Skip to main content

Programs

Biochemistry

We offer in-depth coursework and diverse research opportunities that focus on understanding the biochemical mechanisms of life’s critical molecular processes.

World-class research in our laboratories exposes our students to a variety of the latest methods for sophisticated biochemical analysis, including mass spectrometry, crystallography, microcalorimetry, surface plasmon resonance, microarrays, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, light scattering, and spectroscopic methods (including fluorescence lifetime and energy transfer measurements), as well as modern methods for cell culture, protein purification, genetic analysis, and reconstitution of biochemical complexes and reactions.

The flexibility of our training program allows students to train in a number of exciting research areas, and often allows them to develop highly effective interdisciplinary collaborations, resulting in cutting-edge thesis projects.

Information about faculty and research can be found on the Biochemistry website.

AdmissionsLink to section

Applying to Master's ProgramsLink to section

Applicants must have earned a U.S. baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from a college, university, or technical school of acceptable standing. Students in their final year of undergraduate study may be admitted on the condition that their bachelor’s degrees are awarded before they matriculate. Evidence of the earned degree is required prior to matriculation in the form of an official transcript noting degree conferral.

We expect all application materials (with the exception of official score reports) to be scanned and uploaded to your online application. Please note that the University of Rochester reserves the right to verify the accuracy of all transcripts and test scores, and to require submission of official documentation at any point in the admissions review process. Applicants must complete the online application, provide a statement of purpose, upload copies of their transcript(s), and provide the information for three letters of recommendation. (Recommenders will receive an email explaining how to upload their letters.) Biochemistry does not require an essay or writing sample. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is optional for biochemistry, but if you feel your scores enhance your application, then we encourage you to submit them. Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency by taking either the TOEFL, IELTS, or DuoLingo language exam.

The application fee waiver deadline is December 15. Offers of admission are typically released May to June 30, and responses from applicants are due July 1.  

Applying to Doctoral ProgramsLink to section

Applicants must have earned a U.S. baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from a college, university, or technical school of acceptable standing. Students in their final year of undergraduate study may be admitted on the condition that their bachelor’s degrees are awarded before they matriculate. Evidence of the earned degree is required prior to matriculation in the form of an official transcript noting degree conferral. Students are accepted only for the fall semester; we don’t have a spring admissions period. The program is fully funded with a tuition fellowship, competitive stipend, and health insurance.

We expect all application materials (with the exception of official score reports) to be scanned and uploaded to your online application. Please note that the University of Rochester reserves the right to verify the accuracy of all transcripts and test scores, and to require submission of official documentation at any point in the admissions review process. Applicants must complete the online application, provide a statement of purpose, upload copies of their transcript(s), and provide the information for three letters of recommendation. (Recommenders will receive an email explaining how to upload their letters.) Biochemistry does not require an essay or writing sample. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is optional for biochemistry, but if you feel your scores enhance your application, then we encourage you to submit them. Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency by taking either the TOEFL, IELTS, or DuoLingo language exam.

The application fee waiver deadline is December 1, and the complete application deadline is December 15. Interviews typically take place in February and March, with offers released by the end of March. Responses are due by April 15.  

AcademicsLink to section

Master's Degrees and RequirementsLink to section

The Plan A (terminal) MS degree is offered by the biochemistry program, subject to approval by the graduate studies director. No financial resources are provided by the biochemistry MS program for either tuition or stipend costs. These obligations must be borne by the candidate, alone or in conjunction with funds provided at the discretion of the advisor from the sponsoring advisor’s budget. Any monetary compensation to MS candidates from the sponsoring advisor will be limited to the current stipend for PhD candidates.

Admission to the MS program will not be approved unless a letter from the faculty research sponsor is included with the University application forms. This letter must indicate the nature of the research project or area agreed upon and state that the faculty member intends to provide the required advisory input as well as laboratory space, supplies, and equipment needed to pursue the project.

At least one year (two semesters) of full-time enrollment or two years (four semesters) of part-time enrollment are required. (The equivalent of two years of full-time study is typical). In the first year, coursework requirements are fulfilled (30 hours) with the initiation of the research project. The second year is spent in research activity leading to the submission of the MS thesis. The program requires a minimum of one additional specific or elective course, totaling three credits or more. MS candidates are expected to attend the biochemistry student seminars. The remaining credits required to meet the 30 credit hours needed for the MS degree consist of credits from the student seminar course and research credit. Up to 10 hours of coursework may be taken before to formal admission (matriculation) into the program.

