Graduate programs in the biological sciences 2010

Fulfillment of the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School. Completion of a minimum of fifteen hours in the biological sciences with a minimum average of B 3. Applicants with less than a B average may be considered for conditional admission on a three-course basis.

A student who is currently active as a secondary school teacher may design a curriculum of courses from each of these three tracks only after consultation with the graduate advisor and approval of the curriculum by the graduate faculty. Each track consists of a defined set of lecture and laboratory courses that will enable the student to receive a structured graduate-level education by focusing on a particular area of biology.

Other courses may be substituted only with the prior written approval of the department. Statistics and related mathematics as currently applied in the biological and health sciences. Includes graphs and tables; descriptive statistics; populations, samples, and inference; hypothesis testing; demography and vital statistics. Prerequisite: 16 credit hours in physical or biological sciences, successful completion of the English Qualifying Examination, and consent of the instructor.

Instruction in critical reading and understanding of current research literature in the chemical and biological sciences. Utilization of current literature to prepare and carry out a scientifically accurate presentation publication or meeting talk of data and results from research endeavors.

Overview of evolutionary genetics in light of the genomics era. Designed to give students a broad gackground in a new kind of evolutionary analysis that is driven largely by technology,. Practical field and laboratory-based skills for assessing environmental impact in an urban setting using EPA protocols.

Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for a local project selected in consultation with local environmental professionals and citizen groups.

Experienced professionals will speak on legal, ecological, consulting and other aspects of environmental impact analysis. Lab fee. Presentation, critique, and discussion of life sciences research articles from a collection provided by Biology Graduate Faculty.

Investigation of the nature of scientific research through selected readings, bibliographic compilation and written literature reviews. Term paper required. Individualized program in advanced biology suited to the students needs and past training. Summary paper required. Hours to be arranged.

Basic immunological concepts and laboratory techniques with applications to biological research form the basis for discussion and independent study: chemistry of antigen-antibodies reactions cellular immunology including antibody formation, hypersensitivity, immunogenetics, autoimmunity and transplantation immunology; and immunity and immunopathology including the immunological mechanisms of disease.

The basic concepts and laboratory techniques in applied and environmental microbiology and their applications to biological research will be emphasized. The roles of microbes in environmental remediation; natural recycling of bioelements.

Physical, chemical, and biological characterization of major cellular macromolecules of viruses and their role in the structure and viral functions with emphasis on bacteriophage. Areas of focus within cell and molecular biology include biophysics, intracellular trafficking and signaling, molecular forensics, RNA biology, virus-host cell interaction, developmental biology, neuroscience and endocrinology.

Within ecology, biodiversity and evolution, areas of focus consist of plant-insect interaction, ecology of invasive species, forest ecology and evolutionary biology, including evolutionary ecology, evolution of animal behavior and evolutionary-developmental biology. Requiring five years of research and coursework, including a public seminar, written thesis and oral thesis defense, the program couples coursework with original research and teaching opportunities.

When conducting their original research, students can leverage state-of-the-art facilities and techniques. Our PhD students also have the chance to teach in undergraduate lab environments. The University of Denver's Professional Science Master's in biomedical sciences gives students the opportunity to develop technical skills and theoretical knowledge that can prepare them for careers in the biomedical and health sciences fields.

The program utilizes rigorous coursework to provide students with a depth of scientific knowledge and a strong foundation in ethics, communication and global awareness.

Graduates often pursue careers in academic and industrial biomedical research, and the program can prepare them for work in fields such as healthcare, clinical research, government and regulatory affairs, especially when paired with further studies in professional schools. The PSM program emphasizes active communications with biomedical professionals outside the University to ensure that the curriculum and capstone experiences are relevant and beneficial to both students and industry partners.

An advisory board comprised of leaders in biomedical research, biotechnology, clinical healthcare, health institutions and hospital administration guides the curriculum by providing input regarding the academic skill set and professional tools most sought by employers in biomedical fields. The University of Denver's PhD program in molecular and cellular biophysics provides students a core foundation in biophysical theory and practice, along with flexibility and individualized attention.

Participation of faculty from the departments of biological sciences, chemistry and biochemistry, and physics and astronomy enhances the strength and breadth of our program by incorporating cross-disciplinary and collaborative approaches to research.

Areas of research include super resolution microscopy, developmental dynamics, protein folding, protein network analysis, signal transduction cascades, single molecule biophysics, cellular physiology and the development of novel imaging techniques. Students with strong quantitative undergraduate backgrounds in fields such as physics, chemistry and mathematics who desire to apply these skills to biological problems are encouraged to apply, as are those with backgrounds in cell or molecular biology and solid foundations in mathematics and physics.

We particularly encourage projects in the traditional disciplines of physics, biology and chemistry, as well as those using methods of mathematical analysis and computer modeling. We accept both the Common App and our own Pioneer App. The Common App is a universal application that can be sent to many schools, while the Pioneer App is only used by the University of Denver. First-Year Students Transfer Students. Link to PLoS Pathogens article. The research will lead to new enzyme discoveries and the development of commercial testing methods to protect the public.

The biological mechanisms of hydrocarbon biosynthesis have recently attracted attention as a means of producing important commercial chemicals from renewable resources. The study appeared in the September edition of Acta Crystallographica Section. Farmers plant a crop in the spring and wait until fall to see how the crop turns out… Data from University of Minnesota agricultural economist Phil Parde y shows the rate of growth in U.

Link to Bemidji Pioneer Article. Link to Water Tech Online Article. Behind the scenes, though, a quiet revolution has been taking place.

Thanks to a set of new tricks and tools, modifying animals is becoming a lot easier and more precise. That is not only going to transform research, it could also transform the meat and eggs you eat and the milk you drink. The first transgenic animals were produced by injecting DNA into eggs, implanting the eggs in animals and then waiting weeks or months to see if any offspring had incorporated the extra DNA. Often fewer than 1 in had, making this a long, expensive process. Link to New Scientist Article.

Job opportunities in the crop sciences are booming. Don Wyse , Ph. Link to Wisconsin Ag Connection Article. Paul, Minn. It is because the fungus that causes the wheat disease called stripe rust may use sexual recombination to adapt to resistant varieties of wheat…The researchers began the study last year after finding infected leaves on barberry plants at two sites on the University of Minnesota campus.