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- Biochemistry Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
- Biochemistry Faculty
- Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biochemistry (Thesis) (45 credits)
- Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biochemistry (Thesis) — Chemical Biology (47 credits)
- Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biochemistry (Thesis) — Bioinformatics (45 credits)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biochemistry
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biochemistry — Chemical Biology
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biochemistry — Bioinformatics
Biochemistry
Location
Location
- Department of Biochemistry
- McIntyre Medical Sciences Building
- 3655 Promenade Sir-William-Osler
- Montreal QC H3G 1Y6
- Canada
- Christine Laberge: Student Affairs Administrator/Graduate Program Coordinator
- Telephone: 514-398-2423
- Fax: 514-398-7384
- Email: admissions.biochemistry [at] mcgill.ca
- Website: www.mcgill.ca/biochemistry (Chemical Biology: www.mcgill.ca/biochemistry/graduate-studies-2/chemicalbiology; Bioinformatics: www.mcgill.ca/biochemistry/graduate-studies-2/bioinformatics)
About Biochemistry
About Biochemistry
The Department of Biochemistry offers M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs, which emphasize laboratory research. Our research interests include:
- molecular and cell biology;
- the regulation of gene and protein expression;
- signal transduction;
- protein structure and function;
- membrane biology;
- cell death and differentiation;
- embryonic development;
- neurobiology;
- bioinformatics;
- cancer.
Specialized graduate training programs in Chemical Biology, Human Systems Biology (Bioinformatics), , and are available. Laboratories are located in the new Bellini Life Sciences Building and Goodman Cancer Research Centre, and the renovated McIntyre Medical Sciences Building, together comprising one of the best-equipped research facilities in Canada. The outstanding quality of our research has been recognized by recent awards including a Gairdner Award, two Killam Prizes, and eight Canada Research Chairs.
Funding
Master's students receive a minimum stipend of $20,000 annually; doctoral students receive $22,000. The Department is committed to helping graduate students secure adequate funding for their research. All students are financially supported either by their supervisor or through fellowships or scholarships. Prospective students are urged to make every effort to secure their own funding. Applications may be made for a variety of fellowships administered by the University or by various federal, provincial, or private agencies. For more information on fellowships and awards, see the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website.
Departmental Seminars
Visiting scientists and senior doctoral students present their research findings to the Department at a regular seminar series throughout the academic year. All graduate students are required to attend the regular seminars and additional special lectures, and are encouraged to attend scientific conferences and symposia.
| Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biochemistry (Thesis) (45 credits) |
|---|
|
The M.Sc. in Biochemistry introduces students to laboratory-based research at an advanced level. The M.Sc. program offers core courses in advanced biochemistry topics, but focuses on laboratory research. The program provides sophisticated training in the technical as well as theoretical aspects of biochemistry, at one of the leading Biochemistry departments in Canada. The M.Sc. program is an excellent preparation for skilled positions in the biomedical sciences, in industry or the public sector, or for superior research in a Ph.D. program. |
| Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biochemistry (Thesis) — Chemical Biology (47 credits) |
|
The Chemical Biology Thematic Group is engaged in a diverse range of research topics, which span structural biology, enzymology, nucleic acid research, signalling pathways, single molecule biophysics, and biophysical chemistry of living tissues. Among the themes that unite the research being performed in this group is the attempt to learn new chemistry and physics from biological systems. We have projects relating to pharmaceutically relevant enzymes such as those involved in drug metabolism and antibiotic resistance; development of therapeutic agents in the control of inflammation, cancer, and viral infections; the chemical biology of NO; quantification of bioenergetic markers of metabolism; self-assembly mechanisms of the HIV-1 virion capsid; liposome microarray systems to address membrane protein dynamics and recognition; studies on reactive oxygen species translocation across the aqueous/lipid membrane interface; Ï㽶ÊÓƵi/antisense technologies; dynamic combinatorial chemistry; protein dynamics and function; mechanistic aspects involved in cellular adhesion and transport in membrane and zeolite channels; and cutting-edge microscopes used to examine transport, motility, and reactivity in cells. The Chemical Biology graduate option is centred on the pursuit of an original research project under the direction of one or more mentors. The program is supported by Ï㽶ÊÓƵ and by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) through its Strategic Training Initiatives program. The program of training incorporates several important features, including a diverse curriculum and programs of seminars, workshops, and discussion groups designed to provide students with a well-rounded exposure to both the chemical and biological aspects of the discipline. The M.Sc. option provides a foundation in the concepts and approaches of Chemical Biology. Financial support for students in the program is available from a variety of sources, including competitively awarded CIHR-funded Chemical Biology Scholarship awards. |
| Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biochemistry (Thesis) — Bioinformatics (45 credits) |
|
Bioinformatics research lies at the intersection of biological/medical sciences and mathematics/computer science/engineering. The intention of the Bioinformatics option is to train students to become researchers in this interdisciplinary field. This includes the development of strategies for experimental design, the construction of tools to analyze datasets, the application of modelling techniques, the creation of tools for manipulating bioinformatics data, the integration of biological databases, and the use of algorithms and statistics. M.Sc. level – Students successfully completing the Bioinformatics option at the M.Sc. level will be fluent in the concepts, language, approaches, and limitations of the field. The option consists of a number of interdisciplinary courses and a seminar designed to bring students from many backgrounds together and to provide a thorough overview of research in this field. |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biochemistry |
|
The Ph.D. in Biochemistry trains students in laboratory-based research at the highest level. The Ph.D. program is streamlined to emphasize independent research, and the many areas of biochemistry studied in our Department offer a wide choice of specialties. Students gain in-depth expertise in biochemistry and the biomedical sciences, with the opportunity to carry out research projects at a world-class level and build collaborations with other leading research groups. Graduates of the Ph.D. program are outstandingly prepared for leadership careers in the basic health sciences in industry, the public sector, or academia. |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biochemistry — Chemical Biology |
|
The Chemical Biology Thematic Group is engaged in a diverse range of research topics which span structural biology, enzymology, nucleic acid research, signalling pathways, single molecule biophysics, and biophysical chemistry of living tissues. Among the themes which unite the research being performed in this group is trying to learn new chemistry and physics from biological systems. We have projects relating to pharmaceutically relevant enzymes such as those involved in drug metabolism and antibiotic resistance; development of therapeutic agents in the control of inflammation, cancer and viral infections; the chemical biology of NO; quantification of bioenergetic markers of metabolism; self-assembly mechanisms of the HIV-1 virion capsid; liposome microarray systems to address membrane protein dynamics and recognition; studies on reactive oxygen species translocation across the aqueous/lipid membrane interface; Ï㽶ÊÓƵi/antisense technologies; dynamic combinatorial chemistry; protein dynamics and function; mechanistic aspects involved in cellular adhesion and transport in membrane and zeolite channels; and cutting-edge microscopes used to examine transport, motility, and reactivity in cells. The Chemical Biology graduate option is centred on the pursuit of an original research project under the direction of one or more mentors. The program is supported by Ï㽶ÊÓƵ and by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) through its Strategic Training Initiatives program. The program of training incorporates several important features, including a diverse curriculum and programs of seminars, workshops, and discussion groups designed to provide students with a well-rounded exposure to both the chemical and biological aspects of the discipline. The Ph.D. option provides advanced training in Chemical Biology based on independent research. Financial support for students in the program is available from a variety of sources, including competitively awarded CIHR-funded Chemical Biology Scholarship awards. |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biochemistry — Bioinformatics |
|
Bioinformatics research lies at the intersection of biological/medical sciences and mathematics/computer science/engineering. The intention of the Bioinformatics option is to train students to become researchers in this interdisciplinary field. This includes the development of strategies for experimental design, the construction of tools to analyze datasets, the application of modelling techniques, the creation of tools for manipulating Bioinformatics data, the integration of biological databases, and the use of algorithms and statistics. Ph.D. level – Students successfully completing the Bioinformatics option at the Ph.D. level will be fluent in the concepts, language, approaches, and limitations of the field, and have the capability of developing an independent Bioinformatics research program. The option consists of a number of interdisciplinary courses and a seminar designed to bring students from many backgrounds together and to provide a thorough overview of research in this field. |
Biochemistry Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
Biochemistry Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements
Admission is based on the candidate’s academic record, letters of recommendation, curriculum vitae, and personal statement. A minimum grade point average of 3.2/4.0 (B+) is required. Once a student has submitted all the required documents, the applicant’s file will be reviewed by the Graduate Admission Committee. Files that do not meet the minimum requirement will not be considered. Applicants must also be accepted by a research supervisor who is a faculty member or associate member of the Department of Biochemistry. Recommendation for admission will be made once the applicant has secured a supervisor and adequate financial support. Financial support should be in the form of a stipend from the supervisor's research grant or a fellowship held by the student.
Master's Program
Candidates for the M.Sc. degree must hold a B.Sc. degree or its equivalent in Biochemistry or in related disciplines (e.g., biology, chemistry, physiology, microbiology).
Doctoral Program
Candidates who have completed their M.Sc. degree may be admitted directly to the Ph.D. program. Candidates who are admitted to the M.Sc. program and who are interested in the Ph.D. may transfer into the Ph.D. program after successfully completing the transfer seminar (BIOC 701) and all course requirements. The M.Sc. thesis requirement is then waived.
International Applicants
Applicants to graduate studies whose mother tongue is not English and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction or from a recognized Canadian institution (anglophone or francophone), must submit the following:
-
: Minimum score of 86 on the Internet-based test (iBT; or 600 on the paper-based test [PBT]) with each component score of not less than 20.
or
: Minimum overall band score of 6.5.
- International students who have received their degree outside North America should submit scores: Subject Test in Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology with a minimum score of 550 (not required, but strongly recommended).
Admission Requirements – Chemical Biology Option
As for the regular graduate programs of the Biochemistry Department, acceptance into the Chemical Biology option consists of two steps:
- Preliminary approval by the Department's Graduate Admission Committee based on the student's transcript, references, and other documents submitted with the application. The criteria for assessment at this level are the same as for the regular graduate programs of the Department.
- Acceptance by a Chemical Biology research director. The director must propose a research project for the student that provides training in the methods and philosophy of Chemical Biology. Project proposals are assessed by the Chemical Biology Program Committee.
Application Procedures
Application Procedures
McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.
See Application Procedures for detailed application procedures.
All applicants are advised to contact potential research supervisors during or before the application process since supervisor acceptance is required. Information about the research interests of faculty members can be found at www.mcgill.ca/biochemistry/research and www.mcgill.ca/biochemistry/about-us/department/faculty-members.
Application Deadlines
Application Deadlines
The application deadlines listed here are set by the Department of Biochemistry and may be revised at any time. Applicants must verify all deadlines and documentation requirements well in advance on the appropriate McGill departmental website; please consult the list at www.mcgill.ca/gps/contact/graduate-program.
| Canadian | International | Special/Exchange/Visiting |
|---|---|---|
| Fall: June 15 | Fall: Apr. 20 | Fall: N/A |
| Winter: Nov. 1 | Winter: Sept. 1 | Winter: N/A |
| Summer: N/A | Summer: N/A | Summer: N/A |
Admission to graduate studies is competitive; accordingly, late and/or incomplete applications are considered only as time and space permit.
Biochemistry Faculty
Biochemistry Faculty
| Chair |
|---|
| Albert Berghuis (Interim) |
| Emeritus Professors |
| Rhoda Blostein; B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.), F.R.S.C. |
| Peter E. Braun; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Br. Col.), Ph.D.(Calif., Berk.) |
| Robert E. MacKenzie; B.Sc.(Agr.)(McG.), M.N.S., Ph.D.(Cornell) |
| Edward A. Meighen; B.Sc.(Alta.), Ph.D.(Calif., Berk.) |
| Walter E. Mushynski; B.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.) |
| Clifford P. Stanners; B.Sc.(McM.), M.A., Ph.D.(Tor.) |
| Maria Zannis-Hadjopoulos; B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.) (joint appt. with Oncology and Medicine) |
| Professors |
| Nicole Beauchemin; B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(Montr.) (joint appt. with Oncology and Medicine) |
| Albert Berghuis; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Rijks Univ. Groningen, The Netherlands), Ph.D.(Br. Col.) (Canada Research Chair in Structural Biology) |
| Philip E. Branton; B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(Tor.), F.R.S.C. (Gilman Cheney Professor of Biochemistry) |
| Imed Gallouzi; Maitrise, D.E.A., Ph.D.(Montpellier, France) (Canada Research Chair in Cellular Information Systems) |
| Kalle Gehring; B.A.(Brown), M.Sc.(Mich.), Ph.D.(Calif., Berk.) (Chercheur National du FRSQ) |
| Vincent Giguère; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Laval) (joint appt. with Oncology and Medicine) |
