Program: Biochemistry, PhD - Clark University

Overview

The PhD program in Biochemistry offers research opportunities in a wide variety of areas, including: molecular modeling, protein chemistry, chemical biology, enzymology, cell division, signal transduction, molecular evolution, and gene expression.

For more information, please visit the Chemistry Department’s Ph.D. website.

Program Requirements

Qualifying Exams
Students take standardized ACS exams in Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry to determine the student’s general level of competence and background in the disciplines. Students are required to pass 3 of the 5 exams by obtaining at least the 50^th percentile. The Gustaf H. Carlson School of Chemistry and Biochemistry has compiled a guide to help study for the ACS exams. See the graduate student handbook link below.

Courses
Students must complete a minimum of 5 x 300-level 1 credit courses and 4 x .25 credit module courses including Chem 389, Research Methods. See our course listings below.

Teaching Experience
All graduate students are required to have at least one year of teaching experience.

Seminars
All graduate students are required to participate in the department’s seminar series and periodically present seminars.

Qualifying Exams II
Written exams created by the student’s Faculty Advisory Committee concentrating on the student’s area of research. Graduate students must pass these exams to advance to PhD candidacy.

Original Research Proposal
A written research proposal in the format of an NIH or NSF grant application, presented to the department and defended before the student’s Faculty Advisory Committee.

Dissertation
An acceptable written dissertation is presented to the department as a seminar and defended orally before the student’s committee.

Please refer to the handbook for more details on our Ph.D. requirements. Graduate Student Handbook

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty

Program

Julio M. D’Arcy, Ph.D.
Sergio Granados-Focil, Ph.D.
Shuanghong Huo, Ph.D.
Charles Jakobsche, Ph.D.
Noel Lazo, Ph.D.
Arundhati Nag, Ph.D.
Luis Smith, Ph.D.
Donald Spratt, Ph.D.

Emeriti

Daeg S. Brenner, Ph.D.
Karen L. Erickson, Ph.D.
Frederick Greenaway, Ph.D.
Mark Turnbull, Ph.D.

Affiliate

William Royer, Ph.D.