Biochemistry/Molecular Biology - Hamilton College Clinton

Biochemistry/Molecular Biology from Hamilton College Clinton is a Campus Bachelor Chemistry degree that prepares you for a Science career. THE STUDY OF BIOLOGY GIVES US AN UNDERSTANDING of the structure, the evolution and the diversity of living organisms. The study of chemistry reveals the composition and behavior of matter itself. These two fundamental forms of scientific inquiry meet in biochemistry ? the study of living organisms at the molecular level. At Hamilton, the biochemistry/molecular biology program combines the strengths and resources of the two disciplines to create a third distinct research-based major. How are molecules constructed? How do they interact? What are the dynamics of organic matter or the molecular level? Such questions, and the research through which they are investigated, are the starting points for a broad knowledge of biology and chemistry. Biochemical concepts and processes are central to many of the most crucial issues of our time, from the spread and treatment of disease to environmental damage to agricultural safety to the threat of bioterrorism. While courses in biology and chemistry introduce a broad range of students to the life sciences, the biochemistry/molecular biology program offers a strong scientific grounding for students who plan to pursue graduate study or enter the health professions and related fields. Building on a foundation of coursework in biology and chemistry, the biochemistry curriculum begins with a course that explores the chemical properties of macromolecules synthesized by cells. Later courses deal with intermediary metabolism, replication, cell signaling and molecular genetics. Laboratory activities are an integral part of the curriculum. They expose students to modern biochemical techniques and applications. Classes are small, and students and faculty members work closely together. At all levels, the biochemistry/molecular biology program offers a stimulating, thought-provoking experience. RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES Hamilton's emphasis on discovery-based laboratory work and research means that courses provide practical, hands-on training, with many opportunities to learn outside the classroom: The Merck/American Association for the Advancement of Science program at Hamilton offers summer research stipends each year for projects in biology, chemistry and biochemistry . Additional funds for summer research are offered by the College's Summer Research Program as well as by grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the Dreyfus Foundation. Exceptional biochemistry students may also arrange to spend a semester at the National Institutes of Health. Independent study projects and the senior project offer further opportunities to do research during the academic year. Biochemistry students are encouraged to pursue independent research, and they regularly collaborate with faculty members on projects that lead to publication in top research journals and presentations at scholarly conferences. THE SENIOR PROGRAM The centerpiece of the Senior Program in biochemistry/molecular biology is the senior project. Under the guidance of a professor, students conduct independent laboratory research and experimentation. For most students, the project involves one semester of lab work, followed by part of a second semester dedicated to writing a thesis and preparing for an oral presentation to departmental faculty and student peers. The senior thesis is a culmination of each student's undergraduate experience; it synthesizes coursework, research and discussion into a focused statement of intellectual growth and insight. RESOURCES State-of-the-art facilities, advanced technology and small classes at the Science Center mean that Hamilton undergraduates have the opportunity to work closely with instruments available only to graduate students at many schools. The Science Center is fully wireless and houses more than 100 teaching and research laboratories as well as offices and classrooms, student areas and a coffee shop. Science Center instrumentation includes a 500 MHz variable-temperature multinuclear nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, several Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometers, a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer, and a dual pump, high-pressure mixing high-performance liquid chromatograph. Also available are versatile ultraviolet/visible spectrometers, a high-performance glove box, a refrigerated centrifuge and several vacuum lines. View more details on Hamilton College . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Chemistry courses.