Biochemistry
This is an archived copy of the 2018-19 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://bulletin.ndsu.edu.
Program Description
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers graduate study leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The department also participates in the interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Cellular and Molecular Biology.
At the start of the first year of study, entering graduate students take entrance examinations in chemistry and biochemistry, as well as analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. The graduate student progress committee uses these exams for advisory purposes in recommending course work during the first year. As a consequence, programs are individually tailored to the needs of each student.
The chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology of plant, animal, insect, and microbial systems are studied through advanced course work and research. Selection of the area of emphasis depends on the interests of the student. Typically, course work is completed in one to one-and-a-half years for M.S. candidates, and two years for Ph.D. candidates, leaving later years for full-time thesis research. The typical time to complete a graduate degree averages three years for the M.S. degree and approximately five years for the Ph.D.
Research Opportunities and Infrastructure
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has more than 10 externally funded faculty research programs. Research expenditures have averaged $1.8 million over the last 10 years, with more than $2.2 million in the last two years.
All research and most teaching activities within the department occur within three centrally-located buildings, including two connected facilities, Ladd Hall and Dunbar Laboratory, as well as the Quentin Burdick Building, located across the street.
Most departmental offices, classrooms and teaching labs, as well as some research labs are located in Ladd Hall, while Dunbar and the third floor of the Quentin Burdick Building primarily consist of research laboratories. Ladd Hall also houses departmental glass, machine, and electronics shops.
Modern instrumentation is vital to research in the chemical sciences. The quality and quantity of instrumentation within the department has been greatly enhanced in the last few years through aggressive fundraising efforts and university matching support.
The department has recently upgraded its mass spectrometry capabilities to include a Bio-TOF III with accurate mass analysis, ESI and CI ionization; as well as an Esquire 3000 Plus - an Ion trap instrument with MS-MS and proteomics capabilities. A dedicated LC can be integrated with the both the instruments.
The Organic Spectroscopy Laboratory is primarily devoted to maintenance and operation of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometers. The recently upgraded facility includes three modern high-field instruments: Varian 500, 400, and 300 MHz spectrometers. All have multinuclear, 2-D, and variable temperature capabilities, and the 400 MHz instrument has been recently upgraded for solids capabilities. This center also includes the departmental FTIR.
The Materials Characterization Laboratory houses the departmental crystallography facilties, including a Bruker single crystal CCD X-ray diffractometer with low temperature capabilities, a Philips MPD (Multi- Purpose Diffractometer), two Philips X-ray powder diffractometers, and a Kevex X-ray fluorescence unit. CHN Elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and differential thermal analysis (DTA) are also available.
The Center for Protease Research - Core Biology Facility is a new facility housing equipment and technical personnel for performing bioassay, cell and tissue culture, and molecular biology experiments. For bioassays, the facility has a fluorimeter capable of top or bottom reading and the capability to handle both 96- and 384-well plates. For sample preparation, researchers can utilize cell and tissue culture capabilities such as flow hoods and culture chambers. In addition, RT-PCR and FPLC protein purification technology is available.
The chemistry library, located in Ladd Hall, provides graduate students and faculty with convenient 24-hour access to more than 200 journals and approximately 10,000 volumes. Literature searching via SciFinder is supported.
Prospective students are encouraged to visit the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry website for the latest descriptions of research programs and instrumentation.
The graduate programs in biochemistry are open to all qualified graduates of universities and colleges of recognized standing. To be admitted with full standing to the program, the applicant must meet the Graduate School's admission requirements, have adequate preparation for the study of chemistry and biochemistry at the graduate level, and show potential to undertake advanced study and research as evidenced by academic performance and experience.
Applications will be considered at any time. Application materials should be submitted directly to the Graduate School and need to be received before May 1 to be considered for the upcoming academic year.
Financial Assistance
The student must first apply to the Graduate School and be accepted in full or conditional status before he/she is eligible for an assistantship in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Graduate students in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry are supported during both the academic year and during summer months by either teaching assistantships (TA) or research assistantships (RA). As of the 2014-2015 academic year, the standard stipend is $22,000 per year for both RAs and TAs. University tuition (no fees) is waived for all TAs and RAs in good academic standing.
