The path to a Ph.D. degree in the Biochemistry Division involves several steps. During the first two years, students
concentrate on their coursework (usually two or three courses each semester). These provide the theoretical underpinnings
for a successful research career. All biochemistry majors also participate in the Journal Club and in the Chemistry
Department Colloquium program. Students typically join a research group by the end of their first semester. During the
next spring, a student will spend time learning about their project, so that they can begin laboratory research in earnest
during the succeeding summer. The written qualifying exam can be taken anytime during the first four semesters at Florida.
The oral qualifying exam should be taken during the fourth semester of graduate studies. After passing these two
examinations, the student is admitted to the Ph.D. program. Sometime during the fourth or fifth year, each student is
required to write and defend an original research proposal outside their area of research expertise. After successfully
completing their research project, the student writes a thesis and presents an oral defense to complete the requirements
for the Ph.D. degree. Students typically need four to five years to complete these requirements.
1. Course Requirements
In-Major. Students should take at least two of the following four graduate courses offered by faculty
in the Biochemistry Division of the Department of Chemistry:
* note: 6304 courses are
offered in alternating semesters
Participation in any of these classes does not necessarily require that students have taken an undergraduate class in
biochemistry, although a knowledge of undergraduate organic and physical chemistry will be assumed by the instructors. The
third in-major course can be either one additional course from the list above or one selected from the following that are
given by faculty in other departments:
These classes are only a small number of those available at U.F. and students are encouraged to identify additional courses
that are relevant to their research interests. Such material might include classes in plant molecular biology, evolution,
Earth sciences or biophysics. Students wishing to take such additional classes are welcome to do so, but must obtain the
approval of either the graduate coordinator or their prospective supervisor before registration. Please note that special
permission must be obtained before students may take the following classes as in-major courses for the Biochemistry Division:
Out-of-Major. Any three courses offered by other divisions in the Department of Chemistry may be taken
by students wishing to fulfill the out-of-major requirements. Such courses might include:
Students who have an insufficient background in undergraduate organic chemistry or biochemistry might also be advised
to participate in either or both of the following classes:
2. Journal Club
Students qualifying in the Biochemistry Division must sign up for the Journal Club
(CHM 6934 - Advanced Biochemical Topics) in at least two semesters of study. The Journal
Club runs during the Fall and Spring semesters and provides an opportunity for students to examine recent papers from the
literature in a critical manner. All students, regardless of registration, are strongly encouraged to attend!
3. Departmental Colloquia
In accordance with Departmental guidelines, all students are required to attend the Departmental Colloquia in their first
year of study. Attendance at all seminars given by speakers invited by the Biochemistry
Division is also expected of all students working in research groups of the Division faculty.
4. Written qualifying examination
The written qualifier, designed to ensure that all students have achieved a basic level of knowledge in bioorganic chemistry
and biochemistry, will be offered two or three times per year. The exact timing of the test will depend on the research and
teaching commitments of the Division faculty. Students in their first three semesters of study can take the examination
without penalty, but all students must pass the written qualifier by the end of 24 months of study.
The examination typically consists of four multi-part questions drawn from representative areas of bioorganic and
biochemistry. While the precise contents of the exam differ in detail, knowledge of protein and nucleic acid structure,
cofactor chemistry, electron arrow-pushing and basic molecular biology will covered.
5. Oral qualifying examination
By the 18th month of study students must prepare and submit to their committee a preliminary draft of a short research
proposal( 20 page limit), loosely based on NIH guidelines, that outlines their proposed Ph.D. research. The committee
will evaluate the proposal and return comments to the student so that if necessary, they can make required changes. The
criteria include good scientific writing, a good bibliography, understanding of the project, and progress in the
research. By the end of the 24th month the student must resubmit the proposal and deliver a short oral presentation.
Based on performance, students will be admitted to Ph.D. candidacy, or be required to complete an MS dissertation, or
the supervisor will resign from the committee.
Guidelines for preparing for the oral qualifying exam are available here.
6. Ph.D. thesis
Once a student's research efforts have achieved the goals outlined in their proposal submitted during the oral qualifying
examination, a comprehensive dissertation is written, following the guidelines of the U.F. Graduate School.
The thesis must be turned in to the committee in its final form at least one week prior to the defense date. If this
deadline cannot be met, the defense must be re-scheduled. There are no exceptions. A public seminar describing the
student's research results is followed by an examination by the thesis committee. After any necessary revisions to the
thesis are completed, the student is awarded a Ph.D. in chemistry, joining hundreds of other alumni who form the basis
of our national reputation as a real player in chemistry research.
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