Program Comparison
The Graduate Programs in Molecular Biology and Biological Chemistry at the University of Utah represent interdisciplinary approaches to education in the biological sciences. Because the Programs’ have a shared foundation in the biosciences, the two program faculties overlap extensively. There are, however, some significant differences as well. Whereas the Molecular Biology Program stresses molecular approaches to the biological sciences, the Biological Chemistry Program stresses chemical methods. This conceptual/methodological difference is reflected primarily by differences in the first year Molecular Biology and Biological Chemistry curricula. While all first year Molecular Biology students take the Genetics & Genomes, Gene Expression, and Cell Biology core courses, Biological Chemistry students have a core curriculum that includes courses in Biophysical Chemistry, Protein Chemistry, and Structural Methods. A comprehensive view of the most important similarities and differences between the two Programs is indicated in the outline below.
To avoid confusion and delays in processing applications to graduate school, students are requested to apply to only one of the two Programs. We ask students to try to identify the Program that best reflects their own research interests and that provides the most appropriate core curriculum. If questions persist regarding these Graduate Programs, their relationships to one another and/or the participating departments, please feel free to contact the Program Directors.
Regardless of which Graduate Program is best suited to your educational and career goals, it is important to note that extensive collaboration among all research groups at the University of Utah will provide you with a rich and diverse training environment, allowing for multidisciplinary projects that can easily span the traditional areas of genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry.
Biological Chemistry Program |
Molecular Biology Program |
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| Wes Sundquist, Director | Anthea Letsou, Director | |
| Research Areas | ||
| Enzymology, Biophysical Chemistry, | DNA Replication and Recombination, |
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| Metabolism, Computational Biology, Targeted Drug Delivery, | Regulation of Transcription and Translation, Membrane Biology, |
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| Natural Products Chemistry, | Cytoskeleton Structure and Function, |
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| Bioorganic Chemistry, | Gene Expression, Neurobiology, |
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| Structure & Function of Proteins and Nucleic Acids , | Immunology, Virology, Genetics, Developmental Biology, |
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| Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules | Macromolecular Structure and Function |
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| Participating Departments | ||
| Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, | Biochemistry, Biology, Human Genetics, | |
| Medicinal Chemistry, | Neurobiology and Anatomy, | |
| Oncological Sciences, and Pharmaceutics | Oncological Sciences, and Pathology | |
| Typical First Year Curriculum | ||
| Protein/Nucleic Acid Biochemistry (1/2 semester) | Protein / Nucleic Acid Biochemistry (1/2 semester) | |
| Genetic Engineering (1/2 semester) | Genetics and Genomes | |
| Biophysical Chemistry (1/2 semester) | Cell Biology (1/2 semester) | |
| Structural Methods (1/2 semester) | Gene Expression (1/2 semester) | |
| Protein Chemistry (1/2 semester) | 3 Elective Courses (1/2 semester) | |
| 3 Elective Courses (1/2 semester) | ||