Graduate Bulletin
Biochemistry,
Ph.D.
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Admission
Requirements
and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall: April 15 [December 15 for international applicants]
Spring: November
15 [August 1 for international applicants]
Applications
are processed as they are received throughout
the year.
Letters
of Reference:
Number Required: 2
minimum; 3 preferred.
From
Whom: Letters of recommendation
should be
obtained from professors of
science.
Coursework Required
for
Admission Consideration:
Applicants should have
one year of Biological
Science (Biochemistry,
Molecular Biology);
one year of General
Chemistry; one year
of Organic Chemistry;
one year of Physics;
and Mathematics through
Calculus. Physical
Chemistry is also desirable.
Master's
Degree
in
Discipline/Related
Discipline: No.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A baccalaureate degree in the Biological or
Chemical sciences is required.
Statement
of Goals:
The Statement of Goals
should be approximately
500-1,000 words and
should include the
following elements:
the applicant's
interest in Temple's
Biochemistry program,
research goals,
future career goals,
and academic and
research achievements.
Standardized
Test Scores:
The GRE is required.
Acceptance by Temple
University requires
submission of verbal,
quantitative, and analytical
GRE scores. GRE scores
below the 50th percentile
are outside the norm set by the Graduate School and no individual score
in the verbal, quantitative,
or analytical sections
should be below that
level.
The
GRE
Subject
Exam
in Chemistry
or
Biology is
required.
Minimum
TOEFL
score
or
range
of
scores
needed
to
be
accepted:
650 paper-based, 280
computer-based, or 114 internet-based.
Advanced
Standing:
Students who enter
the Ph.D. program
in Biochemistry
may be considered
for advanced standing,
based on the successful
completion of graduate
level courses in
the biological
sciences or chemistry
with grades of
"B" or better. The
Graduate Admissions Committee
will make the recommendation
on a case-by-case
basis as the application
is reviewed. The
maximum number
of advanced standing
credits awarded
is 24.
Test
Waivers:
Upon review of
the student's background
by the Graduate
Admissions Committee,
applicants with
high levels of
performance in
one or more areas
can gain favorable
consideration for
an application
that is otherwise
outside the acceptance
matrix.
Program Requirements
General
Program Requirements:
Number
of
Didactic
Credits
Required
Beyond
the
Master's: 36
Required Courses:
The Department of Biochemistry participates in the "Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences" at the Temple University School of Medicine, as described on the School of Medicine graduate studies website. The program requires Ph.D. and M.S. students to take a defined set of courses over the first two years:
- 2 courses from the "Foundations of Biosciences Series" comprising either a basic or advanced biochemistry course and a course on molecular and cell biology.
- 2 courses comprising Scientific Communication and Scientific Integrity.
- 2 courses from the "Integrated Biosciences Series" from the following list:
Molecular Approaches to Research
Principles of Physiology
Principles of Pharmacology
Principles of Organ Pathology
Principles of Genetics
Principles of Development
Cancer Biology
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Cell Structure and Function
Proteins and Enzymes
Biostatistics
Students of Biochemistry are required to take "Proteins and Enzymes." In addition, all students will take the following required courses:
Biochemistry 523, 502, 534, 508-511, 505-506, 550
In addition to the Biochemistry core courses, all students are required to successfully complete a total of five courses, each of which must be at least 2 credits. These courses are chosen from among advanced topics courses offered by the Department of Biochemistry, advanced topics courses offered by the Department of Chemistry and Life Sciences, and courses offered by the graduate programs in Anatomy and Cell Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Pathology, Physiology, and Pharmacology at the Medical School and the Department of Biology on Main Campus. The student's course of study must include one advanced topics course in Biochemistry, one advanced Chemistry course, and one Life Science course. The remaining two courses can be chosen from any of the three remaining categories with the approval of the student's advisory committee.
Internship: No internship is required.
Language
Examination: No language examination
is required.
