College: Graduate School, Interdisciplinary Programs
Designation: Interdisciplinary program
Major: Biophysics
Degrees Offered: M.S., Ph.D.
Other: Ph.D. Minor
Faculty: Professors Weisshaar (chair) (Chemistry), Burstyn (Chemistry), Chapman (Physiology), Chiu (Physiology), Cleland (Enzyme Institute/Biochemistry), Cox (Biochemistry), De Stasio (Physics), Fillingame (Biomolecular Chemistry), Fox (Biochemistry), Frey (Enzyme Institute/Biochemistry), Gellman (Chemistry), Holden (Biochemistry), Inman (Molecular Virology/Biochemistry), Jackson (Physiology), Kiessling (Biochemistry/Chemistry), Kung (Molecular Biology/Genetics), Landick (Bacteriology), Lipton (Physiology), Markley (Biochemistry), Marriott (Physiology), Mosher (Pathology), Moss (Physiology), Murphy (Chemical and Biological Engineering), Pawley (Molecular Biology/Zoology), Phillips (Biochemistry), Raines (Biochemistry/Chemistry), Rayment (Biochemistry), Record (Biochemistry/Chemistry), Reed (Enzyme Institute/Biochemistry), Schwartz (Chemistry/Genetics/Biotechnology), Smith (Chemistry), Stretton (Zoology), van der Weide (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Vierstra (Genetics), Weinhold (Chemistry), Yin (Chemical and Biological Engineering); Associate Professors Brunold (Chemistry), Burnette (Pharmacy), Butcher (Biochemistry), Forest (Bacteriology); Assistant Professors Cavagnero (Chemistry), Cui (Chemistry), Jones (Physiology), Keck (Biomolecular Chemistry), Mitchell (Biochemistry/Mathematics), Zanni (Chemistry)
The doctor of philosophy degree with a major in biophysics is an interdepartmental offering under the supervision of the biophysics program committees. The biophysics degree is intended for those who wish to emphasize physical principles and methods in solving biological problems. Although a master's degree is offered officially, students are not admitted for a terminal master's degree.
Persons with strong training in biophysics can be expected to play important roles in frontier areas of research and applied technology. Biophysics graduates pursue careers in academic, industrial, and government research, and in teaching and administration.
The interdisciplinary nature of biophysics promotes fruitful interactions among various traditional areas of science. The biophysics program consists of 47 faculty members from 16 departments. State-of-the-art facilities are available within the biophysics program for research in x-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic-resonance spectroscopy, electronresonance spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, microscopy and imaging, and computational chemistry. Graduate students in biophysics can choose from a wide range of research topics, which include biomolecular structure and function interactions, protein engineering and biotechnology, virus structure and function, enzyme catalysis and kinetics, membranes, neurochemistry, and electrophysiology.
The program is flexible in its formal course requirements and emphasizes excellence in research. The candidate is encouraged to begin research as quickly as possible since it is research experience that brings focus and meaning to the classroom studies and since research progress provides judgment and self-confidence for independent work. For more information, please see our Biophysics Handbook at www.chem.wisc.edu/biophysics/handbook.php.
Financial assistance is available to support qualified graduate students throughout their graduate studies. Types of graduate appointments that may be awarded include research assistantships, fellowships and traineeships. The stipends awarded provide financial support to students during their graduate work, permitting them to devote their efforts to course work and research. The program is the recipient of a training grant in molecular biophysics from the National Institutes of Health.
Undergraduate preparation for the biophysics program can vary widely and will be evaluated by the admissions committee on an individual basis. Most applicants have taken courses in general, organic, and physical chemistry; introductory physics; cell and/or molecular biology; calculus through differential equations; and computer sciences. Students can generally make up any deficiencies in their undergraduate background within the first year of graduate study through a broad and flexible course curriculum. The normal undergraduate course prerequisites are:
* two semesters of calculus
* two semesters of organic chemistry
* one semester of physical chemistry
* one semester of computer sciences
* one semester of statistics
Exceptions to these requirements may be granted for incoming biophysics graduate students who otherwise have strong undergraduate training in physics, mathematics, computer sciences, biology, chemistry, or other fields related to biophysics. In such cases, each missing required course will be counted as a deficiency that the student must correct by obtaining a passing grade in an equivalent undergraduate or graduate course taken within the first two years of graduate study.
In addition, it is recommended for entering graduate students to have taken undergraduate courses in general biochemistry; general genetics and/or molecular biology; and biophysical chemistry. Students who have not taken courses in these subjects will be expected to do so as part of their formal graduate course work.
For more information: Institute for Molecular Virology, 1525 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706; 608/262-6449; dafries@wisc.edu; www.biophysics.wisc.edu.