Effective Fall Semester 2024

Introduction

In addition to students with backgrounds in biochemistry and molecular biology, students with a wide range of backgrounds (i.e., biology, physics) are welcome to matriculate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB). The department recognizes that most students have taken courses in biochemistry and molecular biology during their education. Although an introductory course in biochemistry is not offered, the required coursework is designed to cover broad topics and approaches in biochemistry and molecular biology. At any time during the Ph.D. program in BMB, if the student, the student’s advisor, or the student’s committee identifies any areas that are of interest to the student or that need strengthening, a BCHM 850 Special Topics course can be designed and implemented during any semester of the student’s tenure. The format of the course is variable, and in general, the advisor and at least two other faculty will serve as the facilitators/instructors for that course.

Advanced coursework

BMB graduate students are required to take the classes (3hrs each) below: 

Electives may be substituted for required courses on a case-by-case basis, with consent of the thesis advisor and the Graduate Committee.

Students should complete all required courses by the end of their third year in the department. For Ph.D. students, this is their fourth year in graduate school (IGPBS is year 1). For M.D./Ph.D. students, their first year in the department is their first year in the Ph.D. phase.

Special Topics courses (BCHM 850) may be taken at any time, based on a student’s interests or recommendations of the advisor and/or the student’s committee. The subject material may cover areas which the student desires to acquire additional knowledge of or expertise in, or to make up deficiencies identified by the mentor and/or committee.

In addition to lecture/discussion courses, students take research hours for a total of six credit hours per semester (including BCHM 862; see #4 below). Students enroll for three credit hours in the summer term. Pre-comp students enroll for BCHM 890 (Master’s research). Post-comp students enroll in BCHM 990 (Doctoral research). When writing the doctoral dissertation, students enroll in BCHM 999.

The minimum hours that a student must be enrolled in are:

Spring – 6 hrs
Fall – 6 hrs
Summer – 3 hrs

Comprehensive exam

Students take their comprehensive exam at the end of year 2 (first year in the department). During Spring semester of their first year in BMB, students enroll in 1 hr of BCHM 850 to recognize their effort in preparing for their comprehensive exam. Details and deadlines regarding the exam are outlined in an accompanying document. Evaluation is based on the student’s ability to formulate a written proposal from primary literature as well as an oral defense of the proposal and subject material related to the student’s course work. If a student’s graduate advisor identifies that the student needs additional course work prior to completing the comprehensive exam, the advisor may petition the Graduate Committee to alter the schedule.

Note: For an M.D./Ph.D. student, the end of their first year in the department is equivalent to the end of year 2 for a Ph.D. student.

Biochemical Research-Literature Seminar (BCHM 862)

Each year, students will give one 20-minute seminar on one or more published papers in the Fall semester and a second 20-minute seminar on their research progress during the Spring semester.

Students are exempt from BCHM 862 during the semesters in which they (1) present their formal seminar (see #6, below) and (2) defend their dissertation.

Semi-annual committee meetings

After completion of the comprehensive exam, students will have one committee meeting during each of the Fall and Spring semesters (not during semester breaks or holidays). The purpose of these meetings is to assess progress on degree requirements and provide guidance on research so that the Ph.D. is completed in a timely fashion. The student should notify the Graduate Program Director, in advance, of the date meetings are held and confirm afterwards that they took place. If required meetings are not held the student could be placed on academic probation for failure to maintain adequate progress toward the degree.

Formal seminar presentation (BCHM 802)

In the spring semester of the third year (second year in BMB), students present a 1-hour formal seminar comprising background/introductory information for their dissertation research project. The seminar content should be related to the aims of the student’s research. The student will be excused from presenting a Literature Seminar (BCHM 862) during this semester.

Weekly departmental seminar series

All students are expected to attend the weekly departmental formal seminar series during the fall and spring semesters.

Dissertation defense

During their last semester, students should enroll in BCHM 999 (Dissertation writing) instead of BCHM 990 (Doctoral research). Students may enroll in BCHM 999 for more than one semester. Students should submit an advisor-approved dissertation to their committee 6 weeks prior to the desired date of the final defense. After the written dissertation is approved by the committee (minor revisions may still be required even after the final defense), the student should convene a final committee meeting to discuss and/or present the dissertation to the committee. The exact format of the meeting will be decided upon by the committee. The committee may request the attendance of other faculty at the final committee meeting to provide additional expertise or opinion regarding the student’s dissertation work or to help ascertain the student’s depth or breadth of knowledge on the dissertation subject or general scientific field. If the work is deemed satisfactory, the student may then file the required paperwork to schedule the final defense with the Office of Graduate Studies at least three (3) weeks in advance of the final defense (as required by KUMC). Coordinated timing of dissertation distribution to the committee, the final committee meeting, and scheduling the final defense date are imperative to defending on the desired date. More time may be needed between these events and the student should work with their committee members back date accordingly based on the desired date of the final defense.

Special Courses

BCHM 890 and BCHM 990 (Master's Research and Doctoral Research) - These courses are to be taken by graduate students for their master's and doctoral research. It is the policy of the department to assign the grade of P (for progress) until the student has completed the research.

BCHM 899 and BCHM 999 (Master's Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation) - These courses are reserved for the actual writing of the thesis or dissertation and are taken in the last semester or two of the student's program.

Student Responsibilities

Students are expected to take responsibility for meeting the requirements listed in this document. Students should notify the BMB Graduate Program Director and their PI by the first day of each semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer) that they are following departmental requirements, including being enrolled for each respective semester. They are also expected to notify the Graduate Program Director when student committee meetings are scheduled each semester, qualifying proposals are submitted, formal seminars are scheduled, and dissertation defenses are scheduled.

Graduate Courses in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology