Biochemistry
Overview
New College’s Biochemistry Area of Concentration (AOC) is an interdisciplinary program focused on exploration of the interface between chemistry and biology.
Like the Chemistry program at New College, our Biochemistry AOC develops students' scientific judgment and independence and encourages a high level of performance. Biochemistry students work closely with faculty who have been trained at leading universities and continue to carry out engaging and relevant research. With their guidance, students acquire the skills needed for scientific research in academia and industry.
New College's Biochemistry and Chemistry students have a long tradition of being awarded prestigious undergraduate research grants. In the past several years, nine New College students have received highly prized National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) grants for the summer. These programs are sponsored by the National Science Foundation and are hosted in various universities. They are among the most prestigious summer programs in which an undergraduate can participate.
With the dedicated mentorship and counseling of Biochemistry professors, New College students consistently attain placement into high-level graduate programs or launch promising careers in industry, medicine, or other professional fields.
Faculty in Biochemistry
Amy Clore, Professor of Biology
Romina Uranga, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
Requirements for the AOC in Biochemistry
A minimum of twenty-three (23) academic units.
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| General Chemistry | |
| General Chemistry I | |
| General Chemistry II | |
| General Chemistry Laboratory | |
| Mathematics | |
| Calculus I | |
| Calculus II* | |
| Biology | |
| Foundations of Biology II* | |
| Organic Chemistry | |
| Organic Chemistry I: Structure and Reactivity | |
| Organic Chemistry Inquiry Laboratory | |
| Organic Chemistry II: Structure and Reactivity | |
| Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | |
| Physics | |
| Physics I (Calculus-based) | |
or PHYS 2500 | Physics I (Algebra-based)* |
| Physics I Laboratory | |
| Physics II | |
| Physics II Laboratory (Recommended for graduate school) | |
| Physical Chemistry | |
| Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics of Biomolecular Systems | |
| Physical Chemistry Laboratory | |
| Biochemistry | |
| Biochemistry I | |
| Biochemistry II | |
| Biochemistry II Laboratory | |
| Electives | |
| One Molecular-Level Biology Course (chosen from Genetics, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or Microbiology) | |
| One Molecular-Level Biology Lab (chosen from Genetics, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or Microbiology) | |
| Additional Requirements | |
| One Independent Study Project (ISP) in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Molecular Biology | |
| Senior Thesis in Biochemistry and Baccalaureate Exam 1 | |
- 1
The thesis prospectus must be signed by two chemists and one biologist.
*Note: Since Biochemistry is already an interdisciplinary AOC with a significant number of requirements, a Joint AOC in Biochemistry is usually not possible.
Representative Senior Theses in Biochemistry
- Analysis of the ATPase activity of C. elegans RNA helicase A
- Purification and kinetic characterization of C. elegans malate dehydrogenase
- RNA Helicase A May Function to Upregulate Genes in the ALG3/ALG 4 26G RNA Interference Pathway
- Kinetic Characterization of the C. elegans Metabolic Enzyme IDH-1
- Kinetic Characterization of Glyceraldehyde- 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase-1 from C. elegans
- Stability-Modifying Mutations of C. elegans Cytoplasmic Malate Dehydrogenase
- Genome Sequence Analysis of a Novel Sediment-Derived Marine Bacterium and it's Biosynthesis of the Antimicrobial Molecules Prodigiosin and Cycloprodigiosin