Additional
Requirements:Committee Report:
The student will be required to prepare a committee report outlining their research progress and schedule advisory committee meetings each semester to review the report and evaluate progress toward the degree.
Formal Research Presentations:
In
addition to participation in Biochemistry
Seminar (Biochemistry 505 and
506), two formal research presentations
are required of candidates for
the Ph.D. degree.
Outside Research Proposal:
The
student will be required to prepare
and defend a research proposal
from an area of investigation
distinct from the student's research
topic.
Culminating
Events:
Proposal:
The dissertation proposal demonstrates the student's knowledge of and ability to conduct the proposed research. The proposal should describe the context and background surrounding a particular research problem and a methodological plan for investigating the problem. The proposal is a requirement for admission to candidacy and should be submitted and approved no more than one year after completing coursework (generally in the third year in the program).
Dissertation:
The Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry is a research degree. Research training begins with Introduction to Research Methodology (Biochemistry 508-511) in the first year of the graduate program and continues with the selection of a dissertation research advisor and development of an original research project. Dissertation research involves meaningful, critical thinking and the execution of ideas in the laboratory through the use of the scientific method. Dissertation research conducted by the student should be an original contribution to scientific knowledge. The quality of the student's Ph.D. dissertation research should be equivalent to that found in reputable biochemical journals.
The Academic Standards Committee will appoint a temporary advisory committee for each incoming student. This committee will meet twice a year with the student to establish an academic program and to ascertain the nature of the student's research interests. The student will select a Dissertation Advisor by the end of the second semester of the first year. The provisional advisory committee will then be dissolved and a permanent advisory committee will be appointed. The permanent advisory committee is responsible for the review of the student's research and academic progress twice yearly. The committee will decide when the student is permitted to give the first and final research seminars and will also determine whether the content of the student's research is sufficient for the Ph.D. dissertation.
The Final Examination Committee evaluates the student's dissertation and demonstration of competence within the field of the dissertation and related areas. The Examining Committee is appointed by the Academic Standards Committee and consists of seven faculty members, including the Dissertation Advisor, a member of one of the Department of Biochemistry's Graduate Committees, a faculty member from another department, and an external examiner from outside the university. The student has the right to select one member of the Final Examination Committee.
If a student desires a change in research advisor, or a research advisor desires to be relieved of responsibility to a student, the matter will be brought before a review committee. The review committee will consist of the student's advisory committee and the Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and will be chaired by the Director of the Graduate Program. Any decision may be appealed to the Academic Standards Committee.
The student will submit the dissertation in complete form not less than one calendar month prior to the date of the Final Examination. The dissertation must have been read and approved by the doctoral advisor prior to distribution. The student should confirm a time and date for the dissertation defense with the Advisory Committee and the Director of the Graduate Program at least 10 days before the defense is to be scheduled.
After the student has arranged the time, date, and room for the dissertation defense, the Announcement of Dissertation Defense is completed and forwarded to the Office of the Graduate School, Main Campus, and the Office of Graduate Studies at the Health Sciences Campus at least 10 working days before the defense. Announcements of the defense are sent to the chairpersons of all basic science departments and notices are posted.
The Committee will evaluate the quality of the dissertation research and the student's ability to express (both in writing and orally) her/his research question, methodological approach, primary findings, and implications. The Committee will vote to pass or fail the dissertation and the defense at the conclusion of the public presentation and question/answer period.
Contacts
Program
Contact Information:
www.temple.edu/medbiochem
Department
Information:
Dept.
of
Biochemistry
School
of
Medicine
3420
N.
Broad
Street
Philadelphia,
PA
19140
charles.grubmeyer@temple.edu
215-707-3263
Department
Contacts:
Admissions:
Charles
T.
Grubmeyer,
Ph.D.
charles.grubmeyer@temple.edu
215-707-4495
Program
Coordinator:
Parkson
Lee-Gau
Chong,
Ph.D.
parkson.lee-gau.chong@temple.edu
215-707-4182
Graduate
Chairperson:
Dianne
R.
