INFORMATION FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

PhD in Medicinal Biochemistry | Master of Science in Chemistry | Master of Science in Biochemistry

This web page is for graduate students in the PhD Medicinal Biochemistry, MS Chemistry and MS Biochemistry degree programs. It provides information on the overall graduate program, academic requirements, Departmental procedures, and other miscellaneous information. In addition to the specific points concerning degree requirements contained here, you should read carefully the section of the Graduate School Bulletin covering regulations governing the Master’s or PhD degrees. This gives more complete information concerning general academic regulations, important deadlines, applying for graduation, filing of theses, and other information.

We take pride in the fact that the Department has a size and attitude that are conducive to informal and close contacts between our faculty, staff, and students. You are always welcome to come to the Department office, Room 435, at any time to talk with the Department Head or to the office of the Director of Graduate Studies, Room 416, about any concerns you may have. We know you will find other members of the faculty equally approachable.

We hope you will have a successful and rewarding experience in your graduate work with us. We are glad you have chosen our program and look forward to your contributions to it.

• Stockroom Policies
• Graduate Student Association Information
• Policy on Photocopier Use
• Plan of Study form MS Biochemistry
• Plan of Study form MS Chemistry
• Typical Schedule MS Chemistry
• Typical Schedule Biochemistry
• Research Director Selection Form

General Requirements

You will need to complete 64 semester hours with a B average (GPA 3.0) to graduate. If you have an assistantship, you will need to maintain a GPA of 3.0 at all times to keep the assistantship. To complete the program in 4-5 years, you will need to take 7-8 credits in each semester excluding Summer. You do not need to register for any courses during the Summer Semester, unless you graduate during Summer. The following courses are required:

• CHE 556 Receptor Biochemistry (3 credits)
• CHE 557 Nucleic Acid Biochemistry (3 credits)
• CHE 656 Enzyme Mechanisms (3 credits)
• CHE 663 Medicinal Chemistry (3 credits)
• CHE 660 Biochemical Pharmacology and Disease Targets (3 credits)

• CHE 751 Graduate Seminar I (1 credit)
• CHE 752 Graduate Seminar II (1 credit)

You are expected to attend all posted seminars for the entire time of graduate study, even during semesters you are not enrolled in a seminar course.

• CHE 799 Dissertation (12 credits)

You may take elective and research courses as advised by your Dissertation advisor and committee in order to focus in one of the 3 research tracks in the program.

Other Requirements: Directed graduate research. Students will choose a research advisor and should begin their dissertation research within the first 3 months of the starting the program.

Qualifiers: Students will be required to pass two oral examinations for full admission into the program. These examinations must occur within 24 months of entering the program. The first examination will be given after the student has chosen a dissertation advisor and will be in the form of a public presentation of a research proposal, based on the research the student will be performing. A second exam will follow in which that proposal, written in the NIH style, will be defended in a private meeting with the students dissertation committee. The student must satisfactorily complete the oral presentation before defending the written proposal. Students will be given one opportunity to re-take the qualifiers if they are unsuccessful on the first attempt. After successful completion of the qualifiers, students may begin enrolling for dissertation research, CHE 799. Prior to the completion of the qualifiers, students may enroll in “Research Problems in Medicinal Biochemistry” CHE 780.

Internship: A particularly novel aspect of the PhD in Medicinal Biochemistry is the potential for internship experience. During one summer or semester, the student may work in a full time internship position in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company within North Carolina . This experience will provide the student with first-hand knowledge about how industry works. Students will work on a project to be determined by the company sponsoring the internship, with the approval of the student’s dissertation committee. Students whose future workplace is in industry will have a distinct advantage after this experience, because they will have gained knowledge about industry that cannot be acquired in an academic department. Students whose future workplace is in academia or government laboratories will also have gained a valuable understanding of how industry works.

Seminar: Students are required to attend all departmental seminars on Friday afternoons.

Dissertation Committee: Students must choose a dissertation committee prior to the completion of 18 semester hours in the program. The committee must consist of 4 members of the graduate faculty, two of which must be full members. The chair of the committee must be a graduate faculty member of the home department.

Dissertation: Students must complete a written research dissertation and give a public oral presentation of their completed work while registered for Che 752 seminar. In addition, the student must defend this dissertation orally to his/her dissertation committee. The seminar and dissertation defense should occur in the same term that the student applies for graduation.

Annual Reports: Each year students meet with their committee and review a brief written report (prepared by the student), which details research progress made during the preceding year.

Master’s Program in Chemistry

You will need to complete 30 semester hours with a B average (GPA 3.0) to graduate. If you have an assistantship, you will need to maintain a GPA of 3.0 at all times to keep the assistantship. To complete the program in two years, you will need to take 7-8 credits in each semester excluding Summer. You do not need to register for any courses during the Summer Semester, unless you graduate during Summer. The following courses are required:

• CHE 553 Advanced Organic Chemistry I (3 credits)
• CHE 632 Advanced Analytical Chemistry (3 credits)
• CHE 641 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II (3 credits)
• CHE 661 Advanced Physical Chemistry I (3 credits)

• CHE 601 Graduate Seminar I (1 credit)
• CHE 602 Graduate Seminar II (1 credit)

You are expected to attend all posted seminars for the entire time of graduate study, even during semesters you are not enrolled in a seminar course.

• CHE 699 Thesis (6 credits)

Suggested Schedule for Completion in Two Years

• Take two courses from CHE 556, CHE 663, or an elective.
• Take one credit of “Introduction to Graduate Research” as CHE 670. You will meet to discuss general aspects of research and will choose a research director. You will need to talk to at least four professors about research and make your choice of research director by the first Friday in December.
• Audit CHE 401 or take CHE 601 (literature seminar), if you already have introductory seminar experience.
• Attend all seminars (as well as the Wednesday sessions for CHE 401 students). You will continue to attend all seminars in future semesters.

• Take two courses from CHE 557, CHE 656, or an elective.
• Take CHE 601 and present a seminar on a topic from the literature.
• Take one or two credits of CHE 680 and start your research under the supervision of your research director (registering under his or her section).
• Begin work on your research proposal.
• Choose your thesis committee. This will consist of your research director and two other professors, at least one of which should be a full professor.

• Work full time on your research and finish writing your research proposal. Plan to submit your research proposal to your committee by the first week of classes.

• Take one or two courses (core course you have not yet taken or electives).
• Take CHE 680 and/or CHE 699 to complete a full course load of 7-8 credits.
• You are required to have your research proposal approved by your committee before you can register for CHE 699.

• Take any core or elective course you still need to take.
• Take CHE 602 and present a seminar on your research or prepare the seminar for Summer presentation.
• Take CHE 699 and/or CHE 680 to complete the 30 credits you need for your degree (perhaps save one credit of CHE 699 for summer).
• Complete your research and begin writing your thesis early in the semester.
• Fill out your degree Study Plan and have the Director of Graduate Studies sign it. Give a copy to your research director and keep a copy yourself.
• If you plan to graduate in May you must register for graduation within the first week of the semester. (However most students do not graduate until Summer.)

• Finish writing your thesis
• Take one credit of CHE 699 or CHE 801, Thesis Extension, since you must be registered during the semester in which
  you graduate.
• Your committee must have a final draft of your thesis at least 24 days before the thesis is due at the Graduate School.
• You must turn in your final thesis to the Graduate School by the deadline – there are no exceptions.
• To graduate in August, you must register for graduation within the first week of the Summer Semester. Turn your Study Plan in to the Graduate School at the time you apply to graduate.