Molecular Biochemistry and Biophysics

The department offers interdisciplinary programs leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in molecular biochemistry and biophysics. New advances in our understanding of biological function can be expected from a synthesis of molecular genetics, biochemistry and insights gained from molecular structural information. Individuals with a quantitative, physical approach will be best placed to be innovators in the field. MBB programs complement more traditional graduate programs in biology, chemistry and physics by offering an integrated, molecular-based approach to understanding biological problems, taking insights from all three disciplines. A major focus of the program is on biophysical approaches to determining the structure of macromolecules and macromolecular assemblies. Faculty advisors are chosen from any of the participating departmental faculty regardless of their affiliation to a particular discipline; a particular strength of the participating faculty is in exploiting synchrotron x-ray sources for biological structural studies. MBB students will have access to state-of-the-art x-ray facilities at the nearby Advanced Photon Source, currently one of the most intense x-ray sources in the world.