Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics M.S.

The biochemistry, molecular biology and biophysics (BMBB) graduate program is an interdisciplinary program that is supported by the College of Biological Sciences (CBS) and the Medical School of the University of Minnesota. The program provides a broad research-based education involving faculty from BMBB, as well as many faculty members from several other departments in CBS, the Medical School, the College of Science and Engineering (CSE), the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences (CFANS), and the College of Veterinary Medicine.

BMBB focuses on determining the molecular mechanisms that underlie basic biological functions using an integrated approach that encompasses biochemistry, chemistry, biophysics, genomics, molecular biology, proteomics, and structural biology. Special emphasis is placed on revealing how biological processes go awry in diseases including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and AIDS. The program has four areas of emphasis: synthetic biology and biotechnology, molecular biology, metabolic and systems biology, and chemical and structural biology. All students are expected to demonstrate a minimum level of competence in these areas, but will emphasize the area most related to their thesis project.

While graduate training in a BMBB laboratory involves first-year coursework and associated preliminary examinations, the focal point for graduate education is thesis research. Laboratory-based exploration coupled with journal clubs, seminars, scientific meetings and retreats, career counseling, and scientific ethics constitutes the major components of the program. Support for graduate education comes from a variety of sources but is augmented by several NIH and NSF-based training grants. Most graduate students from the University of Minnesota obtain full-time employment immediately after graduation, or pursue advanced training in academic or corporate positions.

Students pursuing a degree in BMBB are only admitted to the PhD program (see note below) under the auspices of Molecular, Cellular and Structural Biology (MCSB), a first-year program administered by BMBB and the Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics (MCDB&G) graduate programs. After the first year, students select either BMBB or MCDB&G to complete their degree.

Note: One cannot apply for admission to the master's degree in BMBB. Students are only admitted to the BMBB PhD program. Alternative, related master's degree programs that admit students are the master's of biological Sciences (MBS) (http://cce.umn.edu/master-of-biological-sciences) and the master's in microbial engineering (http://bti.umn.edu/MicE/).