Master of Science
The Master of Science program requires the completion of a total of 30 graduate semester credits with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better. This total is comprised of both class work and research credit, but must consist of at least 16 semester credits from letter-graded course work. The Ph.D. program requires the completion of a total of 90 graduate semester credits with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better. This total is comprised of both class work and research credit, but must consist of at least 27 semester credits from letter-graded course work.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CHEM 720 | Introduction to Chemical Research | 2 |
| CHEM 790 | Graduate Seminar (second year seminar) | 1 |
| or BIOC 790 | Graduate Seminar | |
| UNIV 720 | Scientific Integrity | 1 |
| CHEM 790 | Graduate Seminar (defense seminar) | 1 |
| or BIOC 790 | Graduate Seminar | |
| Didactic Credits (601-689, 691; 700-789, 791; 800-889 and 891) | 16 * | |
| CHEM 798 | Master's Thesis | 6-10 |
| or BIOC 798 | Master's Thesis | |
| Total Credits Required | 30 | |
| As part of total semester credits, the following departmental courses are recommended for students based on discipline: | ||
| Analytical | ||
| CHEM 632 | Analytical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 730 | Separations | 2 |
| CHEM 732 | Advanced Analytical Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 736 | Mass Spectrometry | 2 |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | ||
| BIOC 673 | Methods of Biochemical Research | 3 |
| BIOC 674 | Methods of Recombinant DNA Technology | 3 |
| BIOC 701 | Comprehensive Biochemistry I | 4 |
| BIOC 702 | Comprehensive Biochemistry II | 4 |
| Inorganic | ||
| CHEM 724 | Chemical Applications of Group Theory | 1 |
| CHEM 725 | Advanced Survey of Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 727 | Organometallic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 728 | Physical Methods for Chemical and Biomolecular Research | 2 |
| CHEM 744 | Organic Spectroscopy | 2 |
| Organic | ||
| CHEM 741 | Physical Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 742 | Physical Organic Chemistry II | 2 |
| CHEM 744 | Organic Spectroscopy | 2 |
| CHEM 745 | Organic Synthesis | 4 |
| Physical | ||
| BIOC 665 | ||
| CHEM 760 | Statistical Thermodynamics | 4 |
| CHEM 763 | Kinetics | 2 |
| CHEM 764 | Dynamics | 2 |
| * | A minimum of 10 must be from courses numbered 701-789; 791 or 800-889; 891 |
Each student chooses a thesis adviser within six months of beginning graduate school. As this is one of the most important decisions made in graduate school, students are strongly urged to visit multiple faculty members to discuss research opportunities. In addition, faculty seminars during the fall semester are designed to acquaint new students with the available research programs.
By the end of the first academic year, each student selects an advisory and examination committee, which consists of the thesis adviser, two other faculty members in the chemistry department, and one faculty member from a department outside the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Candidates for the PhD degree are required to earn at least 90 semester credits, which can include credits for seminar and research. No fewer than 27 of these 90 semester credits shall be earned in courses carrying graduate credit (courses numbered 601 to 789), and of these 27 credits, a minimum of 20 must be from courses numbered 701 to 789. Of these 20 credits, the requirement is 8 total credits in at least two fields of study other than the major area, selected from:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Coatings and Polymeric Materials
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Materials & Nanotechnology
- Microbiology
- Organic Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Other related area (e.g., Physics, Math, Pharmacy, Engineering, Zoology)
A student matriculating with a Master’s Degree, including one earned at an international institution, must earn not fewer than 60 graduate credits at NDSU. Of these credits, not fewer than 15 credits must be NDSU courses numbered from 701 to 789. Courses numbered 601-689 may be used for the Plan of Study as long as they have not been taken in an undergraduate or previous graduate program. Approved courses are Department of C&B 625, 626, 627, 628 and 630.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Introduction to Chemical Research | ||
| Graduate Seminar (second year seminar) | ||
or CHEM 790 | Graduate Seminar | |
| Graduate Seminar (proposal seminar) | ||
or CHEM 790 | Graduate Seminar | |
| Graduate Seminar (public presentation) | ||
or CHEM 790 | Graduate Seminar | |
| Graduate Seminar (defense seminar) | ||
or CHEM 790 | Graduate Seminar | |
| Scientific Integrity | ||
| As part of total semester credits, the following departmental courses are required for students based on program: | ||
| Advanced Survey of Inorganic Chemistry | ||
| Methods of Biochemical Research | ||
| Methods of Recombinant DNA Technology | ||
| Comprehensive Biochemistry I | ||
| Comprehensive Biochemistry II | ||
| Advanced Analytical Chemistry | ||
| Physical Organic Chemistry I | ||
| Intermediate Physical Chemistry | ||
| Doctoral Dissertation | ||
Admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree is accomplished by satisfying three requirements: 1) satisfactory performance in course work with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average, 2) satisfactory performance on a written comprehensive examination, taken by the end of the fourth semester, and 3) satisfactory defense of an original research proposal on a topic approved by the student's advisory committee. The defense of this proposal must occur at least eight months prior to the final oral examination.
Following completion of dissertation research, the candidate must complete a written dissertation and an oral presentation to the department and advisory committee.
Christopher L. Colbert, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 2000
Postdoctoral, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 2000-2004
Research Interests: Structural Biology and Metalloprotein Biochemistry
Heldur Hakk, Ph.D. (adjunct)
North Dakota State University, 1997
Research Interests: Fate and Metabolism of Environmental Contaminants
Stuart J. Haring, Ph.D.
University of Iowa, 2004
Postdoctoral, University of Iowa, 2004-2008
Research Interests: DNA Metabolism and Cell Cycle Regulation
Erika Offerdahl, Ph.D.
University of Arizona, 2008
Research Interests: Biochemistry/STEM Education
Sangita C. Sinha, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 2000
Postdoctoral, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 2001-2005
Research Interests: Biochemistry and Structural Biology of Host-Pathogen Interaction
D. K. Srivastava, Ph.D.
Banaras Hindu University, 1980
Research Interests: Mechanistic Enzymology
John Wilkinson, Ph.D.
Vanderbilt University, 2001
Postdoctoral, University of Michigan, 2001-2006
Research Interests: Metabolic Control of Cancer Progression