{"id":83,"date":"2014-07-22T13:52:54","date_gmt":"2014-07-22T17:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/biochemistry\/?page_id=83"},"modified":"2025-10-27T15:50:32","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T19:50:32","slug":"graduate-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/biochemistry\/graduate-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctor of Philosophy with Specialty in Biochemistry (Ph.D.)"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Since 1960, our Biochemistry graduate program has prepared scientists to make a real-world impact through M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry. Graduates work across industry, academia, and government in Puerto Rico, the U.S. mainland, and Latin America. Our department investigates the molecular basis of diseases that affect our communities locally and nationally, combining basic discovery with translational research to turn ideas into solutions.<\/p>\n

At the heart of the program is hands-on training and mentorship. Faculty actively secure external funding to support students and maintain state-of-the-art laboratories, creating an environment where you learn science by doing science. Undergraduates can get involved through seminars, lab visits, and mentored projects that build a clear pathway into our PH.D. program. Our faculty also serve as mentors in the Intercampus Ph.D. in Biology at the UPR R\u00edo Piedras Campus, expanding our network and student opportunities.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”vc_default” content_placement=”middle” bg_type=”bg_color” bg_color_value=”#2B3783″][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS<\/span><\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]The Department of Biochemistry is located on the sixth and second floors of the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Dr. Guillermo Arbona Irizarry Building at the R\u00edo Piedras Medical Center. Available Research Facilities include the Metabolomics Research Core, the Genomics Translational Research Unit, the Molecular Biology Core, and the facilities of the Center for Environmental and Toxicological Research. Also available on our campus are the Translational Proteomics Center, Flow Cytometry and Electron Microscopy Units, the campus Computer Center, and the Animal Resources Center.<\/p>\n

The resources of the Molecular Sciences Research Center are located off-campus in R\u00edo Piedras, PR. These resources complement the facilities offered by the individual investigators in their respective laboratories.<\/p>\n

Candidates for a Ph.D. degree must complete a minimum of 48 course credits in addition to 15 dissertation credits and must pass a comprehensive exam that is taken after the second year of coursework<\/p>\n

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION ARE AS FOLLOWS:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. All applicants must fulfill the general requirements of the Graduate Division of the School of Medicine. Please, contact de Deanship for Biomedical Sciences regarding the deadline to apply for admission.<\/li>\n
  2. It is desirable that applicants have a B.S. degree in Chemistry or Biology; however, applicants with majors in other areas are strongly encouraged to apply.<\/li>\n
  3. Applicants must have a minimum G.P.A. and G.P.S. of 3.0.<\/li>\n
  4. Required undergraduate courses are: General Biology (2 semesters), General Chemistry (2 semesters), Analytical Chemistry (1 semester), Organic Chemistry (2 semesters), Physics, and Calculus-I. Recommended courses include Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Statistics and Genetics.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    FINANCIAL AID:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Teaching and Research Assistantships are available through the Dean of Academic Affairs. Information on other financial aid is available through the Office of Financial Aid.<\/p>\n

    RESEARCH INTERESTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Molecular and Genetic Alterations in Disease<\/li>\n
    • Molecular mechanisms that control gene expression<\/li>\n
    • Biochemistry of Proteins<\/li>\n
    • Protein Structure\/Function Relationships<\/li>\n
    • Identification of targets for therapeutic antifungals<\/li>\n
    • Genomics<\/li>\n
    • Proteomics<\/li>\n
    • Clinical Biochemistry<\/li>\n
    • Analytical Biochemistry<\/li>\n
    • Biochemical Toxicology<\/li>\n
    • Biochemical Pharmacology<\/li>\n
    • Molecular and Cell Biology<\/li>\n
    • Experimental Therapeutics for Cancer Metastasis<\/li>\n
    • Cancer metabolism, therapy response<\/li>\n
    • Drug delivery for siRNAs and miRNAs in cancer<\/li>\n
    • Metabolomics<\/li>\n
    • Integrated Multi-omics Approaches<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”vc_default” content_placement=”middle” bg_type=”bg_color” bg_color_value=”#2B3783″][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

      THE BIOCHEMISTRY FACULTY AND THEIR RESEARCH INTERESTS<\/span><\/h2>\n

      [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Baerga, Abel J., Ph.D.<\/strong>
      \nProfessor
      \nBiosynthesis of natural products; Enzyme Structure, Function, and Mechanisms; Gut microbiome interactions in cancer<\/p>\n

      Cadilla, Carmen L., Ph.D.<\/strong>
      \nProfessor
      \nHuman Genetics and Genomics; Rare Genetic Disorders that affect the PR population; Regulation of gene expression<\/p>\n

      Chorna, Nataliya, Ph.D.<\/strong>
      \nAssistant Professor
      \nNeuropsychiatric Disorders and Metabolism<\/p>\n

      Dharmawardhane, Suranganie, Ph.D.<\/strong>
      \nProfessor
      \nSignal transduction in breast cancer metastasis. Experimental therapeutic for breast cancer<\/p>\n

      Diaz Osterman, Carlos, Ph.D.<\/strong>
      \nAssistant Professor (Ad Honorem)
      \nCardiometabolic Risk Factors and Immunometabolomic Indicators of Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness<\/p>\n

      Franco, H\u00e9ctor L., Ph.D.<\/strong>
      \nAssociate Professor (Ad Honorem)
      \nSingle Cell Genomics; Gene Regulation and Enhancer Function in Cancer; Epigenetic Mechanisms in Cancer<\/p>\n

      Jim\u00e9nez, Braulio\u00a0 D., Ph.D.<\/strong>
      \nProfessor Molecular Toxicology
      \nEffects of environmental pollutants on gene expression and asthma<\/p>\n

      Rodr\u00edguez Medina, Jos\u00e9 R., Ph.D.<\/strong>
      \nProfessor and Chair
      \nStress signaling mechanisms in yeast; Protein-protein interactions of stress receptors<\/p>\n

      Rodr\u00edguez Orengo, Jos\u00e9 F., Ph.D.<\/strong>
      \nProfessor Health and Nutrition
      \nBiochemical pharmacology; Analytical biochemistry<\/p>\n

      Vivas Mej\u00eda, Pablo E., Ph.D.<\/strong>
      \nAssociate Professor
      \nNon-coding RNAs in ovarian and brain tumors; Nano liposomal formulations for drug delivery; Role of oncogenes in drug resistance.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Since 1960, our Biochemistry graduate program has prepared scientists to make a real-world impact through M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry. Graduates work across industry, academia, and government in Puerto Rico, the U.S. mainland, and Latin America. Our department investigates the molecular basis of diseases that affect our communities locally and nationally, combining basic…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-83","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","description-off"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/biochemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/83","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/biochemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/biochemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/biochemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/biochemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/biochemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/83\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1123,"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/biochemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/83\/revisions\/1123"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/biochemistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}