Our program emphasizes the relationship between structure and function of living things, and the medical connections to those relationships.
As a Biochemistry major, you'll first learn about the four major categories of structures that make up biological systems, then move on to explore biological membranes, enzymes and lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Courses might include: Ecology and Evolution, Cell Biology and Genetics, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry.
In your Senior year, you will develop a research proposal; a project that is modeled after the process whereby scientists procure funding for research. Some examples of past Senior Seminar proposals are:
- An investigation of the morphene transport in Malpighan Tubules of Calliphora Stygia and its implication in Forensic Entomotoxicology
- An Approach to quantify natural abundances of Dopamine to assist in diagnosing ADHD and other Dopamine disorders
- Antiargiogenic effects of sonitonib and cyclophosphamide combination on mouse 9L gliosarcoma tumors
- The effect of post-mortem interval (PMI) and temperature on eNOS mRNA in mouse heart tissue
- Laboratory-directed protein evolution of botyryl-CoA Dehydrogenase (BCD) from Clustridium Acetobutylicum
Harvard School of Public Health, Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D., Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Vermont
B.S., Biology, Hope College
Areas of Expertise:
Genetics, Microbiology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology
Courses I Teach:
- BI153: Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
- BI205: Biological Communication
- BI223: Genetics
- BI315: Microbiology
- BI410: Senior Seminar: The Biology of Public Health
- BI420: Senior or Honors Research
Post-Doctoral fellow in plant developmental genetics, The University of California: Berkeley
Ph.D., Microbiology, The University of Tennessee
B.S., Biology, Washington and Lee University
View my Curriculum Vitae
Area of Expertise:
I study how molecules are transported across membranes in plants and how these processes affect seed germination and overall distribution of sugars in plants.
Courses I Teach:
- BI153: Introductory Cell Biology and Genetics
- BI205: Biological Communications
- BI247: Plant Biology
- BI325: Molecular Biology
Ph.D. University of Minnesota
B.A. Russell Sage College
View my Curriculum Vitae
Areas of Expertise:
Bio-organic chemistry, more specifically the development of protecting groups for cysteine and selenocysteine for application in the laboratory synthesis of peptides and proteins
Courses I Teach:
- Biochemistry I and II
- Chemistry Senior Seminar
- Organic Chemistry labs
We can help you identify and apply for student research grants on the state and national level. Many of our students who are awarded these grants work one-on-one with a faculty member during the academic year and during the summer months on campus.
You can also conduct research through programs with other institutions such as Lafayette College, UMass Amherst, UVM and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Students who graduate from our program have a wide variety of career options. Upon graduation, they are qualified to move directly into certain jobs in industry and are fully prepared to apply for admission to the various healthcare professional programs (medical, dental and veterinary schools).
Our students are also well prepared for graduate studies in biochemistry and, with additional electives, for graduate studies in biology and chemistry. Our graduates get advanced degrees in fields such as organic chemistry, pharmacy, natural sciences and science management, as well as earning medical, dental and veterinary degrees from institutions like:
- Dartmouth College
- Temple University of Pharmacy
- SUNY Upstate Medical School
- SUNY Buffalo
- University of Connecticut
- University of Notre Dame
- University of Vermont
For more information on Biochemistry please contact the program coordinator:
Alayne Schroll
Cheray 202
802.654.2378
Box 277
aschroll@smcvt.edu