Curriculum for the Nanobiology Interdisciplinary Graduate Training Program 

The curriculum required by this training program includes two required core courses, and three electives. If courses are offered at a GCC member institution (Baylor, Rice, UT, MDA, UH, and UTMB) other than where the student is enrolled, the student needs to complete an inter-institutional course registration form. These forms require several signatures from officials at both institutions, so budget extra time to obtain these signatures before registration deadlines.

The GCC is proud to have been a part of getting the state law changed regarding tuition: if a graduate student's GCC / Keck Center training program fellowship requires a course that is offered by another GCC institution, those students now need only pay their tuition at their home institution, and do not have to pay tuition to the institution they are "visiting."

However, the student must directly pay any required lab fees and obtain any immunizations required by the other institution. 

The following form has been approved for use by all GCC member institution's registrars: Inter-Institutional Graduate Course Registration Form  

However, it has been noted that Rice and Baylor prefer that their students use their institution's own form (see links under the institution names below).  

Please note that transcripts showing grades of all required courses and electives must be submitted to the Keck Center after each semester; a PDF of the transcripts available online in the student portal or Esther suffice.

Core of two required classes: These courses must be completed during the trainee's first year of appointment.       

1.  Nanobiology and Nanomedicine (BIOE 6xx) (3 credits)
   Rice University; will be offered in the Fall 2012 semester. Registrar's website: http://registrar.rice.edu/.  This course (currently in development) will cover the application of nanobiology and nanomedicine in bioengineering.  
2.  Responsible Conduct of Research
   As the Nanobiology training program is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), per NIH regulation NOT-OD-10-019 all trainees must take an approved Responsible Conduct of Research course at the graduate school level.
   
   Even if the trainee has taken an ethics course while an undergraduate, or an online course such as from CITI, the trainee must still take a course at the graduate level (online courses by themselves do not fulfill NIH requirements). Trainees must provide the GCC with a transcript or certificate as proof of completion. The course is to be taken at the trainees' home institution; most are usually offered only in the fall semester. Approved courses are:  

 
a. Baylor College of Medicine: Science as a Profession
b. Rice University: UNIV 594 Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research (formerly called BIOS/BIOE 594)
c. UT Health Science Center at Houston: GS210051: The Ethical Dimensions of the Biomedical Sciences
d. University of Houston: take the course at Baylor, Rice University, or UTMB
e. UT Medical Branch at Galveston: MEHU 6101: Ethics of Scientific Research.   

  

These electives must be in areas that complement their own subject area.  

For example, a materials chemist must take courses in biochemistry and biology; a biochemist must take courses in surface science and imaging. These electives help to develop proficiency in the language and culture of other scientific areas.      

Check the respective Registrar's Office web site for the latest information about these courses. Courses are not offered every semester (many are offered only in the fall), so plan carefully to be be able to take two courses within one academic year.    

Baylor College of Medicine   

Registrar's website: http://www.bcm.edu/registrar/      

How Baylor students register for a course at another institution: http://www.bcm.edu/gradschool/index.cfm?pmid=3418 

  220-510   Structure of Biological Macromolecules      

  705-403   Gene and Cell Therapy      

  311-402  Computational Molecular Biophyics 

 

Rice University    

Registrar's website: http://registrar.rice.edu/   

How Rice students register for a course at another institution:   http://registrar.rice.edu/students/inter_institutional/      

 
BIOC 551 Molecular Biophysics (3 credits) Focus on principles of common biophysical methods used for study for conformation and dynamics of biological macromolecules and assemblies. Topics cover spectroscopic methods (absorption, fluorescence, circular dichroism, epr, NMR), transport processes, sedimentation, calorimetry, mass spectrometry, crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, ligand-protein interactions, protein folding, single molecule detection, computer simulations, functional genomics and laboratory evolution. Biological examples will be used to demonstrate merits and complementarity in each of the biophysical methods. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: BIOC 481. Instructor permission required. Pre-requisites: (BIOS/BIOC 301) AND (BIOS/BIOC 352).

