Curriculum

To see a typical Graduate Student Plan, click here.

Coursework Requirements - Overview: CBI trainees must complete any three of the following four 3-credit-hour lecture four courses having scientific content: Biochemistry, Molecular Genetics, Enzymology and the Cell Biology. A course on Scientific Ethics is also required. The Chemistry or Biochemistry/Biophysics graduate programs have additional course requirements that are viewed as CBI electives. The core coursework required for CBI training represents a compromise between 2 competing interests. We want to provide abundant formal training in CBI-related research. However, given the diversity of our trainers, we realize that this interface is broad in scope and students must specialize in ways that no single set of courses can universally accommodate. Thus, we do not want to over-burden students by requiring them to enroll in specialized courses that may not be required for their primary research emphasis. CBI students must be allowed to develop expertise in their primary area of specialization as well as communicative ability in other CBI-related research areas. The student's graduate program is responsible for the coursework necessary for developing their primary research expertise while the coursework required by the CBI program aims to foster the communications aspect. Our coursework requirements are designed with these goals in mind.

Course Requirements - Specifics: In the fall semester of their first year, CBI students choose between either of two Biochemistry courses, including General Biochemistry (BICH 603) or Principles of Biological Chemistry (CHEM 627). Students with a strong undergraduate course in Biochemistry should take BICH 603, while those without such a background should take CHEM 627. Entering students with exceptionally strong undergraduate experiences in biochemistry can place out of either of these 2 courses. CBI students will also choose between either of two courses in Molecular Genetics, including BICH 431 (Undergraduate Molecular Genetics) or BICH 631 (Graduate Molecular Genetics). The former would be recommended for students who have not had a course in molecular genetics, while the latter would be recommended for those who have. In the spring semester, all CBI students enroll in Bioorganic Reaction Mechanisms (CHEM 672), in which mechanisms of action of various enzymes and coenzymes are discussed, including new developments, theory and established mechanisms. Thus, it should also be ideal for Biochemistry/Biophysics and Chemistry students, most of whom will not have had a course on this topic previously. The course covers gene expression, organelles, signal transduction, the cell cycle, cytoskeleton and trafficking. In our view, these three 3-credit-hour courses provide fundamental training for a developing research career in Chemical Biology. CBI will support (with a $200 annual stipend) the purchase of textbooks or other scientific books required for coursework or research.

CBI students will take 2 - 3 additional courses to fulfill their individual Departmental requirements. Typical electives for Biochemistry students might be: BICH 605, Methods of Biochemical Analysis; and BICH 624, Enzymes, Proteins and Nucleic Acids; CHEM689, Biophysical Chemistry; CHEM628, Bioinorganic Chemistry. Chemically oriented students might elect to take: CHEM 615, Organic Synthesis; CHEM 646 (Physical Organic chemistry); CHEM610 (Synthetic methods); CHEM 636, Mechanistic Inorganic Chemistry; CHEM 647, Spectra of Organic Compounds; CHEM 673, Symmetry and Group Theory in Chemistry.

Laboratory Rotations and Selection of a Research Advisor: CBI students will carry out three rotation projects in the laboratory of CBI trainers prior to selecting a research advisor, at least 1 of which must be outside of the student's home department to insure broader exposure to the research opportunities available. All entering graduate students in the Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics rotate in 3 laboratories for 6 wks per lab before selecting their advisor in April, whereas typical entering students in the Chemistry department do not rotate in laboratories and they select their advisor earlier - by mid-October. Thus, the timing of the rotations required by the CBI program differs for students in the two participating graduate programs in order to accommodate the different departmental schedules. CBI students in the Biochemistry program follow the same schedule as all other entering graduate students; their situation differs from that of other Biochemistry students only in that the rotations are done exclusively in the labs of CBI faculty. Chemistry students are given flexibility as to the timing and duration of rotations. Preferably, chemistry students begin their rotations during the summer before classes begin, as this allows time for two rotations of 4-6 weeks during the summer. The CBI program supports students during this time using funds provided by TAMU. The third rotation is done in Sept. and Oct., allowing all three to be completed by the time advisors must be selected. Students who are unable to come during the summer do 3 rotations of 4 weeks duration during the Fall semester, completing the third rotation in time to join a lab at the same time as their classmates.

In both departments the formal advisor selection process is the same. A student submits a ranked list of faculty to the graduate office. The Department then contacts the individual faculty to ascertain if the student can join that lab. CBI students choose among the entire faculty of their home department and CBI faculty of the other departments. Thus, a CBI student in the Biochemistry graduate program can work with a CBI faculty member in Chemistry, whether or not that faculty member has a joint appointment in Biochemistry. The situation is similar for a Chemistry graduate student. CBI students may select non-CBI faculty in their home department and retain their CBI fellowship. However, in this case it is unlikely that a second year of funding will be provided.

Once a student selects an advisor, an advisory committee is chosen to oversee student progress. TAMU regulations require that these committees have at least four graduate faculty selected by the student and advisor; one of these must be from a different department than the student's. In the case of CBI students, three of the four faculty on the advisory committee must be CBI faculty.

Students take comprehensive preliminary exams as part of the PhD requirement regardless of departmental affiliation. The procedures for preliminary exams differ slightly between the two departments. A preliminary exam is given by the student's advisory committee as a matter of university policy, and consists of both a written and oral portion. For biochemistry graduate students, each member of the committee contributes questions to the written portion. Chemistry students take a series of cumulative exams during their first two years, and are required to pass five. These replace the written exams given by the advisory committee, with the exception of the written exam given by the advisor. Cumulative exams are given monthly in five areas: Analytical, Biological, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical Chemistry. CBI students may take an exam in any area, but at least one Biological exam must be passed to remain in good CBI standing.

CBI Journal Club: In addition to courses designed to provide a general background, CBI students participate in a Journal Club in Chemical Biology (CHEM 689; 1-credit-hour) throughout their graduate career. This is a literature-based course in which students discuss recent publications at the Chemistry/Biology Interface. This provides students with additional in depth training in modern advances in this area.

Teaching: The CBI Program has no teaching requirement, but both the Departments of Biochemistry & Biophysics and Chemistry do, so all CBI students automatically gain teaching experience. In Chemistry, students are teaching assistants for two semesters. Most chemistry graduate students fulfill this obligation in their first year. CBI students with Chemistry as their home department will defer teaching until the third year so that they can complete the CBI program. The teaching requirement for biochemistry/biophysics students is one semester. While most such students teach during the first year, Biochemistry/Biophysics CBI students defer their teaching requirement until after their third year.

First Year Evaluation of Trainees: At the end of the first year, the Steering committee faculty will evaluate which of these students should be supported by CBI for their second year. Selections will be based on course grades, participation in CBI activities, and overall research productivity. If all students are making satisfactory progress, all students will be funded for their second year if sufficient funds are available. If a student is making sub-optimal progress, they will be supported in their second year by the trainer whose laboratory they joined. First-year evaluation serves to identify students who are not advancing appropriately through the program and to ensure that CBI funds are invested wisely. The CBI director will use this opportunity to suggest to the primary research advisor that he/she discuss this issue with the student as a means of bringing the student back on track. All evaluations will be confidential and will not affect any other aspect of the student's training experience.