The Biochemistry core curriculum provides a comprehensive learning environment through the combination of didactic lectures, analysis and discussion of the scientific literature, and hands-on research training. Fundamentals of Biochemistry are taught in a didactic lecture based course (BCH 403) containing approximately 200 students from several programs. The remainder of the core curriculum (BCH 401, BCH 404, BCH 405 and BCH 407) include (i) literature based discussion courses (15-25 students) that emphasize reading, analyzing, writing and discussion of advanced topics in modern biochemistry, and (ii) three semesters of hands-on research training in a faculty member’s laboratory (BCH 498, see Experiential Learning).
Biochemistry (BCH)
Biochemistry
955 Main Street, Suite 4102Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Buffalo, NY 14203
Mark R. O'Brian
Chair
Chair
The Learning Environment
About Our Facilities
UB’s new downtown Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences features:
- Eight floors; 628,000 square feet
- Interior seven-story glass atrium, terra-cotta and glass rain screen façade
- State-of-the art laboratory space
- Sky-bridge connections to adjacent hospital, medical building
- Built-in NFTA-Metro rail station for convenient public access
Research conducted in faculty laboratories utilizes cutting-edge technologies and equipment. State of the art core research facilities within the department include a Proteomics Core (MALDI-TOF Mass Spec, 2D-Differential Gel Electrophoresis) and a Molecular Interactions Suite (Biacore SPR Instrument, Isothermal Calorimeter). Students also have access to core facilities located throughout UB to support their research that include a Confocal Microscopy Core (confocal microscopes, laser dissection, flow cytometry, molecular imaging, real‐time PCR), Microarray and Affymetrix Cores, and a Transgenic Mouse Core (at Roswell Park Cancer Center).
About Our Faculty
The Department of Biochemistry presently includes 23 full-time faculty: 12 Professors, 6 Associate Professors, and 5 Assistant Professors. These numbers include two SUNY Distinguished Professors. In addition, we have a total of 14 research track and secondary appointees and two emeritus Distinguished. Biochemistry faculty are in important leadership positions at the School and university levels, including a new Communities of Excellence award. Faculty are actively involved in editorial boards, study sections and are invited to speak at National/International meetings and at universities and research institutes.
Recent Faculty achievements include Laura Feltri receiving the Exceptional Scholar Program Sustained Achievement Award, Norma Nowak receiving the JSMBS Distinguished Biomedical Alumni Award and Mark O’Brian receiving the Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring Award.
Faculty List Directory
Please visit the Biochemistry department website for additional information about our faculty.
BCH Courses
- BCH 198SEM UB Seminar Seminar
The one credit UB Seminar is focused on a big idea or challenging issue to engage students with questions of significance in a field of study and, ultimately, to connect their studies with issues of consequence in the wider world. Essential to the UB Curriculum, the Seminar helps transition to UB through an early connection to UB faculty and the undergraduate experience at a comprehensive, research university. This course is equivalent to any 198 offered in any subject. This course is a controlled enrollment (impacted) course. Students who have previously attempted the course and received a grade of F or R may not be able to repeat the course during the fall or spring semester.
Credits: 1
Grading: Graded (GRD)
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Other Requisites: Students who have already successfully completed the UB seminar course may not repeat this course. If you have any questions regarding enrollment for this course, please contact your academic advisor.
- BCH 199SEM UB Seminar Seminar
The three credit UB Seminar is focused on a big idea or challenging issue to engage students with questions of significance in a field of study and, ultimately, to connect their studies with issues of consequence in the wider world. Essential to the UB Curriculum, the Seminar helps students with common learning outcomes focused on fundamental expectations for critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and oral communication, and learning at a university, all within topic focused subject matter. The Seminars provide students with an early connection to UB faculty and the undergraduate experience at a comprehensive, research university. This course is equivalent to any 199 offered in any subject. This course is a controlled enrollment (impacted) course. Students who have previously attempted the course and received a grade of F or R may not be able to repeat the course during the fall or spring semester.
