As teachers and scientists, the faculty of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology subscribe to the following missions:

• Provide up-to-date and high-quality classroom and laboratory instruction in the discipline of biochemistry and molecular biology to students at the University.
• Conduct and publish research or other scholarship in areas that advance knowledge within the discipline, contribute to improving the human condition, or contribute to teaching.
• Train students and post-doctoral fellows in biochemical research.
• Encourage and enhance the professional development of faculty colleagues, especially junior faculty.
• Serve as a resource for information on biochemistry and molecular biology for the University and the community at large.
• Contribute to the orderly and smooth functioning of the University by serving on committees, and participating in advising, policy-making and administrative activities.
• Serve as role models for students, fellows, staff and colleagues with regard to integrity, fairness, collegiality, and civility.
• Perform service that advances and enhances the discipline of biochemistry and molecular biology.
• Advocate the benefits of science and the scientific method to society.
• Speak out when ideals of honesty and integrity within the academic workplace are violated.

Procedure for Application

To be considered for admission into the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program, we will need the following completed documents:

1. Completed application form (application fee applies)
2. A copy of your official transcripts
3. Two letters of recomendation
4. Your official GRE and TOEFL scores

These completed documents should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Requirements for the MS Degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology offers both a thesis option and non-thesis option for the MS degree 

MS Degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology thesis option

1. MS students entering the program should have received a grade of “B” or better in 2 semesters of organic chemistry
2. Course work will consist of BIOC 611, 645, and 647.  In addition, the MS student must take six hours of classroom instruction of which at least four be in BIOC courses; and obtain 30 total credits which may include hours in seminar (BIOC 606), Biochemistry lab (BIOC 613), or Research (BIOC 619)
3. One semester of BIOC 606 (1 credit - seminar) is required during the second year
4. Students are required to attend seminars and research conferences
5. Students are expected to maintain a 3.0 average in their course work.  Students who do not will be subject to dismissal from the program
6. Students must present a 1-2 page research proposal for their thesis committee and orally defend that proposal
7. All students will receive mandatory training in ethics as mandated by the NIH and the University of Louisville

Thesis                                                                                                                 

An MS research thesis is required for the thesis option.  Students, with the consent of their committee, may choose between a traditional research thesis format or a thesis in which the methods and results sections are replaced by manuscripts ready for submission for publication in a refereed journal.  In either case, the thesis must conform to the Graduate School’s Standards for Preparation of Theses and Dissertations.  The Thesis Committee will consist of the preceptor, two other faculty of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (at least two of the Committee members must be primary faculty in the Department), and one member outside of the Department, and must be approved by the Graduate Executive Committee.

MS Degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology non-thesis option

1. MS students entering the program should have received a grade of “B” or better in 2 semesters of organic chemistry
2. Course requirements for students interested primarily in a course work MS include BIOC 645 and 647, and 22 credit hours of electives, 8 hours of which must be in BIOC courses.  
3. For students interested in a laboratory based MS with a non-thesis option, course requirements include BIOC 645 and 647 (or their equivalent), BIOC 611, and the remaining hours (up to 29 credit hours) as BIOC 613 Biochemistry Laboratory (rotations)
4. One semester of BIOC 606 (1 credit - seminar) is required
5. Students are required to attend seminars and research conferences
6. Students are expected to maintain a 3.0 average in their course work.  Students who do not will be subject to dismissal from the program
7. A professional paper based on laboratory rotations or literature research and a final exam will be accepted in lieu of a traditional research thesis
8. All students will receive mandatory training in ethics as mandated by the NIH and the University of Louisville

Kenneth S. Ramos, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair

Mark D. Brennan, Ph.D.
Professor

Barbara J. Clark, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

William L. Dean, Ph.D.
Professor

Jaydev N. Dholakia, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Steven R. Ellis, Ph.D.
Professor

Richard C. Feldhoff, Ph.D.
Professor

Pamela W. Feldhoff, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Thomas E. Geoghegan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Robert D. Gray, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus

Ronald G. Gregg, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

Chuan Hu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Carolyn M. Klinge, Ph.D.
Professor

Yong Li, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Nancy C. Martin, Ph.D.
Professor

Amy Massey, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Shin Murakami, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Russell A. Prough, Ph.D.
Professor

Vilius Stribinskis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Eugenia Wang, Ph.D.
Professor

Stephanie J Webb, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

James L. Wittliff, Ph.D.
Professor

Joint Faculty

Paula J. Bates, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Aruni Bhatnagar, Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine

Douglas Borchman, Ph.D.
Professor of Opthalmology & Visual Sciences
Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Jason Chesney, Ph.D., M.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Douglas S. Darling, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biological & Biophysical Sciences
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

H. Leighton Grimes, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Marcia M. Jumblatt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Opthalmology & Visual Sciences
Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Sham Kakar, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine.

Jon B. Klein, Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Andrew N. Lane, Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Endowed Chair in Biochemistry and Structural Biology

Herbert A. Lassiter, Ph.D., M.D.
Professor of Pediatrics
Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Mark Linder, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pathology
Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Kenneth R. McLeish, M.D.
Professor of Medicine
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Donald H. Miller, Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine
Director of James Graham Brown Cancer Center

Robert A. Mitchell, Ph.D.
Professor of Medecine
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
James Graham Brown Cancer Center

Madhavi Rane, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry

C.V. Rao, Ph.D.
Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Greg Rempala, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Mathamatics
Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

John O. Trent, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Roland Valdes Jr., Ph.D.
Professor of Pathology
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Brian W. Wattenberg, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine
Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
James Graham Brown Cancer Center

Stephen J. Winters, M.D.
Professor of Medicine

William W. Young, Jr., Ph.D.
Professor of Biological & Biophysical Sciences
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology