Course of Study
The First Year
Entering graduate students arrive on campus a week before classes begin in the fall to enroll in classes and attend orientation. During the first year at Stony Brook, graduate students take Graduate Biochemistry, Membrane Biochemistry, Structural Biology and Spectroscopy, and Computational Methods in Biochemistry and Structural Biology. One of the most important courses that the graduate students take during this period is the research oriented Experimental Biochemistry and Structural Biology, where students complete rotations in which they participate in ongoing research in the laboratories of three different faculty members. From these rotations, each graduate student will select a laboratory in which to conduct thesis research and fulfill the requirements for the Ph.D. degree.
The Second Year and Beyond
During the second year the graduate students generally complete their formal course requirements with two elective courses they find to be of most interest. A written qualifying examination is taken in January of the second year between the fall and spring semesters. During the second year, the student’s own research becomes the primary focus, since he or she will have chosen a laboratory and permanent advisor. Under the guidance of the faculty advisor, the student will write a formal research proposal, and choose an advisory committee that includes at least three additional faculty members. Students present their proposals to this advisory committee (and continue to meet with the advisory committee on a yearly basis to discuss their research progress toward the completion of their degree). The student advances to candidacy after satisfactory completion of the research proposal. The student then works virtually full-time on thesis research that culminates in the submission and defense of a written Ph.D. dissertation.
Departmental Seminars and Journal Clubs
Students attend weekly departmental seminars in biochemistry and structural biology. The seminars feature the current research of internationally recognized speakers from outside the University. In addition students attend a BSB journal club/student seminar series each spring.
Teaching
Graduate students are also required to complete two semesters as teaching assistants. This experience provides an opportunity to develop crucial presentation skills and refine teaching techniques that students will need in their future careers.
Graduate Course Offerings
Current course information is available via the Graduate Bulletin
Core Lecture Courses
STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY AND SPECTROSCOPY
BSB 512, SPRING
A broad overview of the theoretical principles and experimental methods used in structural
studies of proteins and nucleic acids. The course covers the fundamentals and applications
of absorption spectroscopy, including both circular and linear dichroism, vibrational
spectroscopy, including infrared and Raman, fluorescence spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic
resonance spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction.
COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
BSB 515, FALL
An introductory course in the computational methods used in biochemistry and structural
biology. The course emphasizes the resources available on the World Wide Web for sequence
searching and analysis, bioinformatics, the prediction of protein secondary and tertiary
structure, and the graphical analysis of proteins and nucleic acids.
BIOMEMBRANES
MCB 517, FALL
This course extends the graduate course in biochemistry to encompass the molecular
architecture of membranes and the organization, functions, and assembly of lipids
and proteins in biological membranes.
GRADUATE BIOCHEMISTRY
MCB 520, FALL
Several topics in modern biochemistry are treated at an advanced level. Topics covered
include protein structure, methods of peptide and protein analysis and purification,
enzyme kinetics and mechanisms, and enzyme regulation.
Plus one of the following two courses:
MOLECULAR GENETICS
MCB 503, FALL
Introduces the classical work and current developments in lower and higher genetic
systems. Covers gene structure and regulation in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms,
mutational analysis and mapping, transposable elements, and biological DNA transfer
mechanisms. Bacteriophage as well as lower and higher eukaryotic systems are used
to illustrate aspects of molecular genetic structure and function.
OR
CELL BIOLOGY
MCB 656, SPRING
Introduction to the structural and functional organization of cells and tissues and
to the way structure relates to function. Particular emphasis is placed on nuclear
and chromosomal structure, signal transduction, protein translocation, the cytoskeleton
and the extracellular matrix. The interaction of cellular structures and components
and their regulation is stressed as is the organization and interaction of cells in
tissues. The course is comparative and includes examples of cells and tissues from
vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, and prokaryotic systems.
Examples of Elective Courses
Not all electives are given every year.
*Note: Either MCB 503 or MCB 656 must be a core course. The other can be taken as an elective.
- MCB 503 Molecular Genetics*
- MCB 656 Cell Biology*
- BSB 580 Advanced Structural Biology
- AMS 533 Numerical Methods and Algorithms in Computational Biology
- AMS 535 Introduction to Computational Structural Biology and Drug Design
- AMS 536 Molecular Modeling of Biological Molecules Spring
- AMS 537 Dynamical Models of Gene Regulation and Biological Pattern
- BME 534 Functional Genomics
- CHE 541 Biomolecular Structure and Analysis
- CHE 542 Chemical Biology
- CHE 543 Chemical Biology
- CHE 530 Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules
- CHE 524 Magnetic Resonance
- CHE 501 Instrumental Methods in Chemistry
- CHE 603 Special Top in Bioorganic
- CHE 525 Theoretical Chemistry
- CSE 549 Computational Biology
- HBH 632 Molecular Interactions
- HBY 511 Biophysical Chemistry
Non-Lecture Courses
ADVANCED STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
BSB 580, Spring
A hands-on, practical training course where students solve protein structures by
NMR, X-ray crystallography and/or electron cryo-microscopy.
EXPERIMENTAL BIOCHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
BSB 509, 510, FALL AND SPRING
An introduction to current research methods used in biochemistry and structural biology.
The student spends a half-semester in the laboratory of each of three different members
of the faculty. In each laboratory the student participates in some aspect of the
research being pursued by the faculty member.
GRADUATE RESEARCH
BSB 599, FALL AND SPRING
Original investigation undertaken with the supervision of a faculty member.
COLLOQUIUM IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
BSB 601, 602, FALL AND SPRING
A weekly series of talks and discussions by visiting scientists in which current
research and thinking in various aspects of biochemistry and structural biology will
be presented. This course is required every semester of all students registered in
the Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Structural Biology. Attendance is mandatory.
Visitors are welcome.
JOURNAL CLUBS IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
BSB 531,532, FALL AND SPRING
Seminars given by graduate students on the progress of their own thesis research.
Required every semester of all students registered in the Graduate Program in Biochemistry
and Structural Biology. Attendance is mandatory.
Visitors are welcome.
DISSERTATION RESEARCH
BSB 699, FALL AND SPRING
Original investigations undertaken as part of the Ph.D. program under supervision
of a research committee.
Ethics
GRD 500
Discussions of ethical practices in bioscience research.
