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Biotechnology Science & Engineering
Program Director: Dr. Krishnan K. Chittur The Program The University of Alabama in Huntsville offers a comprehensive, interdisciplinary doctoral program in Biotechnology designed to produce internationally competitive graduates who will make significant contributions to the field of biotechnology in academic, government and commercial settings. The curriculum provides broad training in the fundamentals of biotechnology and offers students advanced training in one of three areas of specialization: Structural Biology, Biomolecular Sciences, or Bioprocessing. The program involves faculty from the departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, as well as numerous adjunct faculty from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and local biotechnology companies. Modern state-of-the-art research facilities are housed in the recently constructed Materials Science Building, in Wilson Hall, and in the Engineering Building. Current research thrust areas include 1) Structure determination of proteins, nucleic acids and biologically active natural products using X-ray crystallographic and NMR techniques; 2) Protein and nucleic acid crystal growth studies; 3) Genetic engineering of microbes for environmental remediation; 4) Bioprocess and biocatalysis; and 5) Biomaterials research. Major items of equipment to support this research include a rotating anode automatic four-circle x-ray diffractometer system with a Rigaku generator, a Molecular Structure Corporation RaxisIV two-dimensional x-ray detector with cryostream system, 500 and 750mHz Perkin-Elmer NMR spectrometers, scanning tunneling microscope, atomic force microscopes, JEOL-820 scanning electron microscope, among others. Admissions Requirements Our admissions standards follow those of the Graduate School – a 1500 total score on the GRE examination, plus an undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of B or better, is required for unconditional admission. Students with lower GRE scores or GPAs may still be admitted conditionally, with approval of the Chair and the Graduate Dean. Newly admitted students will be provided fellowships, which carry competitive stipends and tuition for a full graduate course load. Students will be expected to complete the core courses in the curriculum during the first year. During the first summer semester students will have a laboratory internship in an industrial or governmental setting to acquaint them with the business of biotechnology through a hands-on approach. Second year students will typically hold Graduate Teaching Assistantships and will be assigned teaching responsibilities in one of the academic departments participating in the program. These assistantships will carry competitive stipends and include tuition remission. Third, fourth and subsequent year students are expected to be supported on Graduate Research Assistantships provided by the faculty through contracts and grants. Students are expected to choose a faculty mentor and begin work on a Ph.D. research project during their second year. Specialized courses in the various thrust areas of the program will be taken during the second and subsequent years. Admission to the Ph.D. program is granted upon passing
the comprehensive Qualifying Examination, which is taken during the
fall semester of the second year. Thereafter, a specific Program of
Study, especially tailored to the student's research direction, is planned
in collaboration with the student's Dissertation Supervisory Committee.
The Ph.D. degree requires 48 hours of coursework, 18 semester hours
of dissertation study, passing the comprehensive examination, preparation
and defense of a dissertation proposal, and preparation and defense
of the Ph.D. dissertation. It is expected that students will complete
the program in four to five years. We expect graduates of this program
to be highly sought after in both academic and industrial research domains.
Our faculty have many connections in their disciplines that will facilitate
the search for post-graduation employment. |
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