University of Alaska Fairbanks Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program

Welcome!

The University of Alaska Fairbanks offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology was established several years ago by faculty members from the Institute of Arctic Biology, Institute of Marine Science, and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, who are active in these disciplines. The program provides an academic basis for advanced research in molecular aspects of biology, especially relating to terrestrial and marine environments at high latitudes. Although the program is small, it benefits from UAF's strong emphasis on research and the ready availability of libraries, laboratory space, and computer facilities.

Alaska presents rich opportunities for biochemical and molecular biological research. Plants and animals living in the Arctic have evolved remarkable genetic and biochemical adaptations to the region's characteristic low temperatures and low-angle solar illumination. Scientists have barely begun understanding such adaptations, and so many fascinating research problems exist in this area.

Students in the Ph.D. program are required to take graduate courses, complete a research-based thesis, and pass comprehensive and final oral examinations. Students are encouraged to take a wide range of courses. Thesis research is undertaken in collaboration with a thesis advisor who also chairs the student's graduate advisory committee. The committee helps advise the student on scientific and academic matters, oversees the various graduate exams, and approves the thesis. The major advisor and committee are chosen during the student's first year as a graduate student.

Students are generally supported throughout their appointments, either by teaching assistantships in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, or by a research assistantship. The latter are funded by grants from the state or federal agencies, or by the University.

LINKS TO RESEARCH TOPICS
DNA-protein complexes	Ligand gated ion channel models