BIOC 643 Cell Mechanics, Mechanotransduction and the Cell Microenvironment (3 credits)
Mechanotransduction is a fundamental process essential for living systems and plays a fundamental role in cell signaling, cancer metastasis and stem cell differentiation. Additionally, fundamental biological processes such as endocytosis cell fusion and cell migration are driven by a coordinated interplay of molecular interactions that drive membrane deformation. This course will survey the current understanding of mechanotransduction and the mechanical properties of cells and their microenvironment, including membrane and cytoskeletal mechanics. Experimental approaches for measuring and manipulating the material properties of cells and their environment; including optical, electrical and magnetic techniques will be covered. A variety of application will be covered, including manipulation in engineering of mechanotransduction pathways to drive cell migration and stem cell differentiation. Crosslist: BIOE 643, PHYS 643. Instructor permission required.

BIOE 512  Biophotonics Instrumentation and Applications (3 credits)
This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of Biophotonics instrumentation related to coherent light generation, transmission by optical components such as lenses and fibers, and modulation and detection. Inference and polarization concepts and light theories including ray and wave optics will be covered. A broad variety of optical imaging and detection techniques including numerous microscopy techniques, spectral imaging, polarimetry, OCT, and others will be covered. The course will guide through the principles and concepts used in a variety of optical instruments and point to special requirements for biomedical applications.    

BIOE 522 Gene Therapy (3 credits)
This course will examine the gene therapy field, with topics ranging from gene delivery to vectors to ethics of gene therapy. The design principles for engineering improved gene delivery vectors, both viral and non-viral, will be discussed. The course will culminate in a design project focused on engineering a gene delivery device for a specific therapeutic application. Pre-requisites: CHEM 212 AND BIOC/BIOS 201 or permission of instructor.     

 BIOE 542  Macromolecular Systems Bioengineering (3 credits)
Multi-component complexes of biological macromolecules form the basis of many cellular processes including signaling, metabolism, and biomolecular transport. This course will examine the impact of supramolecular architecture on these processes by discussing the self-assembly, dynamic properties and physiological function of non-covalently coupled macromolecules and interacting proteins. The course will cover fundamental models of protein-protein interactions, cooperativity, instrumentation, and potential technological applications.        

 BIOE 587  Optical Imaging and Nanobiophotonics (3 credits)   
This course focuses on diagnostic and therapeutic applications of photonics-based technologies with particular emphasis on nanotechnology enabled optical approaches. This course emphasizes biomedical applications of optics and complements BIOE 484 which introduces fundamental principles of optics to bioengineers. Recommended Co or Prerequisite: BIOE 383.      

  BIOE 598  Biomems and Medical Microdevices (3 credits) T
hrough this interdisciplinary graduate course, students will obtain a basic understanding of the fundamental principles behind the operation of molecular sensors, nano-devices and biomedical microsytems. The students will be exposed to standard and novel microfabrication techniques as they are being applied to the next generation of medical microdevices. Further, class participants will secure an appreciation of the unmet clinical needs that may be serviced by the next generation of powerful, yet affordable mini-medical devices. Cross-list: CHEM 498.    

BIOE 631 Biomaterials Engineering (3 credits) Emphasis will be placed on issues regarding design and synthesis of materials to achieve specific properties and biocompatibility. An overview of significant biomaterials application will be given, including topics such as ophthalmic biomaterials, orthopedic applications, cardiovascular biomaterials, and drug delivery systems. Regulatory issues concerning biomaterials will also be addressed. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: BIOE 431. Pre-requisites: (CHEM 211 OR CHEM 251) AND (BIOS 201 OR BIOC 201) OR BIOE 370 or permission of instructor.    

 BIOE 643 Cell Mechanics, Mechanotransduction and the Cell Microenvironment  (3 credits)
Mechanotransduction is a fundamental process essential for living systems and plays a fundamental role in cell signaling, cancer metastasis and stem cell differentiation. Additionally, fundamental biological processes such as endocytosis cell fusion and cell migration are driven by a coordinated interplay of molecular interactions that drive membrane deformation. This course will survey the current understanding of mechanotransduction and the mechanical properties of cells and their microenvironment, including membrane and cytoskeletal mechanics. Experimental approaches for measuring and manipulating the material properties of cells and their environment; including optical, electrical and magnetic techniques will be covered. A variety of application will be covered, including manipulation in engineering of mechanotransduction pathways to drive cell migration and stem cell differentiation. Cross-list: BIOC 643, PHYS 643. Instructor permission required.   

