Biophysics

Welcome from the Chairman

About the Program

Faculty

Courses

Master of Arts

Doctor of Philosophy

 

Programs of Study in Biophysics

Course Requirements

For the MA program, graduates with degrees in the biological or physical sciences will complete 32 credits of coursework including the required courses GMS BY 760 Foundations of Biophysics and Structural Biology and GMS BY 771 Biophysics of Macromolecular Assemblies. A written thesis summarizing laboratory research carried out under the direction of a member of the Biophysics Program faculty will complete the requirements.

For the PhD program, students will complete 64 credits of coursework, including the required courses GMS BY 760 Foundations of Biophysics and Structural Biology, GMS BY 771 Biophysics of Macromolecular Assemblies and GMS BY 871, 872 Biophysics Special Topics/Student Seminar. Students with a strong background in the biological sciences will take courses designed to improve their knowledge of the biophysical sciences. Post-master's degree students will complete 32 course credits. The PhD program will also be available to qualified MD/ PhD students after completion of two pre-clinical years of medical school. All students will submit and defend a written thesis describing their original laboratory research carried out under the direction of a member of the Biophysics Program faculty.

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Curriculum

 

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Required Courses

The course curriculum consists of the following required core didactic courses, plus supplementary courses selected from the following list of graduate school courses:

GMS BY 760 Foundations of Biophysics and Structural Biology (6 cr)

GMS BY 771 Biophysics of Macromolecular Assemblies (4 cr)

GMS BY 871, 872 Biophysics Special Topics/Student Seminar (2 or 4 cr)

GMS BY 945, 946 Research in Department of Biophysics

 

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Elective Courses

Biophysics

GMS BY 772 NMR Spectroscopy in Biology and Biochemistry

GMS BY 774 Metabolism and Cellular Functions of Complex Lipids

 

Medical Sciences

GMS MS 703 Neuroscience

GMS MS 753 Cell Biology

 

Biochemistry

GMS BI 755, 756 Biochemistry I & II

GMS BI 782 Molecular Biology

GMS BI 763 Structure and Function of Proteins

GMS BI 766 Techniques in Biochemistry

GMS BI 851, 852 Special Topics in Biochemistry

GMS BI 789 Physical Biochemistry

GMS BI 790 Receptors and Signal Transduction

 

Microbiology

GMS MI 713 Comprehensive Immunology

GMS MI 718 Virology

 

Physiology

GMS PH 843 Cellular Physiology I

GMS PH 844 Cellular Physiology II

 

Biology

CLA BI 552 Molecular Biology I

CLA BI 553 Molecular Biology II

GRS BI 645 NeurobiologyGRS BI 650

 

Biophysics

GRS BI 711 Biological Transport Mechanisms

 

Chemistry

GRS CH 551 Chemical Dynamics

GRS CH 553, 554 Molecular Structure Determination

GRS CH 651, 652 Molecular Quantum Mechanics

GRS CH 722 Protein Chemistry

GRS CH 723 Physical Chemistry of Biological Macromolecules

GRS CH 724 Special Topics in Biochemistry

GRS CH 751 Advanced Topics in Physical Chemistry

 

Physics

GRS PY 771 Biophysics

GRS PY 897, 898 Special Topics in Experimental Physics

 

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Graduation Requirements

1. All candidates must pass a comprehensive/qualifying examination by the end of their second year in the program. The examination will consist of both written and oral parts.
2. The student must achieve passing grades in the required courses and maintain a B average in all courses.
3. During the first year, students meet with individual faculty members of the Biophysics Program and perform laboratory research rotations with program faculty. The student must select a PhD research topic and research advisor by the end of his or her first year in the program. Thesis research must be conducted under the guidance of the research advisor who is a member of the Biophysics Program faculty. In consultation with the advisor, the student selects a committee of four additional faculty members to act as a thesis committee.
4. The candidate submits a written thesis describing original research and demonstrating an ability for independent creative scholarship.
5. The candidate defends his or her thesis at a final oral examination. The student must demonstrate mastery of the chosen field of specialization and show that the research contributes significantly to the body of scientific knowledge. The oral examination is conducted by a committee composed of at least five members of the Division faculty. In some cases, at the discretion of the Dean of Graduate Medical Sciences, one of the five committee members may be appointed from outside the graduate faculty of Boston University.