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To Prospective Students of
Biological Chemistry

The Program in Biological Chemistry is an interdepartmental graduate program consisting of faculty from the Departments of Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Oncological Sciences, and Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry. The Program brings together over 45 faculty members with research interests in such diverse areas as structure and function of proteins and nucleic acids, enzyme reaction mechanisms, drug delivery, protein folding and biosynthesis, DNA replication, neurochemistry, theory of small molecule/large molecule interactions and biological separation. The diversity permits excellent training in a wide range of areas that cross traditional boundaries in the biological and chemical sciences.

Program Advantages

There are many advantages for graduate students in the Program in Biological Chemistry. Outstanding students are selected for admission, and financial support is provided during the first year with no requirements for teaching. This permits students to devote full time to classwork, seminars, and laboratory rotations, and become acquainted with the faculty, other students, and different areas of research. The large number of faculty in the Program allows us to offer more variety in our courses, all taught by experts, than is possible in a single department. This interdisciplinary flavor extends to our seminar program, journal clubs, and informal discussions, which again provide students with a broad experience in biological chemistry. Students in this Program get the opportunity to make a well-informed decision about their Ph.D. research project and the selection of a thesis advisor. After a laboratory is chosen, students affiliate with the thesis advisor's academic department for the remainder of their graduate training and are supported by that department.

Admissions

Admission to the Program in Biological Chemistry opens all of the laboratories in biological chemistry on campus to the student. Students are not committed to any specific college, department, or research advisor, but are free to select an advisor from any of the participating departments in the University. The first year courses are designed to be compatible with the requirements of all the participating departments. During the first year, Program students take a series of core classes and journal clubs in key areas of biological chemistry. Students complete four rotations with faculty of their choice during the first year. At the end of the first year, students select a thesis advisor from the participating faculty and departments.

The Biological Chemistry Program is one of two closely related interdepartmental graduate programs at the University of Utah. The other program covers the area of molecular biology, but is otherwise organized along identical lines. See a comparison of the Molecular Biology and Biology Chemistry Programs. Both of these campus-wide programs offer advantages that are not found in more traditional graduate programs.

This website provides information about the faculty and their research interests, about the local community, and how to apply to the Program in Biological Chemistry. You should find easy access to the application process and other relevant information. Please write or call with any additional questions you may have.

I am sure you will find the University of Utah an exciting and enjoyable place for your graduate studies. The application fee is paid by the Program, and we invite promising applicants to visit the campus at our expense. I encourage you to apply and look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Wes Sundquist, Director
Biological Chemistry Program
University of Utah
15 North 2030 East
EIHG 533, Rm 1400
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-5330

(801) 581-5207
(801) 585-2465 FAX