Overview
The Structural Biology and Biochemistry (STBB) PhD Program is an interdepartmental graduate training program offered within the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado. Student training places a major emphasis on research experiences, both in lab rotations and thesis projects, and includes a range of coursework in biochemistry, biophysics, drug design, pharmacology, and cellular, molecular, and structural biology.
The STBB Program encourages students to engage in collaborative projects and provides shared mentoring that can include faculty from outside The Program. Such interactions are geared towards fostering interdisciplinary training.
Faculty research activities cover a range of structural and computational techniques including NMR Spectroscopy, X-Ray.
Crystallography, Cryo-EM, Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Biophysics, and Peptide/Protein Chemistry that are focused on a diversity of biological targets such as signaling molecules, transmembrane proteins, RNA, genome bioinformatics, lipids, and oligosaccharides.
Admissions Requirements
Admission Philosophy
Student are considered and selected on the basis of past academic performance, previous research experience, recommendations, and individual interviews. While previous experience in structural biology and biochemistry coursework and research is helpful, the STBB program welcomes applicants with varied backgrounds. Students most likely to succeed have traditionally been those with intellectual achievement and creativity, first-hand understanding of laboratory research, and a strong personal desire and motivation to progress in their scientific training.
Entrance Requirements
Students are selected on the basis of past academic performance and, where possible, individual interviews. We select students who show intellectual vigor, independence, and strong motivation to become creative and successful scientists. The faculty recognizes that students who are attracted to a career in Structural Biology and Biochemistry come from highly varied backgrounds. Although there are no specific undergraduate course requirements, students with a good undergraduate foundation in math and the biological and chemical sciences have performed best in the Program. It is suggested that applicants have completed courses in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and cell and molecular biology before entering the Program.
The Structural Biology and Biochemistry Program requires that applicants achieve a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0, and recommends that applicants complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Foreign applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English.
How to Apply
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS DECEMBER 1st.
PRIORITY DEADLINE FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS IS NOVEMBER 1.
To apply for admission applicants must submit the following:
- Online Graduate School application.
- A $50.00 domestic and $75.00 international non-refundable application fee [credit card (on-line only), check, or money order]. No application will be processed unless this fee is paid.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation. The most informative letters will come from Professors who have mentored you in your research experiences. Professors who have taught science classes you have been enrolled in, or whom you have worked with in an advisory capacity, are also good choices. We do not recommend that you ask postdocs, technicians or fellow students for letters. Likewise, members of the community are generally not good choices, as typically their understanding of biomedical PhD training, and hence their ability to evaluate your potential, is limited.
- GRE test scores are optional but recommended. Use GRE code 4875.
- TOEFL or IELTS scores and financial support verification (international students only).
- One (1) official transcript of all academic work completed to date. To be considered "official", the transcripts must come from the issuing institution directly to the University of Colorado Denver Graduate Admissions.
Electronic Transcripts should be sent to: graduate.school@ucdenver.edu
If sending a physical transcript, please mail to:
University of Colorado Denver
Graduate School
Mail Stop C296
Fitzsimons Building, W5107
13001 E. 17th Place
Aurora, CO 80045
Degree Requirements
First Year
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Fall | ||
BMSC 7806 | Core I: Foundations in Biomedical Sciences | 6 |
BMSC 7810 | Core Topics in Biomedical Science A Discovering Protein Structure & Function | 2 |
BMSC 7810 | Core Topics in Biomedical Science Student Choice | 2 |
STBB 7650 | Research in Structural Biology & Biochemistry 001 | 1-10 |
STBB 7650 | Research in Structural Biology & Biochemistry 002 | 1-10 |
STBB 7660 | Structure Seminar | 1 |
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Spring | ||
STBB 7609 | Biophysics & Spectroscopy | 1.5 |
STBB 7610 | Biophysics and Spectroscopy Lab | 1 |
STBB 7650 | Research in Structural Biology & Biochemistry 0V3 | 1-10 |
STBB 7660 | Structure Seminar | 1 |
Electives as Desired |
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
SUMMER | ||
STBB 8990 | Doctoral Thesis | 1 |
Second Year
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Fall | ||
STBB 7650 | Research in Structural Biology & Biochemistry 0V3 | 1-10 |
STBB 7660 | Structure Seminar | 1 |
BMSC 7811 | Responsible Conduct of Research | 1 |
Take 1 course from: | ||
STBB 7631 | Molecular Structure A | 1.5 |
STBB 7632 | Molecular Structure B | 1.5 |
STBB 7633 | Molecular Structure C | 1.5 |
Electives as Desired |
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Spring | ||
STBB 7650 | Research in Structural Biology & Biochemistry 0V3 | 1-10 |
Electives as Desired |
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
SUMMER | ||
STBB 8990 | Doctoral Thesis | 1 |
Third Year & Beyond
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Take 30 credits through duration of program: | ||
Enroll in 5 credits (Fall/Spring); 1 credit (Summer) | ||
STBB 8990 | Doctoral Thesis | 1-10 |
Learning Objectives
Goals of the Program
The goals of the Structural Biology and Biochemistry Program are to:
- Foster scientific excellence and innovation in the field of bimolecular structure and function.
