere, and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology receives tremendous support from Nevada INBRE, a program of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Research in bioinformatics is aided by having access to state-of-the-art computational resources for collecting and analyzing DNA/protein sequence data, as well as "data mining" for sequence-based research. Students and researchers also take advantage of computer graphics hardware, software, and tech support for researching biomolecular structures.
This department supports all interested students and faculty who wish to use the Nevada Genomics Center and the Nevada Proteomics Center research facilities. There is also education and training to introduce researchers to new technologies in bioinformatics, biomolecular modeling, genomics, histology, and cytometry, and the INBRE program of the NIH leverages local and national resources for the education of UNR students.
The biochemistry programs prepare students for rewarding careers in science, research, or medicine with an emphasis on practical, hands-on learning, which makes the research facilities a key part of students' education. Offered by the School of Medicine and the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources (CABNR), the master's-level interdisciplinary cell and molecular biology program results in a Master of Science diploma. An interdisciplinary doctoral program that awards the doctor of philosophy degree is also jointly offered by the School of Medicine and the CABNR. In addition, medical students can earn an M.D./Ph.D. degree through the doctoral program.
Reno Offers Music, Art, Theater, and Outdoor Recreation
Reno, Nevada calls itself "The Biggest Little City in the World," although it is still only the third-largest in the state, after Las Vegas and Henderson. Long famous for its casinos and for being the birthplace of the gaming giant, Harrah's Entertainment, Reno has settled in behind those two cities not only as a population center but also as a gambling center, drawing its gaming visitors primarily from Northern California. However, Reno continues to prosper because the range of activities is not limited to casinos.
Reno is home to a wide variety of recreational activities because of Lake Tahoe, the Truckee River, and Pyramid Lake. Lake Tahoe provides fishing, water-skiing, swimming, and boating. The Truckee River runs through downtown Reno up to Pyramid Lake, drawing rafters and kayakers from all over the world. Major ski resorts, including Alpine Meadows, Squaw Valley, Sugar Bowl, and Heavenly Valley, offer such winter activities as skiing, ice skating, and snowmobiling.
Reno is also the center of the region's cultural, artistic, and historic highlights. The National Automobile Museum and the Nevada Museum of Art are both here, and the annual program of the Nevada Shakespeare Company keeps the famous playwright's work fresh and relevant. The Pioneer Center for Performing Arts features concerts by both the Reno Philharmonic and the Reno Pops Orchestra and welcomes performers of international standing that bring music, theater, art, and culture to the area. All of this activity shows that Reno is not resting on its laurels, but continues to burnish its "Biggest Little City in the World" credentials.