| Philippe Gros; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Montr.), Ph.D.(McG.), F.R.S.C. (James McGill Professor) |
| Roderick R. McInnes; B.Sc., M.D.(Dal.), Ph.D.(McG.) |
| William Muller; B.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.) (Canada Research Chair in Molecular Oncology) |
| Alain Nepveu; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Montr.), Ph.D.(Sher.) (James McGill Professor) (joint appt. with Oncology and Medicine) |
| Morag Park; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Glas.), F.R.S.C. (Diane and Sal Guerrera Chair in Cancer Genetics) (James McGill Professor) (joint appt. with Oncology and Medicine) |
| Arnim Pause; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Konstanz), Ph.D.(McG.) (Canada Research Chair in Molecular Oncology) |
| Jerry Pelletier; B.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.) (James McGill Professor) |
| Gordon C. Shore; B.Sc.(Guelph), Ph.D.(McG.) |
| Joseph Shuster; B.Sc.(McG.), Ph.D.(Calif.), M.D.(Alta.) |
| John R. Silvius; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Alta.) |
| Nahum Sonenberg; M.Sc., Ph.D.(Weizmann Inst.), F.R.S.C., F.R.S. (James McGill Professor) |
| David Y. Thomas; B.Sc.(Brist.), M.Sc., Ph.D.(Univ. College, Lond.), F.R.S.C. (Canada Research Chair in Molecular Genetics) |
| Michel L. Tremblay; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Sher.), Ph.D.(McM.), F.R.S.C. (Jeanne and Jean-Louis Levesque Chair in Cancer Research) |
| Associate Professors |
| Maxime Bouchard; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Laval) (Canada Research Chair in Developmental Genetics) |
| Josée Dostie; B.Sc.(Sher.), Ph.D.(McG.) (CIHR New Investigators Award; Chercheure-boursière du FRSQ) |
| Thomas Duchaine; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Montr.) (Chercheur-boursier du FRSQ) |
| Bhushan Nagar; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Tor.) (Canada Research Chair in the Structural Biology of Signal Transduction) |
| Julie St-Pierre; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Laval), Ph.D.(Camb.) |
| Jose G. Teodoro; B.Sc.(W. Ont.), Ph.D.(McG.) (CIHR New Investigators Award; Chercheur-boursier du FRSQ) |
| Jason C. Young; B.Sc.(Tor.), Ph.D.(McM.) (Canada Research Chair in Molecular Chaperones) |
| Assistant Professors |
| Uri David Akavia; B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(Tel Aviv) |
| Sidong Huang; B.A.(Boston), Ph.D.(Calif.) |
| Martin Schmeing; B.Sc.(McG.), Ph.D.(Yale) |
| Associate Members |
| Gary Brouhard (Dept. of Biology) |
| Edward A. Fon (Neurology and Neurosurgery) |
| Jacques Genest (Dept. of Medicine) |
| Michael Hallett (McGill Centre for Bioinformatics) |
| Robert S. Kiss (Dept. of Medicine) |
| Gergely Lukacs (Dept. of Physiology) |
| Vassilios Papadopoulos (Dept. of Medicine) |
| Janusz Rak (Dept. of Medicine) |
| Stéphane Richard (Depts. of Medicine and Oncology) |
| Reza Salavati (Inst. of Parasitology) |
| Maya Saleh (Dept. of Medicine) |
| Erwin Schurr (Ctr. for Host Resistance, MGH) |
| Peter Siegel (Goodman Cancer Ctr., Dept. of Medicine) |
| Ivan Topisirovic (Dept. of Oncology) |
| Youla S. Tsantrizos (Dept. of Chemistry) |
| Bernard Turcotte (Dept. of Medicine) |
| Josie Ursini-Siegel (Dept. of Oncology) |
| Simon Wing (Dept. of Medicine) |
| Xiang-Jiao Yang (Goodman Cancer Ctr., Dept. of Medicine) |
| Adjunct Professors |
| Philip Awadalla (Montr.) |
| Mirek Cygler (Sask.) |
| Jacques Drouin (IRCM) |
| Anny Fortin (Dafra Pharma Res. and Dev. Bvba) |
| Matthias Götte (Alta.) |
| Enrico Purisima (NRC/BRI) |
| René Roy (PharmaQAM) |
Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biochemistry (Thesis) (45 credits)
For more information, see Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biochemistry (Thesis) (45 credits).
Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biochemistry (Thesis) — Chemical Biology (47 credits)
For more information, see Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biochemistry (Thesis) — Chemical Biology (47 credits).
Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biochemistry (Thesis) — Bioinformatics (45 credits)
For more information, see Master of Science (M.Sc.); Biochemistry (Thesis) — Bioinformatics (45 credits).
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biochemistry
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biochemistry.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biochemistry — Chemical Biology
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biochemistry — Chemical Biology.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biochemistry — Bioinformatics
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.); Biochemistry — Bioinformatics.