Structural Biology & Biophysics Program @ Duke University

The curriculum

Summary

The Director of Graduate Studies and an Advisory Committee advise new students on laboratory rotations and a course of study. In the first semester in graduate school, students take courses, some full semester, some chosen from half-semester courses designed to give all students a basic knowledge of fundamental principles and techniques. The advising committee may require or recommend courses depending on the student's background, interests, and with a view of course requirements of the Department(s) the particular student is likely to join.

Training

First year: Course work: the usual SBB courses and others chosen for the individual student's interests and needs. Attendance at SBB seminars, rotations in 3 different laboratories. Toward the end of the second semester, the student chooses and the advisory committee approves a thesis advisor and topic.

All later years: emphasis is on research, possibly some course work, attendance at SBB seminars.

Third year (Fall): preliminary examination (to actually qualify as a candidate for the PhD degree).

Completion: Thesis acceptance, public seminar, thesis examination.

Courses: specific SBB courses usually taken by all SBB students, (also see department listings in the areas of your interests)

222. (Spr) Structure of Biological Macromolecules. J. & D. Richardson.

258-259. (Fall, half-courses) Structural Biochemistry I & II. Prerequisite: biochemistry, organic chemistry and physical chemistry or consent of instructor. L. Beese, H. Hellinga and staff.

291. (Spr) Physical Biochemistry I: Prerequisite: undergraduate physical chemistry and one year of calculus or consent of instructor. T. Oas and staff .

292. (arranged as a tutorial) Physical Biochemistry II: Transient kinetics, computational methods, multidimensional NMR, x-ray crystallography, thermodynamics of association. Prerequisite: Structural Biology and Biophysics or consent of instructor. T. Oas and staff.

345 (Fall), 346 (Spr). Structural Biology and Biophysics Seminar. Required of all SBB students.