Credits: 3
Grading: Graded (GRD)
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Other Requisites: Students who have already successfully completed the first year seminar course may not repeat this course. If you have any questions regarding enrollment for this course, please contact your academic advisor.
- BCH 310LEC Biomedical Genetics
- BCH 401LEC Introduction to Research Lecture
For accepted students about to start the upper-division biochemistry program. Meets once per week for one hour, with scheduled library workshops. Includes critically reading a scientific paper, introduces library skills needed to do research, and correlates basic biochemistry knowledge with ongoing research programs in the Biochemistry department. Students use these presentations to help them arrange for 2 credit hours of BCH 498 for the following semester.
Credits: 1
Grading: Graded (GRD)
Typically Offered: Fall
- BCH 403LEC Biochemical Principles Lecture
One semester general biochemistry course for science majors and students of pharmacy. Covers protein and membrane structure and function, metabolism, and nucleic acid structure and molecular biology.
Credits: 4
Grading: Graded (GRD)
Typically Offered: Fall
Prerequisites: BIO 200 or BIO 201 and CHE 201
- BCH 404SEM Communication Literacy in Biochemistry Seminar
One semester course for Biochemistry majors, focuses on gaining proficiency in reading and writing in the discipline and expanding student knowledge in multiple areas of modern biochemistry. Involves written and oral critiques of research articles from the scientific literature and the composition of a research proposal to serve as the basis for BCH 498 undergraduate research.
Credits: 3
Grading: Graded (GRD)
Typically Offered: Varies
Prerequisites: BCH 401 & BCH 403 & (completion of Communication Literacy 1 or completion of Writing Skills 1 (ENG 101 or placement into ENG 201))
Corequisites: BCH 498
- BCH 405SEM Research Topics in Biochemistry Seminar
Focuses on learning cutting-edge biochemistry by reading, analyzing, and discussing research papers. Emphasizes molecular and mechanistic aspects of signal transduction in growth, differentiation, development and cancer; and signaling in response to hormones to the nervous system.
- BCH 407SEM Research Seminar Evaluations Seminar
Students learn to evaluate research seminars. They attend research seminars and comment on those seminars in the context of at least one published paper by the seminar speaker. Class discussions and commentary on both the seminars and critiques are also involved.
Credits: 1
Grading: Graded (GRD)
Typically Offered: Spring
- BCH 408SEM Gene Expression Seminar
Elective course that familiarizes students with up-to-date concepts in eukaryotic gene expression. Through a classroom discussion of selected papers, introduces students to current issues in gene transcription, mRNA processing, and their regulation. Augments classroom learning with detailed problem sets.
Credits: 2
Grading: Graded (GRD)
Typically Offered: Spring
- BCH 419LEC Introduction to Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Lecture
Introduction to Bioinformatics and Computational Biology will introduce students to the principles and practices used in computational analysis of DNA and protein sequences, analysis of large scale DNA and protein datasets, statistical analysis of sequence alignments and microarray and next-generation sequencing datasets, and proteomics. This 3 credit course will be taught in the computer lab and will feature a mix of didactic and hands-on instruction. Typically, the Tuesday session will be a didactic lecture introducing the topic of the week and giving out assignments for completion at or prior to the Thursday lab session. The Thursday lab will focus on practical use of the concepts taught in the Tuesday lecture. Laboratory sessions will sometimes include programming assignments in the Python computer language.
Credits: 3
Grading: Graded (GRD)
Typically Offered: Spring
Prerequisites: CSE 116 and (BIO 319 or BCH 310) or permission of instructor.
- BCH 498TUT Undergraduate Research Participation in Biochemistry Tutorial
Under the direction of faculty, the course consists of an original investigative project involving library and lab work. Open to majors as a research project. Requires one poster presentation. Students must complete 8 credit hours.
Credits: 1 - 8
Grading: Graded (GRD)
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
- BCH 499TUT Independent Study Tutorial
For students having specific academic interests or objectives; requires a department faculty sponsor before preregistration.
Credits: 1 - 4
Grading: Graded (GRD)
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring