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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Pharmacology

PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology PhD program at Indiana University School of Medicine usually takes five years to finish. It includes two years of coursework and three years of full-time original research, ending with a PhD thesis. This program prepares graduates for careers in academic research and teaching or in the business and industry sectors of bioscience.

Students enroll in the Indiana Biomedical Gateway (IBMG) program and follow a common first-year curriculum with other PhD students. At the end of the first year, students choose a mentor and elective courses related to their chosen course of scientific study. Step-by-step application instructions are available on the Indiana Biomedical Gateway Program application page.

Meet our current students

John Turchi and four members of his lab look at a sample together. Behind them are shelves of lab equipment and refrigeration units.

Pursue a PhD

Apply to the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology PhD program through the Indiana Biomedical Gateway, the umbrella program for entry into IU School of Medicine's biomedical science doctoral programs.

Program Requirements

  • A minimum of 30 credit hours of didactic coursework
  • A minimum of 45 credit hours of research (B855)
  • A minimum of 90 credit hours consisting of required and elective courses
  • A scholarly thesis based on approved original research with oversight from a faculty mentor. Potential research topics include structural biology, signal transduction, drug development, regulation of gene expression, cancer biology and metabolic disorders.
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA and a B- or better in all PhD coursework

Biochemistry PhD students must take at least two (of the available eight) two-credit biochemistry core courses (BIOC-B811, GRDM-G805, G807, G817, G848, G852, G825, G826), which are offered among spring electives for the Indiana Biomedical Gateway Program (IBGP) or in the fall. These may be taken in year one or later years.

Fall

  • GRDM-G715 Biomed I — Biomedical Science I — Biochemical Basis of Biological Processes*: 2 credits
  • GRDM-G716 Biomed II — Biomedical Science II — Molecular Biology and Genetics*: 2 credits
  • GRDM-G717 Biomed III — Biomedical Science III — Cellular Basis of Systems Biology*: 2 credits
  • GRDM-G505 Responsible Conduct of Research*: 1 credit
  • GRDM-G700 Translating Foundational Science to Contemporary Knowledge*: 1 credit
  • GRDM-G702 Entering Biomedical Science Research*: 1 credit
  • GRDM-G718 Research in Biomedical Science (first rotation): 2 credits

Biochemistry Core Electives

  • GRDM-G805 Diabetes and Obesity: 2 credits
  • GRDM-G825 Advanced Topics in Molecular Biology: 2 credits
  • GRDM-G826 Synthetic Biology and Biologics: 2 credits

Spring

Research Communication (one of the following)

  • COMM-C534 Distilling Your Message*: 1 credit
  • COMM-C533 Improvisation for Scientists*: 1 credit
  • ENG-W533 Science Writing for Public Readers*: 1 credit
  • GRDM-G507 Reagent Validation as a Means for Enhanced Research Reproducibility*: 1 credit
  • GRDM-G718 Research in Biomedical Science Rotations 2 and 3: 4 credits
  • Indiana Biomedical Gateway Program open enrollment electives

Biochemistry Core Electives

  • GRDM-G817 Molecular basis of cell structure and function: 2 credits
  • GRDM-G852 Concepts of cancer biology: 2 credits
  • GRDM-G807 Structural and chemical biology: 2 credits
  • GRDM-G848 Bioinformatics applications to proteomics and genomics: 2 credits

Fall

Total of 10 credit hours

  • GRDM-G855 Experimental Design and Research Biostatistics*: 1 credit
  • BIOC- B890 Seminar: 1 credit
  • Major course requirements: variable
  • Minor course requirements: variable
  • BIOC-B855 Research: variable

Spring

Total of 10 credit hours

  • BIOC-B803 Advanced Biochemistry: 1 credit
  • BIOC- B890 Seminar: 1 credit
  • Major course requirements: variable
  • Minor course requirements: variable
  • BIOC-B855 Research: variable

During years 3 through 5, the student will take didactic courses if needed to fulfill either requirements for the biochemistry major or their chosen minor. In year 3, the student will typically register for a total of 10 credit hours each fall and spring, including one credit hour of BIOC-B890. Four credit hours of B890 are required before advancing to candidacy.  The student will advance to candidacy upon completion of both major and minor coursework and having reached a total of 30 or more didactic hours of coursework as well as successful defense of their thesis proposal which serves as the students qualifying examination.

Work will continue in the field of the candidate’s thesis. Emphasis will be on the ability to pursue research with relative independence and responsibility.

MD/PhD students are not required to take GRDM-G715-717 but are expected to perform lab rotations during summer breaks from medical school classes. MD/PhD students must take two or more of the two-credit biochemistry core courses (GRDM-G805, G807, G817, G852, G825, G826, G848) along with other courses required of IBMG and biochemistry and molecular biology PhD students (GRDM-G505, G655, G855, BIOC-B803 and B890 [4x]).

In the spring of Year 2, PhD students prepare and defend a proposal for a topic of original research. Students are questioned on topics outside of their thesis work during their thesis proposal oral defense in B803. Passing of this defense with a grade of B/3.0 or better is required for advancement to doctoral candidacy.

After a laboratory for thesis research is chosen, an advisory committee consisting of at least three program faculty members and one external faculty member is formed with the approval of the thesis advisor and departmental chairperson. Upon advancement to candidacy, a thesis research committee is similarly formed but may consist of different faculty.

PhD students with eligibility to work in the U.S. receive a competitive annual stipend without a teaching assistant requirement as well as tuition scholarships and health and dental insurance. Find additional financial aid information from the IU Indianapolis Office of the Bursar.