Required Courses
Chemical Biology students follow an interdisciplinary course of preparation not available in most departmental programs. All students take Chemistry 525, Chemical Biology 510, Chemical Biology 601 and 602, and PIBS 503 and 504. Chemistry 525, discusses proteins, nucleic acids and how their action is regulated. The purpose of this course is to ensure that graduate students have the biochemical foundation necessary for their research. Additionally, students are exposed to cutting-edge research. This course will extend students' current knowledge of chemical biology, and provide them with the skills to confidently read, evaluate and discuss the highly interdisciplinary biochemistry literature. Chemical Biology 510 is a skills-focused course that helps students build foundational skills essential across different Chemical Biology disciplines (e.g. peer review, project design and management, data depiction, abstract writing, and research presentation).
Chemical Biology 601, 602, and PIBS 503, 504, are all one credit courses. PIBS 503 and 504 take place in the Fall and Winter of year one, respectively, and provide trainees a solid foundation in conducting research ethically. Chemical Biology 601 and 602 teach critical thinking and analysis through weekly discussion of research literature and practices. Peer-to-peer learning is also a key component of Chemical Biology 602, which must be taken by students three times in total - once in their first year, and twice between years 2-4.
All students will also complete program coursework, where students are taught critical thinking and analysis through weekly discussion of the primary research literature.
Electives
Based on individual interests, the remaining course requirements of the program can be fulfilled from a variety of chemistry, biochemistry or biology classes taught on campus. A total of 6 credit hours of elective coursework is required prior to achieving candidacy. No elective coursework beyond that which is taken in the first year is required by the Program. However, trainees are encouraged to take up to two additional didactic courses if their mentor and/or mentoring committee believe the course(s) will enhance progress towards student research goals.
Hence, a major advantage of the Chemical Biology Program is that it allows students maximum flexibility in their training program.
Research Rotations
During the first year in the program, students are required to conduct two semester-long research rotations in different laboratories of their choosing. These rotations are important for many reasons: they provide an opportunity for students to meet the faculty and other graduate students; they provide a basis to select a research advisor; they give students the chance to experience different types of research; and they acclimate students to the research environment at the University of Michigan.
At the end of the second semester of the program students, select a research advisor located in one of the participating departments of the program. The faculty advisor is the primary support and advisor for the remaining four years of the program.
Candidacy
Admission to candidacy marks the transition from a largely classroom-based experience to one that is focused on independent research, and typically occurs before the third year. Students are encouraged to advance to candidacy in the Fall of their second year, as this semester coincides with the ending of most didactic coursework.
The candidacy exam determines whether the student is ready to lead their thesis project and if there are areas of knowledge or experimental design that need strengthening in order for the student to succeed. Students are questioned on the background material, in addition to specific questions about the choice of experiments, strategies for data analysis and alternative plans if things do not work as outlined. Students who do not pass their exam at the initial taking are able to re-take the exam within a three- to six-month time frame.
Post candidacy regular annual meetings of the student's dissertation committee are held to ensure progress concludes with a dissertation and defense in the fifth year of the program. Once the advisor and thesis committee deem research results to be suitable for writing a thesis, students begin to write a thesis and then defend it. The Chemical Biology Ph.D. degree is designed to be completed in five years.