Concentrations 

Students in the PhD program in Biochemistry can elect for the Cancer Biology or Bioinformatics concentration. These concentrations reflect areas of strong interest for our faculty and students, and areas where enhanced skills and expertise will serve our students in their future career paths. 

The Cancer Biology concentration will add coursework in clinical and translational cancer biology to our existing course on the molecular and cell biology of cancer. Students will also participate in an ongoing seminar series for exposure to the most cutting-edge scientific advances. 

The Bioinformatics concentration will focus on biology and medically related informatics work most appropriate to trainees in various aspects of Biochemistry. As with the Cancer Biology concentration, the concentration in Bioinformatics will require students to take to course covering the analysis of biomedical “big data” as well as a seminar series focused on recent advances in the field. One of these courses will involve computational approaches to large data sets, whereas the second will involve statistical analysis. As indicated in the curriculum, there will be some leeway in the courses allowed to enable students to tailor the course selection to the types of statistical problems and computational approaches most applicable to their research projects. 

Students interested in concentrations should meet with the Graduate Studies Coordinator to assure that the appropriate courses are being taken.

Concentration Curriculum