Ï㽶ÊÓƵ

McGill.ca / Overview / Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences / Graduate / Programs

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Biochemistry

Offered by: Biochemistry     Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Program Requirements

The Ph.D. in Biochemistry focuses on the chemistry, structure and function of biological molecules through seminars, courses and a major part of work in a research laboratory.

Thesis

A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.

Required Courses (3 credits)

*Students choose either BIOC 696D1/D2 or BIOC 696N1/N2. Students fast-tracking from the M.Sc. to the Ph.D. program, and who registered for and passed BIOC 696 at the M.Sc. level, do not register for BIOC 696 at the Ph.D. level.

**NOTE: Students DO NOT register for these courses until notified by the Student Affairs Officer.

Students must complete BIOC 701 in the third term after admission to the program, BIOC 702 in the fifth or sixth term, and BIOC 703 approximately six months prior to submission of the Ph.D. thesis.

Complementary Courses*** (6 credits)

3-6 credits selected from:

  • BIOC 600 Advanced Strategies in Genetics and Genomics (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biochemistry (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Biochemistry : Advanced technologies and methods in genomics research, presented by experts actively pursuing the experimental approaches discussed.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Duchaine, Thomas; Montpetit, Alexandre; Dejgaard, Kurt; Dostie, Josee; Giguere, Vincent; Najafabadi, Hamed; Yamanaka, Yojiro; Huang, Sidong; Watson, Ian; Kazak, Lawrence (Winter)

    • Enrolment limited to 15 graduate students.

    • Prerequisite: BIOC 454 or equivalent

    • Restriction: Must take part in the Biochemistry graduate program

  • BIOC 603 Genomics and Gene Expression (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biochemistry (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Biochemistry : Examination of recent developments in analysis of eukaryotic cell genomes and control of gene expression during differentiation and growth control. Molecular genetics; genomics and the bioinformatics of analysis of genomic and functional-genomic data; mechanisms and signal-transduction pathways for regulation of gene expression; applications to human disease with a strong emphasis on cancer.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: McCaffrey, Luke; Muller, William Joseph; Gallouzi, Imed Eddine; Siegel, Peter; Huang, Sidong; Walsh, Logan; Kazak, Lawrence; Pastor, William (Fall)

    • Fall

    • Prerequisites: BIOC 454 and permission of instructor.

  • BIOC 604 Macromolecular Structure (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biochemistry (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Biochemistry : X-Ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, Electron Microscopy. Theory and methods used to determine macromolecular structures will be covered. Several practical sessions with hands-on experience for students are included.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Nagar, Bhushan (Winter)

    • Offered in the Winter term, in even alternate years.

  • BIOC 605 Protein Biology and Proteomics (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biochemistry (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Biochemistry : Examination of recent developments in protein biology and proteomics analysis. Proteomics, modeling and biophysical approaches to characterize the functional interactions of biological macromolecules; applications to biological problems. Lectures and in-class discussions are supplemented by practical training in proteomics.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Denis, Maxime; Dejgaard, Kurt (Winter)

    • Winter

    • Prerequisite: BIOC 450 or equivalent, or permission of instructor.

  • BIOC 670 Biochemistry of Lipoproteins (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biochemistry (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Biochemistry : Structure, function and metabolism of lipids and lipoproteins as they relate to lipid storage diseases, obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Kiss, Robert; Nilsson, Tommy (Winter)

    • Prerequisite: BIOC 311 or permission of instructor

    • Restrictions: Open to graduate students only with permission of instructor.

    • Winter

  • EXMD 615 Essentials of Glycobiology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Experimental Medicine : Examination of the structure, function, and biosynthesis of glycoproteins, glycolipids and glycosaminoglycans, and the biological role of complex carbohydrates. Lectins, methods for elucidating carbohydrate structure, glycomics, and human diseases due to disorders of glycan synthesis.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Gilfix, Brian (Winter)

    • Winter

  • EXMD 635D1 Experimental/Clinical Oncology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Experimental Medicine : The course will deal, on a site by site basis, with the incidence of cancer, present treatment, treatment outcome, underlying causes, current research and directions for development of new treatments. Chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and nutrition as therapy and treatment of cancer will be included.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Nepveu, Alain; Teodoro, Jose Guerreiro; Tanguay, Simon; Gregorieff, Alexander; Deblois, Genevieve; Fuks, Abraham; Sebag, Michael; Fiset, Pierre; Ursini-Siegel, Josie; Malagón, Talía (Fall)

    • Prerequisite: Students must request permission from the instructor.

    • Students must register for both EXMD 635D1 and EXMD 635D2

    • No credit will be given for this course unless both EXMD 635D1 and EXMD 635D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms

    • Previous solid knowledge in biochemistry and molecular biology required. Students will be required to write a long essay and give an oral presentation.

  • EXMD 635D2 Experimental/Clinical Oncology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Experimental Medicine : See EXMD 635D1 for course description.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Nepveu, Alain; Basik, Mark; Teodoro, Jose Guerreiro; Kassouf, Wassim; Zogopoulos, George; Johnson, Nathalie; Kukolj, George; Laneuville, Pierre; Shenouda, George; Tremblay, Michel (Winter)

    • Prerequisite: EXMD 635D1 and permission from the instructor.

    • Students must register for both EXMD 635D1 and EXMD 635D2

    • No credit will be given for this course unless both EXMD 635D1 and EXMD 635D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms

    • Previous solid knowledge in biochemistry and molecular biology required. Students will be required to write a long essay and give an oral presentation.

0-3 credits, at the 500 level or higher in the biomedical and allied sciences.

***Complementary courses are chosen in consultation with the Research Director.

The Graduate Advisory Committee may stipulate additional course work depending on the background of the candidate. BIOC 450 (Protein Structure and Function) and BIOC 454 (Nucleic Acids) are additional requirements for those who have not previously completed equivalent courses in their prior training. These additional courses are not counted towards the credits for this program.

Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences—2024-2025 (last updated Aug. 22, 2024) (disclaimer)
Back to top