The Department of Biological Chemistry at the University of Michigan Medical School has played a prominent role in the development of the field of biochemistry. Victor Vaughan became the first professor of physiological chemistry—now known as biochemistry—at an American medical school in 1883, and the success of Dr. Vaughan and fellow Michigan biochemists led to the founding of the department in 1922. Biological Chemistry has since served as the faculty home or training ground for members of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), the American Academy of Arts & Sciences (AAAS), the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). Students who join the PhD program in Biological Chemistry select a research mentor from among the department's approximately 50 faculty and affiliate faculty members. Research Areas: Research in the department reflects the interdisciplinary nature of biological chemistry, and students have access to diverse investigative opportunities. Projects can be divided into four broad areas that include: Regulation of gene expression ; Protein folding and processing ; Macromolecular structure and mechanism ; Biochemical signaling. Researchers in Biological Chemistry develop and use a wide range of cutting-edge technologies to address important biomedical questions from a molecular perspective. Close ties and cross-appointments with the Life Sciences Institute, the Center for RNA Biomedicine, the Michigan Neuroscience Institute, the Chemical Biology Program, and the LSA departments of Biology, Biophysics, and Chemistry place Biological Chemistry at the center of the University of Michigan's strong biochemical community. Coursework: The graduate program leading to the PhD degree in Biological Chemistry is designed to provide outstanding training for careers in research and scholarship in the broad area of biochemistry and molecular biology. The program exposes students to a spectrum of current research by combining the rigor of advanced study with the flexibility for students to design their own optimal curriculum. PhD students present a research seminar to the department in their fourth year, informally present their research in poster sessions and at the annual retreat, and attend seminars presented by prominent national and international scientists. Preliminary Examination: At the end of their first year, PhD students in Biological Chemistry write and orally defend an original research proposal. The written and oral components of the exam assess the student’s understanding of the required course content for the department and the student’s ability to reason analytically and to independently develop ideas and experimental approaches. Students receive specific feedback on the strengths of their performance as well as feedback on areas for growth. Teaching Requirement: PhD students gain valuable teaching experience by serving as teaching assistants in Biological Chemistry for one semester. Students may substitute an equivalent mentored or guided experience centered on teaching, scientific communication, andor public engagement with the approval of the graduate program committee.