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Graduate Program Description

Our graduate program provides an intimate environment where students interact closely with the faculty in the program. We offer both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry & Biophysics. Students pursuing these degrees will learn to apply the tools of physical biochemistry and structural biology to exciting problems through research projects with Biochemistry Program Faculty Members. Graduate students may also choose to carry out research with Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics Faculty Members.

The graduate program is built around a core of courses:

BIOC 581: Physical Biochemistry
BIOC 582: Proteins and Enzymes
BIOC 584: Nucleic Acids
BIOC 600: Advanced Cellular Biochemistry

Students also take two elective courses related to their chosen area of research.

Depth in a particularly area is obtained through laboratory research in close collaboration with a faculty advisor leading ultimately to an M.S. Thesis or a Ph.D. dissertation.

Graduate students in the Biochemistry & Biophysics program are provided financial aid in the form of teaching assistantships or research assistantships. Both come with a stipend for living expenses and a tuition waiver. Our annual stipend for the 2010-2011 academic year will be $23,000.

For more information see our brochure or contact the the Biochemistry Program Office. To apply, use the online application on the Graduate School web site or fill out our on-line pre-application form.

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Related Graduate Programs

Students interested in Biochemistry & Biophysics may wish to consider related graduate programs in Chemistry, Integrative Microbiology and Biochemistry and degrees offered by Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

News

The Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics was awarded a COBRE grant from the NIH in September, 2011. This center directed by Professor Stephen Sprang will receive nearly $10 million dollars in total funding over the next five years to promote research in Biochemistry and Structural Biology.
Our new Bruker EMX EPR spectrometer funded by an NSF MRI grant was installed in newly renovated space in the Interdisciplinary Science Building in December, 2011.

Featured Faculty

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Valeriy Smirnov

Email: valeriy.smirnov@umontana.edu
Valeriy Smirnov's research focuses on the mechanisms of metalloenzymes, characterization of reactive intermediates, activation of dioxygen and organic substrates during enzyme catalysis, proton-coupled electron transfer, use/theoretical interpretation of isotope effects in metabolic and environmental processes. His research will be supported by the new COBRE grant. 

Degree Requirements

M.S. in Biochemistry & Biophysics
Ph.D. in in Biochemistry & Biophysics

Forms

M.S. in Biochemistry & Biophysics Advisory Committee
Ph.D. in Biochemistry & Biophysics Advisory Committee
Annual Report Form
BSD Seminar Report Form

Facilities

Our state-of-the art facilities include NMR, X-ray, mass spectometry, and picosecond time-scale laser equipment for fuorescence spectroscopy. 

Seminars