Soprano,
Ph.D.
dianne.soprano@temple.edu
215-707-3266
Chairperson:
E.
Premkumar
Reddy,
Ph.D.
premkumar.reddy@temple.edu
215-707-4307
About the Program
The
Department
of
Biochemistry
offers
full-time
day
programs
of
study
leading
to
the
Master
of
Science
and
the
Doctor
of
Philosophy
degrees.
The
graduate
program
is
designed
to
provide
training
in
the
theory
and
practice
of
biochemistry
and
molecular
biology
for
eventual
service
in
research
and
teaching
positions.
The
program
is
aimed
at
broad
training
in
the
various
major
areas
of
biochemistry
and
molecular
biology,
with
in-depth
training
in
one
area
of
specialization.
Students
are
given
opportunities
for
instruction
in
diverse
laboratory
techniques
through
a
series
of
lecture
and
laboratory
courses,
and
experimental
research,
under
the
guidance
of
a
faculty
member.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 7 years
Campus
Location:
Health Sciences
Through permission
of the advisory committee,
elective courses not
offered on the Health
Sciences Campus may
be taken at other campuses.
Full-Time/Part-Time Status:
Students
are
required
to
complete
the
degree
program
through
classes
offered
before
4:30
p.m.
Department
Information:
Dept. of Biochemistry
School of Medicine
3420 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19140
charles.grubmeyer@temple.edu
215-707-3263
Interdisciplinary Study:
Members of the Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, the Specialized Center for Thrombosis Research, and the Center for Substance Abuse Research who hold academic appointments in the Department of Biochemistry also participate in the graduate training program.
Affiliation(s):
Not applicable.
Study Abroad:
No.
Ranking:
The "Insider's
Guide
to
the
Colleges" ranked
the
Department
of
Biochemistry
as
nationally
acknowledged
and "one
of
the
best
in
the
country."
Accreditation:
Not applicable.
Areas
of Specialization:
Specialized
graduate
training
is
available
in
the
fields
of
enzymology,
structure
and
biosynthesis
of
membranes,
biochemical
regulation
of
metabolism
and
of
cell
division,
biochemical
mechanisms
of
blood
coagulation,
lipid
and
carbohydrate
metabolism,
physical
chemistry
and
kinetics,
mechanisms
of
hormone
action,
nucleic
acid
and
protein
synthesis,
and
regulation
of
gene
expression.
Also,
multidisciplinary
instruction
is
available
in
the
fields
of
molecular
biology,
chemical
carcinogenesis,
tumor
enzymology,
and
the
biochemistry
of
aging.
Job
Placement:
The
graduate
faculty
has
designed
a
well-balanced
program
that
can
be
individually
tailored
to
fully
prepare
each
student
for
a
career
in
academic
or
industrial
biochemistry
or
related
fields.
The
graduate
program
is
designed
to
provide
training
in
the
theory
and
practice
of
Biochemistry
for
eventual
placement
in
research
and
teaching
positions.
Licensure:
Not applicable.
Non-Degree
Student Policy:
Non-matriculated
students
may
enroll
in
some
courses
with
permission
from
the
course
instructor
and
approval
from
the
Office
of
Graduate
Studies,
School
of
Medicine.
Financing Opportunities
Exceptionally qualified students who apply to the program may be nominated for Presidential, University, and Future Faculty Fellowships, which carry 4 years of support. In order to be nominated for these awards, prospective students must submit all application materials to the department by January 15.
Research
Assistantships are also available. Research Assistants
are
expected
to
devote
full-time
effort
in
the
laboratory
of
their
faculty
research
advisor to
research
pertaining
to
their
dissertation
project.
An
assistantship
application
is
not
required
because
candidates
admitted
to
the
program
generally
receive
a
stipend
or
work
study
support
plus
tuition
remission.
Updated 2.9.06
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