General Program Information

The MA program combines didactic coursework and bench research, the latter culminating in submission of a thesis. Each new student consults with an assigned advisor during the orientation period prior to the start of the fall semester to plan the first year’s program that includes completion of two laboratory rotations prior to finalizing the decision as to the laboratory in which the thesis work will be performed.

Course Requirements

• GMS BI 755/756 Biochemistry
• GMS CM 753 Cell Biology
• GMS BI 782 Molecular Biology
• GMS BI 854 Biochemistry Seminar

(see Course Descriptions for more details)

The PhD program combines didactic coursework and bench research, the latter culminating in submission and defense of a thesis. Each new student consults with an assigned advisor during the orientation period prior to the start of the fall semester to plan the first year’s program that includes completion of four laboratory rotations prior to finalizing the decision as to the laboratory in which the thesis work will be performed.

Course Requirements

• GMS BI 755/756 Biochemistry
• GMS CM 753 Cell Biology
• GMS BI 782 Molecular Biology
• GMS BI 854 Biochemistry Seminar
• GMS BI 759 Integrative Biochemistry
• GMS MS 700 or GMS MS 570 Biostatistics
• Advanced elective

(see Course Descriptions for more details)

Note: Course requirements for post-MA PhD candidates are identical to those required for the PhD candidates with the exception that GMS BI 755/756 can be waived, depending upon prior coursework.

MD/PhD candidates must fulfill the requirements for both the MD and the PhD degrees. Please consult with the Office of Admissions for Boston University School of Medicine for information on how to apply to the MD/PhD program as well as the curriculum for the MD component (medical school curriculum). For the PhD component, the required courses are identical to those required for the PhD candidates with the exception that GMS BI 755 and BI 756 are waived.

Qualifying Examination

Candidates for the PhD and MD/PhD degrees must pass both a written qualifying examination and an oral qualifying examination.

Thesis Advisory Committee and Thesis Defense

Upon completion of qualifying exams, PhD and MD/PhD candidates present a research proposal to a five-member Thesis Advisory Committee. The committee is assembled at least once annually to discuss the progress of the accepted proposal. Once the Thesis Advisory Committee determines that the research work is complete, the student writes and defends the thesis.

For additional information please contact:

Barbara M. Schreiber, PhD,
Director of Graduate Studies, Dept of Biochemistry
Boston University School of Medicine
72 E. Concord Street, K207
Boston, MA 02118
Email: schreibe@bu.edu

Neuroscience & Aging

Carmela Abraham, PhD, Normal aging and Alzheimer’s

Lawreen Connors, PhD, Systemic amyloidosis

Catherine Costello, PhD, Amyloidosis

David A. Harris, MD, PhD, Prion diseases

Peter Polgar, PhD, Vascular disease and aging

Michael Sherman, PhD, Amyloidosis in Huntington’s

Signal Transduction & Cancer

Kathrin H. Kirsch, PhD, Cell signaling

Zhijun Luo, PhD, Tumor growth and metabolism

Michael Sherman, PhD, Cell senescence, cell stress

Zhi-Xiong Jim Xiao, PhD, Tumor suppressor genes

ECM/Cellular Injury

Matthew Layne, PhD, Transcriptional regulation, atherosclerosis, lung fibrosis

Matthew Nugent, PhD, Glycosaminoglycans, atherosclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Peter Polgar, PhD, Receptor structure/function

Barbara Schreiber, PhD, Elastin, serum amyloid A, atherosclerosis

Barbara Smith, PhD, Collagen, transcriptional regulation, atherosclerosis, lung fibrosis

Phillip Stone, PhD, Elastin, pulmonary emphysema

Vickery Trinkaus-Randall, PhD, glycosaminoglycans

Joe Zaia, PhD, glycosaminoglycans

Metabolism, Obesity/Diabetes

Stephen R. Farmer, PhD, Transcriptional control of adipocyte formation and function

Konstantin Kandror, PhD, Cell biological aspects of insulin signaling

Paul F. Pilch, PhD, Vesicular traffic related to insulin action, caveolae, lipodystrophies

Barbara Schreiber, PhD, Inflammation and smooth muscle cell lipid metabolism

Proteomics & Glycomics

Catherine Costello, PhD, Proteins, glycans and lipids

Cheng Lin, PhD, Proteins, glycans

Joseph Zaia, PhD, Glycosaminoglycans, protein-GAG interactions

Development

Matthew Nugent, PhD, Proteoglycans, growth factors, ECM

Karen Symes, PhD, Cell migration, notochord development, PDGF signaling

Vickery Trinkaus-Randall, PhD, EGF receptor, glycosaminoglycans