- Develop and advance expertise and technology to support cutting-edge research in biomedical sciences
- Provide training and career development for outstanding scientists
- Identify and characterize molecular targets and develop innovative therapeutics and diagnostic tools
- Exploit discoveries and intellectual properties through strategic partnerships with the industry.
Learning Outcomes
The PhD program in Structural Biology and Biochemistry trains graduate students to become proficient and successful investigators who are able to:
- Demonstrate a basic knowledge of central concepts in the biomedical sciences.
- Understand the current concepts in structural biology and biochemistry.
- Read and critically evaluate the scientific literature.
- Formulate hypotheses based on current concepts in the field and design, conduct, and interpret their own research projects.
- Present research results in peer-reviewed publications and in a dissertation.
- Communicate research results effectively through oral presentations at scientific seminars, conferences, and other venues.
- Write a competitive application for research funding.
- Develop ancillary skills, where necessary, to obtain positions outside of scientific research.
With this knowledge, they will understand molecular structures and mechanisms. Training is provided in the following exciting areas:
- Biomolecular Interactions.
- Protein and RNA structure, function, and dynamics.
- Computational studies of structure and function relationships of biomolecules.
- Structure-based design of new molecules important in biology, biochemistry, and pharmacology.
- Proteomics and metabolics.
The courses and research emphasize both breadth and flexibility while encouraging interdisciplinary training. Students may choose research projects from a variety of laboratories at the University of Colorado and the National Jewish Medical and Research Center. Training will result in a PhD degree awarded by the Program in Structural Biology and Biochemistry.
Courses
Course will focus on the fundamental principles of biomedical sciences. Lectures and recitations/discussions will primarily address the basics of molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, cell biology and energetic principles. Course is typically limited to biomedical science PhD and BSBT MS students. Previously offered as IDPT 7806
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
Typically Offered: Fall.
Sections focus on different core topics in biomedical science, and will address subject areas such as protein structure and function, neurobiology, embryology, stem cell research, and cancer biology. Students can enroll in multiple Core Topic Courses topics in one semester. Previously offered as IDPT 7810.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 20.
AMC-PHD PhD Students only
Typically Offered: Fall.
This course aims to provide the students with a deep understanding of the application of different biophysical techniques to study interactions of biomolecules with each other or with small molecules. The course will supply the students with the needed tools to be able to design their own biophysical experiments to tackle a particular question.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Spring.
This course aims to provide the students hands-on training in the use of a variety of biophysical techniques for the quantification of biomolecular interactions. Must be taken with STBB 7609. Corequisite: STBB 7609
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Spring.
Gain an in-depth understanding of the underlying principles of an NMR experiment, so that student can turn NMR theory into NMR practice for their research.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall.
Understand the theory and practice of structural determination using x-ray crystallography.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall.
The purpose of this course is to provide students with a concise understanding of biological mass spectrometry and its application to study and characterize various classes of biomolecules in state of the art research. Course is 7.5 weeks.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall.
The course will provide an introduction to conceptual and practical aspects of macromolecular cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). A combination of lectures and hands-on experiences will give students a working understanding of cryo-EM and its application for structural analysis of biological macromolecules.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Fall.
Research work in Structural Biology and Biochemistry. 2 laboratory hours per week per credit.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP
Repeatable. Max Credits: 10.
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
Seminar series provides a forum for the presentation of scientific experiments and information in structural biology by faculty, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
Doctoral thesis work in Structural Biology and Biochemistry.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP
Repeatable. Max Credits: 10.
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Additional Information: Report as Full Time.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
This course is listed for the benefit of the advanced student who desires to pursue one or more topics in Structural Biology and Biochemistry in considerable depth. Supervision by a full-time faculty member is necessary.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 3.
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
Contact Us
Catherine Musselman, PhD
Associate Professor
Program Director
catherine.musselman@cuanschutz.edu
Aubrey Thorburn
Program Administrator
aubrey.thorburn@cuanschutz.edu
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
12800 E. 19th Avenue
Mailstop 8300
Aurora, CO 80045