In Plan A, a research thesis must be developed from an independent research project accomplished under the supervision of a faculty member in the Department of Biochemistry. Format and preparation should follow guidelines set forth in The Preparation of Master’s Theses, available in the department office. The final examination is administered by the thesis advisory committee following the presentation of the completed thesis. For MS candidates, the chairman of the examining committee is appointed by the graduate studies director.

Doctoral Degrees and RequirementsLink to section

In the first year of the program, students typically enroll in semester-long courses. They also participate in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics’ student seminar series, in which every graduate student in the program (except first-year students) delivers an annual seminar on their research. Coursework in the second year typically involves one additional elective course, allowing students to specialize in their respective disciplines.

Rotations in the first year of study in three different laboratories allow students to gain experience with methodology and instrumentation, and to become familiar with prospective research advisors for their thesis project. At the end of the first year, students choose a permanent advisor and embark on a PhD thesis research program. Students may choose any faculty member in the School of Medicine and Dentistry or a participating faculty member in the College of Arts and Sciences as their research advisor. Students must complete a one-semester teaching assistantship, typically in their second year.

A qualifying examination at the end of the second year helps determine the potential of the student for independent thought, experimental acumen, comprehension of the general field, and potential for exploiting a relevant problem in a scientifically sound manner. The MS degree is awarded upon successful completion of this examination.

The student’s thesis advisory committee must approve the writing of the PhD thesis at a formal committee meeting four to six months before defense. The PhD is awarded based on the development of an independent thesis research project as well as an oral examination and a written dissertation describing the rationale, methodology, results, conclusions, and significance of the project.

Students in the biochemistry PhD program can elect for the cancer biology or bioinformatics concentration. These reflect strong interest for our faculty and students and are areas where enhanced skills and expertise will serve our students in their careers.

Cancer Biology Concentration

This concentration adds coursework in clinical and translational cancer biology to our existing course on the molecular and cell biology of cancer. Students also participate in an ongoing seminar series for exposure to the most cutting-edge scientific advances.           

Bioinformatics Concentration

This concentration focuses on biology and medically related informatics work most appropriate to trainees in various aspects of biochemistry. As with the cancer biology concentration, it requires students to take a course covering the analysis of biomedical big data as well as a seminar series focused on recent advances in the field. One of these courses involves computational approaches to large data sets, and the other focuses on statistical analysis. As indicated in the curriculum, there is some leeway in the courses allowed; students can tailor their course selection to the types of statistical problems and computational approaches that apply best to their research projects.

Graduate Course TitlesLink to section

  • BCH 412: Advanced Topics in Biological Macromolecules
  • BCH 501/BCH 502: Biochemistry Student Seminar
  • BCH 515: Critical Thinking in Research Science
  • BCH 517: Topics in Cellular, Biochemical and Molecular Sciences
  • BCH 521: Bioinformatics for Life Scientists
  • BCH 595: PhD Research
  • BIO 415: Molecular Biology of Cell Signaling
  • BIO 422: Biology of Aging
  • BIO 426 Developmental Biology
  • BIO 453: Computational Biology
  • BIO 457: Applied Genomics
  • BPH 411: Methods in Structural Biology
  • BPH 509: Molecular Biophysics
  • BPH 567: Writing Proposals in BPH
  • BST 457: Applied Statistics in the Biomedical Sciences
  • BST 432: High Dimensional Data Analysis
  • BST 434: Genomic Data Analysis
  • BST 463: Introduction to Biostatistics
  • BST 464: Applied Linear Regression
  • CHEM 411: Inorganic Chemistry I
  • CHEM 415: Group Theory
  • CHEM 423: NMR Spectroscopy
  • CHEM 440: Bio Organic Chemistry
  • DSC 462: Computational Introduction to Statistics
  • GEN 507: Advanced Genetics and Genomics
  • IND 408: Advanced Biochemistry
  • IND 419: Introduction to Quantitative Biology
  • IND 431: Foundations in Modern Biology I
  • IND 432: Foundations in Modern Biology II
  • IND 443: Eukaryotic Gene Regulation
  • IND 447: Signal Transduction
  • IND 484: Current Topics in Bioinformatics
  • IND 501: Ethics and Professional Integrity in Research
  • IND 507: Cancer Biology Seminar
  • IND 517: Clinical and Translational Oncology
  • MBI 421: Microbial Genetics and Physiology
  • MBI 456: General Virology
  • MBI 473: Immunology
  • PHP 403: Human Cell Physiology
  • PHP 404: Principles in Pharmacology
  • PTH 507: Cancer Biology