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Pharmaceutical Biochemistry (MS)

Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Biochemistry

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
College of Science and Mathematics
Available as of September 2008

Program Objective

The objective of this program is to provide students with the opportunity to obtain a Master of Science Degree in Pharmaceutical Biochemistry at Montclair State University. Graduates from this program will be prepared for careers in applied research or product development in the pharmaceutical industry and for work in management, inspection, sales, and service. Specifically these graduates will have the requisite skills in biochemistry, drug design and pharmacology to set them on a career path in the pharmaceutical industry.

This program is uniquely poised to meet these objectives by providing a core curriculum which closely parallels the drug discovery process followed within the Pharmaceutical Industry. The core curriculum provides training in the biochemical aspects of drug discovery, drug screening and medicinal chemistry technologies and pharmacological evaluation of new drug candidates.

This program will ideally be suited for students with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry or Chemistry. The particular course of study will be developed on an individual basis for each student, so that students with a background in areas other than Biochemistry or Chemistry can be accommodated by including the necessary biochemical prerequisites before starting the core curriculum.

Educational Program (32 s.h. Required)

1. Four core courses (12 s.h.) that each student must take and receive a grade of B or better are:

CHEM 575 Enzyme Kinetics and Mechanisms 3
CHEM 538 Drug Design in Medicinal Chemistry 3
CHEM 579 Biomolecular Assay Development 3
CHEM 582 Principles of Biochemical Pharmacology 3

2. Each student must take 15-18 s.h. of coursework from the following list:

CHEM 525 Bioinorganic Chemistry 3
CHEM 531 Advanced Topics in Organic Chemistry 3
CHEM 532 Organic Synthesis 3
CHEM 533 Biosynthesis of Natural Products 3
CHEM 534 Chromatographic Methods: Theory and Practice 3
CHEM 570 Selected Topics in Advanced Biochemistry 3
CHEM 574 Protein Structure 3
CHEM 576 Lipid Biochemistry 3
CHEM 577 Nucleic Acid Biochemistry 3
CHEM 578 Biochemistry Laboratory Techniques 3

In preparing the work program, the graduate advisor may approve other courses appropriate to the individual student. These courses may be in the Departments of Biology & Molecular Biology, Mathematics, Computer Science, and other new courses as they are developed.

3. Research (Choose Either A. or B.):

Option A. CHEM 599 Graduate Literature Search in Chemistry 2

For Option A, a Pharmaceutical Biochemistry Topic will be selected for the Review and approved by the advisor. Students selecting this option will do more course work than those selecting option B.

Option B. CHEM 595 Graduate Research 3
Option B. CHEM 698 Master's Thesis 3

For Option B, Graduate Research must be in a topic relevant to pharmaceutical biochemistry.

4. Research Presentation

In lieu of a comprehensive examination, the student will give a formal oral presentation/defense of the research project or thesis before the faculty of the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Faculty

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry currently has 14 full-time faculty members. Courses offered for this degree will be taught by a wide cross-section of the department by full-time faculty having formal training and experience in biochemistry, natural products, and pharmaceutics, along with expertise in bioorganic and bioinorganic chemistry. Within the last five years, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has made great strides in developing its strength in the biochemical and pharmaceutical areas. Strategic hires since Fall 2006, include Dr. David Konas (medicinal chemistry), Dr. John Siekierka (medicinal chemistry), Dr. Hans Schelvis (biophysical chemistry), and Dr. Nina Goodey (pharmaceutical biochemistry). These individuals bring to the University a variety of expertise and technology relevant to the pharmaceutical industry. Additionally, Dr. John Siekierka is the founding Director of the Sokol Institute of Pharmaceutical Life Sciences and the Sokol Professor of Medicinal Chemistry. This Institute will provide further resources for faculty and student research, technology development and collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Industry.

Experienced professionals in the pharmaceutical industry have been active in our department in the past year. These individuals are research chemists in upper management of major pharmaceutical corporations (Roche and Merck) and have taught graduate courses in process chemistry and in medicinal chemistry.

Contact Us

For further information regarding this program of study and careers in pharmaceutical research contact Graduate Coordinator, Dr. John Siekierka (siekierkaj@mail.montclair.edu).

For information regarding academic requirements and prerequisites for this program contact the Graduate Advisor Dr. Mark Whitener (whitenerm@mail.montclair.edu).