Overview

The Molecular Engineering and Biophysics Pathway (MEBP) is a special track available to doctoral students and students who are pursuing a PhD in Computational and Molecular Biophysics (MB), Biomedical Engineering (BME), or Energy, Environmental, and Chemical Engineering (EECE) at Washington University in St. Louis. This pathway is also available to students in the Medical Scientist Training Program. The MEBP is not a separate degree-granting program; MEBP students must fulfill all of the degree requirements of their parent graduate program.

Molecular biophysics and molecular engineering share common goals in applied and basic science. Translational applications in these fields include the development of molecular devices, scaffolds, imaging agents, and therapeutics, for a variety of biomedical applications such as imaging, tissue regeneration, drug delivery, and drug development. Achievement of these translational objectives hinges on the ability to manipulate and control interactions and dynamics of biomolecular complexes through a quantitative understanding of thermodynamics and kinetics of macromolecular associations. Such studies are the domain of basic scientific research in molecular biophysics and engineering. The MEBP is designed to train and to provide fellowship support for the next generation of interdisciplinary researchers to exploit natural synergies between translational objectives and basic science foundations of engineering and molecular biophysics.

Students will be admitted into the MB, BME, or EECE programs through the normal admission process specific to each program. Students who are interested in MEBP will submit a one-page statement of interest at the time of application. Members of the MB steering committee and three additional faculty members from the BME and EECE departments will evaluate this application. Each year, students from the participating graduate programs will have the opportunity to join the pathway. Offers of admission into the pathway will be made by the end of the fall semester of the first year.

Course of study

Curriculum

The curriculum for MEBP students will include three core courses, namely Chemistry and Physics of Biological Molecules (BIO 5325) or Principles of Protein Structure (BME 5610), Macromolecular Interactions (BIO 5312), and Mathematical Methods for Biophysics and Biochemistry (BIO 5329 / BME 5329). Additionally, all MEBP students will choose their electives from a list of courses approved by the steering committee. The electives should be chosen to achieve the right blend of exposure to basic concepts in biophysics and knowledge of molecular engineering tools and technologies. The number of electives to be taken will depend on the parent graduate program.

The following list of courses are particularly relevant to the MEBP:

1. •Biological Transport (ChE 558)
   

2. •Chemistry and Physics of Biological Molecules (BIO 5357)
   

3. •Ion Channels Journal Club (BIO 5137)
   

4. •Macromolecular Interactions (BIO 5312)
   

5. •Mathematical Methods for Biophysics and Biochemistry (BIO 5329)
   

6. •Modeling Biomolecular Systems I (BIO 5476)
   

7. •Nanomedicine Applications (BIO 5145)
   

8. •NMR Journal Club (BIO 5303)
   

9. •Principles and Applications of Biological Imaging (BIO 5146)
   

10. •Principles of Protein Structure (BME 5610)
    

11. •Seminar in Imaging Science and Engineering (BIO 5139)
    

12. •Special Topics: Computational Chemistry of Molecular and Nanoscale Systems (EECE 591)
    

Rotations

MEBP students will follow the guidelines of their parent programs in choosing their rotations. However, upon admission into the pathway, the MB steering committee will provide advice and suggestions to MEBP students in choosing their second and third rotations – with an eye toward ensuring exposure to a balanced view of research efforts in molecular biophysics and engineering.

Qualifying exams

The format and timing of the qualifying examinations will be in accord with the parent programs. At least one external (e.g., not from the parent program) faculty member from a participating program will serve on the committee of MEBP students. These appointments to examination committees will be made by the MB steering committee.

Thesis

All MEBP students will adhere to the MB guidelines for the presentation of thesis proposals and regular updates. The thesis committee will have roughly equivalent representation from the participating programs. Students will receive a PhD in EECE, BME or MB, depending on their parent program. The degree certificate will acknowledge affiliation with the MEBP track.

FunDing

Stipends

Graduate student stipends for all MEBP students, irrespective of parent program, will be in accord with the levels set by the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences at Washington University.

Training grant support

The pathway is open to all students regardless of citizenship or training grant eligibility. However, NIH training grant-eligible MEBP students are also candidates for partial support of stipend and tuition via the Biophysics training grant (pending renewal). Assignments to training grant slots will be made by the MB steering committee on a competitive basis. In order to be eligible for training grant support, the MEBP student must: 1) satisfy the NIH training grant eligibility requirements; 2) have passed the departmental/programmatic qualifying examination; and 3) be in good academic standing.

Pathway activities

In addition to training and fellowship support, students in the MEBP will participate in several activities in the field of biophysics including:

1. •Monthly “Biophysical Evening” seminars highlighting biophysics research within Washington University
   

2. •Weekly talks in the Computational Biology, Molecular Engineering, and Biophysics Seminar Series
   

3. •Spring semester seminars with student presentations showcasing research from MEBP, MB, EECE, and BME
   

4. •The annual Biochemistry, Biophysics, and MEBP retreat
   

These activities not only foster cross-disciplinary interactions, but bring MEBP students into the larger community of students and faculty who do biophysics research and think about biophysical concepts. Additional activities such as an MEBP journal club or a more specialized Pathway retreat will also be developed based on student and faculty interest and will provide a forum for in-depth discussion of problems in molecular engineering and biophysics.

Pathway Students

2008-2009

Annie Gitomer (Biophysics)

Smiruthi Ramasubramanian (BME)

Zhipeng Wang (EECE)