The Edward A. Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Saint Louis University offers graduate study and research in diverse fields. Research experience for the student begins in the first year under the direction of a faculty member. Current faculty interests include molecular and cellular biology, biochemical genetics, gene therapy, cell-surface receptors, signal transduction, oncogenes, peptide growth factors, biochemistry of the central nervous system, and protein structure and function as well as regulatory studies on gene expression, chemotaxis, and carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Within the department, students receive advanced training in biochemical concepts and their application to the study of macromolecular structure and function, cell and molecular biology, regulation of metabolism, and signal transduction.
Students then undertake original laboratory research leading to the Ph.D. dissertation.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to pursue studies leading to the Ph.D. degree in biochemistry and molecular biology. Under special circumstances, students may work for the M.S. degree. Since the department is located in the School of Medicine, the opportunity for a combined graduate and medical program is available. In addition, the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology offers research opportunities for physician-scientists to obtain postgraduate training in metabolism, enzymology, physical biochemistry, molecular genetics, and clinical investigation of metabolic diseases in man. The department is extremely well-equipped to meet the needs of investigation at the frontier of scientific knowledge.