Biological Sciences

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Head: Susan P. Gilbert

Associate Department Head: George Makhatadze

Department Home Page: http://science.rpi.edu/biology 

In recent decades, biology has undergone a revolutionary transformation. Powerful combinations of biochemical, biophysical, genetic, molecular, structural, and computational tools have allowed for the deep and quantitative analysis of problems that were once only handled descriptively. To address the biological challenges of the future, Rensselaer faculty have developed undergraduate and graduate programs that encompass new basic research paradigms which can be applied to translational biomedical research, healthcare challenges, environmental sustainability, and resource management. The foundation of biology lies in the mechanistic understanding of life, which is built upon the principles of chemistry, physics, and mathematics. The undergraduate curriculum therefore trains students in the fundamentals of the life sciences, along with the underlying chemistry and physics of life processes. Upper-division students then select areas of interest for more specialized study. This curriculum prepares students for a range of career paths, including professional training in research or medicine, applied biology, or industry. Furthermore, our department’s programs of study can be combined with specialized options in biochemistry, biomedical engineering, bioinformatics, biophysics, biotechnology (genetic engineering), chemical engineering, computer science, environmental sciences, management, mathematics, microbiology, and technical communications.

Research and Innovation 

Biochemistry and Biophysics

The study of fundamental problems in modern biochemistry and biophysics employs a variety of cutting-edge experimental and computational techniques. Faculty members work on topics that span the disciplines of cell biology, physiology, protein biophysics, and structural biology. Research in these areas include investigations into how muscle is organized to power locomotion and how variation between muscle fiber types is generated; single molecule studies of force production by proteins required for proper cell division and neuronal development; study of functional dynamics of proteins and protein design; the application of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to study important problems in neuroscience and aging (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease); studies of energy-transducing enzymes in bacteria and selective transport of sodium ions across the membrane; theoretical and experimental approaches to the study of protein-protein interactions and rational protein design using fluorescence microscopy and x-ray crystallography; the evolution of protein sequences and life in extreme environments that mimic early earth.

Cell and Developmental Biology

Research in this area comprises in vivo studies in diverse model organisms as well as vertebrate cultured cells. Faculty labs utilize molecular and genetic approaches along with advanced microscopy techniques in their studies across a broad range of medically relevant biological problems. Examples of research areas include elucidating the mechanisms underlying polarized vesicle transport in neurons; the biophysics of chromosome segregation by the mitotic spindle during cell division; the unique mechanisms by which single cell organisms walk via the coordination of complex cytoskeletal networks; cell growth and molecular factors that coordinate regulation of the cell cycle; stem cell growth and regulation in the context of tissue engineering; the molecular mechanisms controlling aging and neurodegenerative diseases; and the regulation of behavior via the molecular circadian clock.

Circadian biology

The strongest environmental cue that organisms face on a daily basis is the day/night cycle itself, with changes in light, temperature, pressure, and a host of other factors. To deal with this persistent stress, organisms have evolved circadian rhythms to broadly coordinate cellular and organismal physiology. Disruption of circadian rhythms has negative consequences on organismal fitness, including increased risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders in humans. Circadian rhythms are created by a molecular timer that regulates anything from gene expression to hormone release and the diversity of regulation is reflected in the study of this process within the department, with research ranging across all disciplines, including ecological, cellular, neuronal, biophysical, and computational research facets.

Computational biology

Research in computational and molecular biology includes both computational work and applications using molecular genetic approaches. Algorithms are being developed for sequence alignment, structural bioinformatics, phylogenetic analysis and hypothesis driven molecular simulations. Massively parallel computer clusters are being used to carry out large scale molecular dynamics simulations, to mine large genomic data sets and to design novel proteins. Gene manipulations are used to engineer proteins for further biophysical characterization, leading to a better understanding of the forces that hold proteins together.

Neuroscience

Neuroscience encompasses a large and diverse set of subfields that aim to understand how behaviors emerge from activity in the nervous system. Research at RPI addresses broad and fundamental questions about neuronal physiology. Areas of interest are wide-ranging and include neuronal cell biology and the mechanisms of polarized vesicle transport, the underpinnings of psychiatric and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Our interdisciplinary approach to neuroscience fosters innovation with the goal of understanding the brain and its role in health and disease.

