Descriptions and Contact Information

The many opportunities for quantitative training provided by the UMD Biochemistry program position graduates well for the current challenges of a post-genomic era. This interdisciplinary training draws from close association with programs in the physical and biological sciences. All students pursuing a Ph.D. degree receive financial aid in the form of assistantships, fellowships and grants.

The Program
Graduate students learn from course work in biochemical and biophysical principles and techniques as well as in molecular biology, genomics, proteomics, and systems biology. Research focuses on fostering independence and expertise in answering cutting-edge biochemistry questions. Students also receive training on how to communicate their success through written and oral presentations to peers, faculty and colleagues within the Department and at professional meetings throughout the country. Our international reputation is build in part from publication of research in high-impact journals. Students go on to successful academic, industrial, and government careers in today’s hi-tech world of biochemistry and biotechnology. This program benefits from connections with many other programs on campus, including Chemical Physics, Biophysics, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Bioengineering.

The Faculty
Faculty research programs emphasize fundamental approaches to molecular aspects of how biological systems work. Biophysical chemistry /molecular biophysics is a particular strength, including biomolecular NMR, fluorescence, and X-ray crystallography. Several faculty focus on molecular nanomachines involved in protein folding, transcription and regulation, RNA processing and translation, and DNA recombination/repair. Chemical biology and bioorganic chemistry benefit from active research programs in enzymology, nucleic acids, synthetic biology, and proteomics/metabolomics.

The Research
Specialties within our program include:

Biophysical Chemistry
Bioorganic Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Enzymes
Molecular Biophysics
Molecular Machines
Nucleic Acid Biochemistry
Structural Biology

The Facilities
Department members enjoy first-class research facilities and instrumentation. Access is also available to the resources of the Maryland NanoCenter, the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, the Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, the Center for Biomolecular Structure and Organization, the Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, the Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, and the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Research Center.

The Surrounding Environs
Washington, D.C. and its region are a hub for research and policy activities in physical, biological, medical and environmental sciences. This area also supports a rich and diverse culture to create an especially lively, friendly, and accessible community for students to thrive professionally and personally. The vibrancy of the area is enhanced by its many museums, libraries, theaters, and performing arts organizations. Outside of the metropolitan area, and just minutes from the campus, the landscape opens into rural countryside. A great variety of recreational and leisure activities are available in nearby state and national parks and on East Coast waterways.
The University offers unique opportunities for research and collaboration with many neighboring institutions including:

Department of Defense (DoD)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Smithsonian Institution, including the National Zoo
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

More Information
Chemistry & Biochemistry Department
Graduate Office Rm 0129B
Chemistry & Biochemistry (Bldg 91) University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742

(301) 405-7022
chemadmissions@umd.edu

www.stemgrad.umd.edu
http://www.chem.umd.edu/phdinbiochemistry