 ELEC 571  Imaging at the Nanoscale (3 credits)                   
A survey of the techniques used in imaging submicron and nanometer structures with an emphasis on applications in chemistry, physics, biology, and materials science. The course includes an introduction to scanning probe microscopy and single photon counting including STM, AFM, NSOM, and confocal microscopy, as well as discussions on the fundamental and practical aspects of image acquisition, analysis, and artifacts. 

  MSCI 555  Materials in Nature and Bio-Mimetic Strategies (3 credits) 
This graduate level course will discuss the origin of several materials that exists in nature from a technology perspective and strategies to replicate them using synthetic materials processing protocols. Silicates, carbon based materials, abalone shell, bone etc. will be used to discuss the fascinating architecture developed by nature. Similarly several functional structures designed by nature such as Gecko tape and IR sensors will be discussed for designing bio-medic structure and devices.    

  MSCI 594 Properties of Polymers (3 credits)
The course will introduce basic concepts in polymer science including the synthesis and chemical modification of polymers as well as physical properties of polymers. Topics include approaches to polymer synthesis, processing and characterization of polymer materials, and an introduction to mathematical models applied to describe the structure and dynamics of polymeric materials. Cross-list: CHBE 594. Pre-requisites: (CHEM 211 OR CHEM 251) AND (MATH 211 OR MATH 221).    

 MSCI 650  Nanomaterials and Nanomechanics (3 credits)             
The primary goal of this course is to introduce important current developments in the field of nanomaterials and nanomechanics. The course will discuss synthesis and characteration of nanomaterials, the behaviors especially mechanical behaviors in the broad sense of such materials, and their technological applications. The basic physics and fundamental mechanisms responsible for nanoscale induced changes in properties will be stressed.  

 PHYS 521  Quantum Mechanics I (3 credits)                
Graduate level course on non-relativistic quantum mechanics. Topics include early quantum theory, one-dimensional systems, matrix formulation, quantum dynamics, symmetries and conservation laws, bound states, scattering, spin, and identical particles, perturbation theory.

PHYS 533  Nanostructure and Nanotechnology I (3 credits)    
Physics of structures and devices at the nanometer scale. After a review of solid state physics, topics include nanostructured materials, nanoelectronics, and nanomagnetism. Emphasis on relevance of nanophysics to current and future technologies.    

PHYS 534  Nanostructure and Nanotechnology II (3 credits)
Physics of structures and devices at the nanometer scale. Topics include nanomechanics, bionanotechnology, advanced sensors and photonics. Continuation of PHYS 533.   

 PHYS 539  Characterization and Fabrication at the Nanoscale (3 credits)    
Introduction to study and creation of nanoscale structures, emphasizing relevant physical principles. Techniques covered include optical, X-ray, electron-based and scanned-probe characterization, as well as patterning, deposition and removal of material.   
 
PHYS 643  Cell Mechanics, Mechanotransduction and the Cell Microenvironment (3 credits)  
Mechanotransduction is a fundamental process essential for living systems and plays a fundamental role in cell signaling, cancer metastasis and stem cell differentiation. Additionally, fundamental biological processes such as endocytosis cell fusion and cell migration are driven by a coordinated interplay of molecular interactions that drive membrane deformation. This course will survey the current understanding of mechanotransduction and the mechanical properties of cells and their microenvironment, including membrane and cytoskeletal mechanics. Experimental approaches for measuring and manipulating the material properties of cells and their environment; including optical, electrical and magnetic techniques will be covered. A variety of application will be covered, including manipulation in engineering of mechanotransduction pathways to drive cell migration and stem cell differentiation. Crosslist: BIOC 643, BIOE 643. Instructor permission required.                  

UT Health Science Center at Houston   

Registrar's website: http://registrar.uth.tmc.edu/ (look for course catalog for the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, or GSBS).     

GSO30013  Structure and Function of Biological Macromolecules  

 
GSO40153  Human Gene Therapy