Molecular Biophysics Minor
Minor Description
The Minor in Molecular Biophysics provides students with interdisciplinary training at the intersection of molecular biology, chemistry, chemical biology, physical chemistry, and molecular physics. Students are strongly encouraged to gain foundational knowledge for the minor by pursuing a major in MB&B, Chemistry or Physics. Molecular biophysics is distinguished by an emphasis on analytical, structural and quantitative research investigations of biomolecular and macromolecular systems. The Molecular Biophysics Minor requires seven credits, including an introductory course, advanced laboratory course, journal club, independent research, physical chemistry, and advanced electives. Students can choose from a selection of courses each semester to satisfy requirements. Topics of active research include protein design, structure and folding, molecular models of enzyme mechanisms, protein-DNA interactions, biofilm formation, molecular pores, and other membrane proteins.
Admission to the Minor
As Molecular Biophysics is an interdisciplinary minor, it is strongly recommended that undergraduate students gain foundational knowledge by majoring in one of these three areas: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Chemistry, or Physics.
Minor Requirements
The Molecular Biophysics Minor requires a total of seven credits:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Course | ||
| PHYS207 | Introduction to Biophysics (Introductory Course) | 1 |
| or CHEM309 | Molecular and Cellular Biophysics | |
| or CHEM325 | Introduction to Biomolecular Structure | |
| Advanced Laboratory Course | ||
| MB&B/CHEM395 | Structural Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| Journal Club | ||
| MB&B307 & MB&B308 | Molecular Biophysics Journal Club I and Molecular Biophysics Journal Club II | 1 |
| Independent Research | ||
| CHEM423 & CHEM424 | Advanced Research Seminar, Undergraduate and Advanced Research Seminar, Undergraduate | 1 |
| or MB&B423 & MB&B424 | Advanced Research Seminar, Undergraduate and Advanced Research Seminar, Undergraduate | |
| or PHYS423 & PHYS424 | Advanced Research Seminar, Undergraduate and Advanced Research Seminar, Undergraduate | |
| Physical Chemistry Course(s) | ||
| MB&B381 | Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences | 1,2 |
| or CHEM337 & CHEM338 | Physical Chemistry I and Physical Chemistry II | |
| or PHYS316 & PHYS213 | Thermal and Statistical Physics and Waves and Oscillations | |
| Advanced Elective Course(s) | ||
| Select one or two elective courses from the list below. | 1,2 | |
Advanced Elective courses can be chosen from:, BIOL265, BIOL266, BIOL310,BIOL322, CHEM321, CHEM342, CHEM382, CHEM383, CHEM386, CHEM387, CHEM396, MB&B237, MB&B340,MB&B516, MB&B520, MB&B523, MB&B535, PHYS214, and PHYS524.
Independent research must be conducted with or in collaboration with a Molecular Biophysics faculty member. Senior thesis research may be used to complete this requirement.
Additional Information
At Wesleyan, students participating in the molecular biophysics program have the opportunity to select research projects with varying degrees of emphasis on biophysics, biochemistry, biological chemistry, bioinformatics, and/or molecular biology. The common element among participants is an emphasis on a quantitative, molecular-based mode of inquiry in research.
All Molecular Biophysics minors complete independent research projects with affiliated faculty and participate regularly in weekly meetings of the Molecular Biophysics Journal Club (MB&B507 and MB&B508), in which research papers from the current literature are presented and discussed. Journal club students also meet regularly with seminar visitors in the area of molecular biophysics. The program hosts an annual retreat where undergraduate and graduate students are expected to present their research either orally or in poster format. Students are also encouraged to present their work at an international scientific meeting, and the program typically provides some financial support for their expenses.