Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree in the field of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Program Learning Outcomes for the PhD Degree in the field of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Upon completing the PhD degree in the field of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, students will be able to:
- Develop a comprehensive knowledge of current and past research accomplishments and techniques in biochemistry and cell biology.
- Demonstrate independent problem solving and critical thinking skills.
- Demonstrate effective written, oral, and visual communication skills required to articulate scientific findings and significance via publications, seminars, and a thesis describing independent research.
Requirements for the PhD Degree in the field of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
For general university requirements, please see Doctoral Degrees. For additional requirements, regulations, and procedures for all graduate programs, please see All Graduate Students. Students pursuing the PhD Degree in the field of Biochemistry and Cell Biology must complete the requirements as listed below.
Course Requirements
Most of the formal course studies will be completed in the first year of residence to allow the students to commence thesis research at the end of their second semester at Rice. During the first year, the BCB Graduate Advisory Committee will advise all graduate students. This committee will determine the formal course program to be taken during the first year in residence. Students are required to have training in biochemistry and cell biology; training in genetics and physical chemistry or biophysics is also beneficial. Students lacking formal training in biochemistry or cell biology are required to take the equivalent background courses during their first year.
The following Rice courses must be taken if students lack these prerequisites in their final undergraduate transcript:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOS 301 | BIOCHEMISTRY I | 3 |
| BIOS 341 | CELL BIOLOGY | 3 |
The requirements listed in the General Announcements (GA) satisfy the minimum requirements for this degree program. In certain instances, courses (or requirements) not officially listed here may be substituted upon approval of the program's academic advisor or, where applicable, the department or program's Director of Graduate Studies. Course substitutions or any exceptions to the stated official curricular requirements must be approved by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the PhD Degree in the field of Biochemistry and Cell Biology | 90 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| BIOS 575 | INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH | 1 |
| BIOS 581 | GRADUATE SEMINAR IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY (required in all fall semesters of residency) | 1 credit hour per year |
| BIOS 582 | GRADUATE SEMINAR IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY (required in all spring semesters of residency) | 1 credit hour per year |
| BIOS 583 | MOLECULAR INTERACTIONS 1 | 4 |
| BIOS 587 | RESEARCH DESIGN, PROPOSAL WRITING, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | 2 |
| BIOS 588 | CELLULAR INTERACTIONS 1 | 4 |
| BIOS 599 | GRADUATE TEACHING IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY (first semester, second year) 2 | 1 |
| BIOS 599 | GRADUATE TEACHING IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY (second semester, second year) 2 | 1 |
| BIOS 701 | GRADUATE LAB RESEARCH I | 2-4 |
| BIOS 702 | GRADUATE LAB RESEARCH II | 2-4 |
| BIOS 800 | BIOCHEMISTRY & CELL BIOLOGY GRADUATE RESEARCH 3 | 1-15 |
| UNIV 594 | RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH | 1 |
| Elective Requirements | ||
| Select at least 6 credit hours from the set of 500-level advanced BIOS electives listed below (or select other coursework at the 500-level with departmental approval): | 6 | |
| PHYSICAL BIOLOGY | ||
| STEM CELL BIOLOGY | ||
| MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASES | ||
| MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND GENETICS | ||
| PLANT MOLECULAR GENETICS AND DEVELOPMENT | ||
| LAB MODULE IN NMR SPECTROSCOPY AND MOLECULAR MODELING | ||
| PRACTICAL X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHY | ||
| ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL DATA | ||
| DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AND THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE | ||
| VIRUSES AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES | ||
| MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOPHYSICS | ||
| STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY | ||
| MICROBIOLOGY: THE MOLECULAR BASIS FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT | ||
| MOLECULAR MEMBRANE BIOLOGY | ||
| CANCER BIOLOGY | ||
| COMPUTATION WITH BIOLOGICAL DATA | ||
| Thesis Requirement | ||
| Completion and public defense of a thesis | ||
| Additional Coursework as Approved by Department | ||
| Total Credit Hours | Minimum of 90 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| 1 | Students generally complete BIOS 583, BIOS 587, and BIOS 588 in their first year, and will be responsible for the content of these courses in their admission to candidacy examination. |
| 2 | Students gain teaching experience by serving as discussion leaders and graders in two undergraduate courses during their second year (BIOS 599); additional teaching experiences are available on an individual basis. |
| 3 | Students are required to enroll in at least 9 hours of BIOS 800 during all semesters of residency after the first 2 semesters. |
Evaluation of Progress in Graduate Study
The BCB Graduate Advising Committee evaluates each student's undergraduate record and recommends coursework based on the requirements. Thesis advisors may require additional courses.
At the end of each semester of the first year, the department chair, in consultation with the faculty, reviews student performance in the formal coursework. Students must maintain at least a B average (GPA ≥ 3.00), perform satisfactorily in BIOS 701/BIOS 702, and demonstrate outstanding motivation and potential for research. Thesis lab assignments are made based on student and faculty preferences following research rotations.
Evaluation after the first year includes:
- Ongoing review of research progress by the thesis advisor; satisfactory research progress will be indicated by a grade of "S" in BIOS 800 each semester.
- A yearly research progress assessment by the student’s Research Progress Review Committee.
- Presentation of research progress at least once a year in seminar format (BIOS 581/BIOS 582) starting in the fourth semester and continuing through the 5th year; attendance required in all semesters of residency.
- Completion of a written and oral admission to candidacy examination before the start of the fifth semester.
- Defense of the PhD thesis research and text in a final public seminar presentation and oral examination attended by the student’s Thesis Committee.
Policies for the PhD Degree in the field of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Biochemistry and Cell Biology Graduate Program Handbook
The General Announcements (GA) is the official Rice curriculum. As an additional resource for students, Biochemistry and Cell Biology publishes a graduate program handbook, which can be found here: https://gradhandbooks.rice.edu/2024_25/Biochemistry_Cell_Biology_Graduate_Handbook.pdf.
Admission
Applicants for graduate study in the Biochemistry and Cell Biology Program must have:
- BA or BS degree in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, physics, or some equivalent
- High levels of intellectual strength and motivation, as indicated by academic record and recommendations
Although the department offers an MS degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, the department admits students who intend to pursue the PhD program. For general university requirements, see Graduate Degrees.
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course (corresponding to the subject code of the course content) and by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS). Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the BioSciences website: https://biosciences.rice.edu/.
Opportunities for the PhD Degree in the field of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
All full-time Biochemistry and Cell Biology graduate students receive funding and full tuition waivers as specified in their offer letters. Information about Student Resources, Attendance at Scientific Conferences, Internships, Graduate Students Awards, the Graduate Student Association, etc. can be found in the Biochemistry and Cell Biology Graduate Program Handbook online at the department website: https://biosciences.rice.edu/biochemistry-and-cell-biology-graduate-program/.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the BioSciences website: https://biosciences.rice.edu/.