The first year curriculum of the CBI Graduate Training Program is designed to provide a solid foundation in chemistry, biochemistry as well as cellular and molecular biology. This flexible curriculum includes selection of one core class from each of the three disciplines below in addition to three electives and three lab rotations.
Chemistry Core Courses (select one):
- CHEM523 Synthetic Methods in Organic Chemistry
- CHEM521 Chemical Biology
- CHEM518 Advanced Organic Chemistry
- CHEM554 Bio-inorganic Chemistry
Biochemistry/Biophysics Core Courses (select one):
- MBB300 Principles of Biochemistry I
- MBB301 Principles of Biochemistry II
- MBB420 Macromolecular Structure and Biophysical Analysis
- MBB765 Enzyme Mechanisms
- MCDB630 Biochemical and Biophysical Approaches in Molecular and Cellular Biology
Molecular and Cell Biology Core Courses (select one):
- MCDB602 Molecular Cell Biology
- MCDB625 Basic Concepts of Genetic Analysis
- MBB743 Advanced Eukaryotic Molecular Biology
- MCDB570 Biotechnology
- PHAR504a Principles of Pharmacology
Required Course. All CBI Trainees must complete one course related to ethics and research.
- CHEM590 Ethical Conduct & Scientific Research
- MBB676 Responsible Conduct of Research
- MCDB901 First Year Intro to Research
Chemical Biology Laboratory Rotations. Students perform 3 three month-long, research rotations during the first year. Rotations are selected immediately following the Fall Chemical Biology Retreat, where the faculty members and their students make seminar and poster presentations.
Elective Courses. The elective courses are included for trainees to choose certain areas in which they would like to expand their knowledge. Students are free to choose from over seventy-five available courses in the chemical, biochemical and biological sciences.
Teaching. Teaching is an important component of graduate education at Yale and all students in the life sciences and Chemistry at Yale serve as teaching assistants for two semesters usually in their second or third year of study.
Selecting a Department Affiliation and Mentor. At the end of the first year CBI students select their dissertation advisor. Most students choose advisors with a primary or joint appointment in the department that admitted them. In some instances, students may consider transferring to a new department at the end of their first year.