間眅埶AV

i Please note:  

To view the current calendar, go to

| 間眅埶AV Calendar | Spring 2014

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

Doctor of Philosophy

This program provides advanced education and research training for a career in academia, industry, or the public sector, and emphasizes a research apprenticeship in combination with relevant course work. Students learn from and collaborate with researchers from a range of disciplines related to molecular biology and biochemistry (MBB). The program will be of interest to those wishing to use cutting edge laboratory and/or computational approaches to address research problems in biology, biochemistry or biomedical disciplines.

間眅埶AV Requirements

Students who possess a master of science (MSc) degree may apply to the molecular biology and biochemistry graduate program committee to be admitted to the doctor of philosophy (PhD) program. Exceptional students who have a bachelor of science (BSc) degree and relevant research experience may also be considered for entry. Applicants must have identified a senior supervisor who is willing to consider their application. Applicants should contact faculty members directly to discuss their research interests and confirm the availability of funding and space in their research group. Only students having identified a proposed senior supervisor will be considered for program admission.

Program Requirements

Students who enter the program with a bachelor of science (BSc) degree, or equivalent, are required to complete a minimum total of 18 units, at least 15 of which must be in graduate courses.

All students must complete:

MBB 801 - Student Seminar in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry I (3)

Discussion of recent literature through student seminars and written reports. Introduction to professional skills for scientific careers.

MBB 806 - PhD Graduate Research Seminar (3) +

Oral presentation and defense of a written PhD research proposal. Students will be examined on their progress and grasp of knowledge relevant to the proposed research and their capacity to complete the proposed thesis research. Open only to students in the PhD molecular biology and biochemistry graduate program.

and one unit of MBB colloquia by completing one of

MBB 821 - Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium (1)

Recent research articles on the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular activities will be presented and discussed by students and faculty, with an emphasis on critical analysis of the concepts and experimental design and methods. A student may not take more than 3 units of Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium courses, including BISC 821, 822, 823. Prerequisite: BISC 331/MBB 331 or equivalent. Students who have taken BISC 821, 822 or 823 may not receive credit for this course.

MBB 822 - Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium (1)

Recent research articles on the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular activities will be presented and discussed by students and faculty, with an emphasis on critical analysis of the concepts and experimental design and methods. A student may not take more than 3 units of Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium courses, including BISC 821, 822, 823. Prerequisite: BISC 331/MBB 331 or equivalent. Students who have taken BISC 821, 822 or 823 may not receive credit for this course.

MBB 823 - Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium (1)

Recent research articles on the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular activities will be presented and discussed by students and faculty, with an emphasis on critical analysis of the concepts and experimental design and methods. A student may not take more than 3 units of Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium courses, including BISC 821, 822, 823. Prerequisite: BISC 331/MBB 331 or equivalent. Students who have taken BISC 821, 822 or 823 may not receive credit for this course.

MBB 861 - Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium (1)

Recent research articles on the structure, function, and interactions of macromolecules including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, as well as their complexes, will be presented and discussed by students and faculty, with an emphasis on critical analysis of the concepts and experimental design and methods. Prerequisite: BISC 331/MBB 331 or equivalent.

MBB 862 - Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium (1)

Recent research articles on the structure, function, and interactions of macromolecules including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, as well as their complexes, will be presented and discussed by students and faculty, with an emphasis on critical analysis of the concepts and experimental design and methods. Prerequisite: BISC 331/MBB 331 or equivalent.

MBB 863 - Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium (1)

Recent research articles on the structure, function, and interactions of macromolecules including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, as well as their complexes, will be presented and discussed by students and facuty, with an emphasis on critical analysis of the concepts and experimental design and methods. Prerequisite: BISC 331/MBB 331 or equivalent.

and another 11 units selected from other graduate courses, chosen in consultation with the supervisory committee and which can include approriate courses from MBB and/or other departments. Two of these 11 units can come from colloquia and/or journal clubs, with journal clubs being completed as one-unit directed readings courses.

Entry with an MSc

Students who enter the program with a master of science (MSc) degree are required to complete a minimum of six units including both of:

MBB 801 - Student Seminar in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry I (3)

Discussion of recent literature through student seminars and written reports. Introduction to professional skills for scientific careers.

MBB 806 - PhD Graduate Research Seminar (3) ++

Oral presentation and defense of a written PhD research proposal. Students will be examined on their progress and grasp of knowledge relevant to the proposed research and their capacity to complete the proposed thesis research. Open only to students in the PhD molecular biology and biochemistry graduate program.

If MBB 801-3 has already been taken by the student, the remaining three units must be completed by taking appropriate graduate courses or colloquia.

Students are expected to attend the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry research seminar series and participate regularly in a journal club. Journal clubs are discussion groups that foucs on the current research literature, and can be in the form of the MBB colloquia, or informal groups consisting of the members of one or more research laboratories.

Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0

+ enrol at the earliest opportunity following four terms of program enrolment

++ completed at the first opportunity following two terms of program enrolment

Thesis

The emphasis of the program is on original research. An original thesis contributing to new knowledge is presented and defended according to graduate general regulation 1.7.5. The defense includes a public seminar on the contents of the thesis.

Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations

All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the  (residence, course work, academic progress, supervision, research competence requirement, completion time, and degree completion), as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled, as shown above.

For calendar technical problems or errors, contact calendar-sfu@sfu.ca | Calendar Changes and Corrections