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.

Admission 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 3.00, 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: graduateadmissions@ucdenver.edu

If sending a physical transcript, please mail to:

Graduate School
Campus Box 163
PO Box 173364
1380 Lawrence Street Suite 1250
Denver, CO 80205-3364

Degree Requirements

First Year

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Hours
BMSC 7806	Core I: Foundations in Biomedical Sciences	6
BMSC 7810	Core Topics in Biomedical Science	1-6
STBB 7650	Research in Structural Biology & Biochemistry ((Must take 2 sections))	1-10
STBB 7660	Structure Seminar	1
	Hours	9-23
	Total Hours	9-23

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Spring		Hours
STBB 7608	Molecular Interactions	3
STBB 7609	Biophysics & Spectroscopy	3
STBB 7650	Research in Structural Biology & Biochemistry	1-10
STBB 7660	Structure Seminar	1
	Hours	8-17
Summer
STBB 8990	Doctoral Thesis	1-10
	Hours	1-10
	Total Hours	9-27

Second Year

Plan of Study Grid

Second Year
Fall		Hours
STBB 7631	Molecular Structure A	1.5
STBB 7632	Molecular Structure B	1.5
STBB 7633	Molecular Structure C	1.5
STBB 7660	Structure Seminar	1
PHCL 7605	Responsible Conduct of Research	1
	Hours	6.5
	Total Hours	6.5

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Spring		Hours
STBB 7608	Molecular Interactions	3
STBB 7609	Biophysics & Spectroscopy	3
STBB 7650	Research in Structural Biology & Biochemistry	1-10
STBB 7660	Structure Seminar	1
	Hours	8-17
	Total Hours	8-17

Third Year & Beyond

Fall/Spring/Summer

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
STBB 8990	Doctoral Thesis	1-10

Learning Objectives

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

Policies

Please refer to the Graduate School Policies page.

Mair Churchill, Ph.D., Program Director
Mair.Churchill@cuanschutz.edu | 303.724.3670

Maia Evans, MLIS, Program Administrator
Maia.Evans@cuanschutz.edu | 303.724.3102
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
12800 E 19th Avenue
Mail Stop 8300
Aurora, CO 80045