G-BCH-PHD - Biochemistry - PhD

The Department of Biochemistry offers graduate work leading to the PhD in biochemistry. Diverse undergraduate majors, such as chemistry, biology, biophysics, molecular biology, and genetics, can prepare students for graduate study in Biochemistry, with advanced courses in chemistry being particularly useful.

The mission of the Duke University Biochemistry Graduate program is to educate and mentor students from diverse background in the fundamentals of biochemical principles and practice though courses and research by guiding students in their thesis research project and preparing them for a career in research, education, or other disciplines. The program promotes a commitment to excellence in research scholarship and fosters a spirit of creativity, service, and respect, within an environment that is ethical, inclusive, and diverse.

Specific program aims are:

1. Coursework: Graduates will be trained in a broad understanding of cellular structure and function at a molecular level; with deep knowledge in specific disciplines such as nucleic acid biochemistry, molecular genetics, biophysical methods, mechanistic enzymology, glycobiology, and membrane biogenesis, dynamics, transport and receptor biology; and critical scientific thinking skills.

2. Research: Graduates will develop skills a) in the laboratory and/or with computational research in order to reveal new biological principles; b) to perform in-depth analysis, interpretation, and presentation of research results; and c) to conduct ethical and responsible research.

3. Career Development: Graduates will be prepared for careers in interdisciplinary biochemical fields through training in scientific research, responsibility and ethics, teaching, and science communication.