PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Structural and Computational Biology and Molecular Biophysics (SCBMB) is an interdisciplinary and cross-institutional program that offers a Ph.D. degree. The program stresses student training in the core sciences and computer technology, with an emphasis on biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, and molecular biophysics. The faculty research activities include development of structural and computational techniques, protein design and engineering, biophysical chemistry of macromolecules, membrane biophysics, neuroscience and genome informatics. Presently, 63 full-time faculty members from basic and clinical science departments at Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University, The University of Houston, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and The University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center, teach and supervise students' research. Applicants with undergraduate degrees in biochemistry, molecular biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and computational and engineering sciences are encouraged to apply.

Because of the diversity of the students' undergraduate backgrounds, we assist each student to develop his/her curriculum. Undergraduate courses are available at Rice University, The University of Houston, and The University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center without additional fees. First-year students take a minimum of three terms of laboratory rotation to experience different areas of research and to explore various research opportunities.