IASBS
Program
Department of Biological Sciences
Department of Biological Sciences
The Department of Biological Sciences was established in 2008 as the newest department at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS). It currently offers a PhD programme in Biochemistry and MSc programmes in Biochemistry and Biophysics, with more than 202 students having graduated from these programmes to date. The department continues to expand its academic offerings by developing new fields of study and higher-level educational programmes in modern biological and interdisciplinary sciences. Both MSc and PhD programmes are course- and research-oriented, with research projects designed along experimental and/or theoretical lines. Research areas currently being pursued in the department include Folding and Stability of Proteins and Nucleic Acids; Protein Aggregation and Amyloid Formation; Enzyme Research; Antibacterial Peptides; Biological Membranes; Drug Design; Drug-DNA Interactions; Photoproteins; Recombinant Vaccines; Radiation Therapy of Cancer Cells; Stem Cells; Organoid Technology; Mathematical Modelling of Biological Processes; and Computational Biology.
A. Biochemistry
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
|
• Structure and Function of Proteins (Mandatory) |
• Advanced Molecular Biology (Mandatory) |
• Enzymology (Mandatory) |
| Second Year | ||
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
|
• Seminar |
• MSc Thesis Project in Biology |
• MSc Thesis Project in Biology |
* Each course is worth 3 credit units.
** The contents of the table may be altered each term.
| No. | Course Title | Credits |
| 1 | Enzymology | 3 |
| 1 | Metabolic Regulation | 3 |
| 3 | Structure and Function of Proteins | 3 |
| 4 | Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids | 3 |
| 5 | Advanced Molecular Biology | 3 |
| 6 | Seminar | 3 |
| 7 | MSc Thesis Project | 3 |
| Total | 27 |
| No. | Course Title | Credits |
| 1 | Biochemistry of Neural Systems | 3 |
| 2 | Membrane Biochemistry | 3 |
| 3 | Carcinogenesis | 3 |
| 4 | Cell Signaling | 3 |
| 5 | Bioinformatics | 3 |
| 6 | Radiation Biophysics | 3 |
| 7 | Computational Biophysics | 3 |
| 8 | Biothermodynamics of Biomacromolecules | 3 |
| 9 | Programmed Cell Death | 3 |
| 10 | Methods in Biophysics | 3 |
| 11 | Cell Culture* | 3 |
| 12 | Molecular Biophysics | 3 |
| 13 | Biophysical Chemistry | 3 |
| 14 | Theoretical Biophysics | 3 |
| 15 | Cellular Biophysics | 3 |
| 16 | Biochemistry and Pathogenesis of Oxidative Stress | 3 |
| 17 | Special Topics (Cancer Biology) | 3 |
| 18 | Special Topics (Protein Folding) | 3 |
| 19 | Advanced Biochemistry of Carbohydrates and Lipids | 3 |
| 20 | Advanced Cellular Biology (Elective/Required) | 3 |
| 21 | Methods in Biochemistry (Elective/Required) | 3 |
* Only in the spring Term (Elective/Required for students doing cell research projects)
** 15 credits (5 courses) are required from the above table.
** The English for Academic Purposes course is elective/required for graduation (3 credits).
** Total credits required for graduation (mandatory, elective and elective/required): 45 credits
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
|
• Topics in the Biochemistry of Proteins (Mandatory) |
• 2 Elective Courses (Table on Page 2) |
• 1 Elective Courses (Table on Page 2) |
| Second Year | ||
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
|
* |
• Seminar |
• Seminar |
| Third Year | ||
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
|
• Seminar |
* |
* |
• Preparation for the PhD Comprehensive Examination, and other educational requirements such as academic English and thesis proposal, should be carried out according to regulations.
• Each seminar course is worth 3 credit units.
• Minimum total credits required for graduation: 54 credits
| No. | Course Title | Credits | Description |
| 1 | Biochemistry of Neural Systems | 3 | |
| 1 | Special Topics (The Biochemistry of Memory and Learning) | 3 | |
| 3 | Programmed Cell Death | 3 | |
| 4 | Cell Culture | 3 | Only in the spring Term (Elective/Required for students doing cell research projects) |
| 5 | Biochemistry and Pathogenesis of Oxidative Stress | 3 | |
| 6 | Metabolism of Cancer Cells | 3 |
B. Biophysics
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
|
• Biophysical Methods (Mandatory) |
• Cellular Biophysics (Elective/Required) |
• Membrane Biophysics (Mandatory) |
| Second Year | ||
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
|
• An Elective Course |
• MSc Thesis Project in Biology |
• MSc Thesis Project in Biology |
* Each course is worth 3 credit units.
* The English for Academic Purposes course is elective/required for graduation (3 credits).
• Total credits required for graduation (mandatory, elective and elective/required): 45 credits
| No. | Course Title | Credits |
| 1 | Molecular Biophysics | 3 |
| 1 | Radiation Biophysics | 3 |
| 3 | Biophysical Methods | 3 |
| 4 | Biophysical Chemistry | 3 |
| 5 | Membrane Biophysics | 3 |
| 6 | Enzymes Kinetics | 3 |
| 7 | Seminar | 3 |
| 8 | MSc Thesis Project | 3 |
| Total | 30 |
| No. | Course Title | Credits |
| 1 | Bioinformatics | 3 |
| 2 | Cell Signaling | 3 |
| 3 | Computational Biophysics | 3 |
| 4 | Carcinogenesis | 3 |
| 5 | Special Topics (Logic and Methods of Research) | 3 |
| 6 | Mathematical Models in Biological Patterns | 3 |
| 7 | Topics in Radiation Biology | 3 |
| 8 | Cell Culture* | 3 |
| 9 | Methods in Biochemistry | 3 |
| 10 | Biothermodynamics | 3 |
| 11 | Cellular Biophysics (Elective/Required) | 3 |
| 12 | Advanced Molecular Biology (Elective/Required) | 3 |
* Students working on their thesis project in the Cell Culture Laboratory must take the “Cell Culture” course.
• Each course is worth 3 credit units.
• 12 credits (4 courses) are required from the above table.
• In special cases, students may choose their elective courses from the elective and mandatory courses of the Biochemistry Group.
• Total credits required for graduation (mandatory, elective and elective/required): 45 credits
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