Microbiology

Microbiology research at the Department of Biological Sciences at RPI encompasses various areas including bacterial physiology, biochemistry, ecology, genetics, and computational studies with both basic and applied research projects.  Research interests include the human gut symbiont Bacteroides, aiming to understand how these bacteria colonize and thrive in the human colon and provide benefits to the host, and molecular aspects of bacterial energy transduction in the human pathogen Vibrio cholerae. This work uses structural, biochemical, and biophysical techniques to elucidate mechanisms at the molecular scale.

Ecology

Ecological research spans the fields of ecology, evolution, animal behavior, and biogeochemistry to understand how natural and human impacts affect the structure and function of freshwater ecosystems. Rensselaer’s Darrin Fresh Water Institute is the center of these research activities, with a focus on lakes, streams, and wetlands. Our research includes investigations of climate change, excess nutrients, altered land use, pollutants, invasive species, and foundational work on the ecological interactions that form freshwater food webs. Collectively, these investigations allow us to better understand how human activities are altering the biology, chemistry, and physics of freshwater systems. Research projects are supported by a diversity of funding organizations, including The Jefferson Project, which is a collaborative effort between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, IBM Research, and the Lake George Association. The Jefferson Project merges traditional monitoring, ecological experiments, advanced sensor networks, and high-end computing to understand how human activities alter freshwater lakes.

Accelerated Programs

The Department of Biological Sciences offers highly motivated students the opportunity to combine undergraduate and graduate study to reduce the number of years spent in academic study. The Accelerated Physician Scientist Program (B.S.-M.D., 7 years) leads to a B.S. from Rensselaer and the M.D. degree from Albany Medical College. The Department also offers accelerated B.S.-Ph.D. and B.S.-M.S. Programs. The co-terminal B.S.-M.S. Program requires application by the end of the Junior Year, and students must have completed 90 credits and have a GPA of 3.3 to apply. To receive the M.S., students must complete an additional 30 credit hours of course work beyond that required for the B.S. and must meet all the requirements for the M.S. in Biology.

Undergraduate Programs

The Department of Biological Sciences offers four baccalaureate programs: Biology, Biochemistry & Biophysics, Biological Neuroscience, and Computational Biology. Undergraduate students may pursue either a baccalaureate program or an accelerated degree program. Degree programs will receive further explanation within this catalog.

Outcomes of the Undergraduate Curriculum

As a result of completing a Biological Sciences B.S. program, students will:

• demonstrate proficiency in the foundational topics of cell and molecular biology, genetics and evolution, biochemistry, and ecology and the environment.
• demonstrate additional competency in advanced Biological Sciences topics relative to their academic interest.
• be able to apply skills such as reading primary literature, developing a testable hypothesis, designing an experiment, collecting and analyzing data, and using statistical and quantitative methods.
• be able to communicate effectively on scientific topics in both written and oral forms.
• be able to apply knowledge and skills from across the curriculum novel biological problems. 

Graduate Programs

The research laboratories are pursuing projects in biochemistry and biophysics, bioinformatics and computational biology, structural biology, cancer and stem cell biology, cell signaling and cytoskeletal remodeling, yeast genetics, microbial ecology, geomicrobiology, synthetic biology, ecotoxicology, and ecosystem ecology. In addition, cooperative programs with other organizations provide a wider range of research possibilities. Rensselaer’s Darrin Fresh Water Institute at Lake George offers a program on lake ecosystem analysis involving field, laboratory, and computer analysis of biological, chemical, and physical data. 

Master’s Programs

The Department of Biological Sciences offers two M.S. graduate programs: Biochemistry & Biophysics and Biology. Thirty credit hours of course work are necessary to complete the M.S. program. A minimum of 2 credits and a maximum of 9 credits must be in research. A total of 15 or more credits (including thesis or project) must be at 6000 level with the rest at 4000 or above, and 15 or more must have the BIOL or BCBP prefix. A thesis or project based on an original research project is required.

Outcomes of the Graduate Curriculum

As a result of completing a Biological Sciences M.S. program, students will:

• explain general principles and concepts from a variety of sub-disciplines within the broader field of biology or biochemistry and biophysics.
• demonstrate extensive knowledge of a specialized field of biology or biochemistry and biophysics and be able to answer challenging questions in that field.
• critically analyze and interpret the scientific literature and scientific presentations.
• discuss issues related to scientific ethics and scientific misconduct and apply ethical standards to their own research and/or professional conduct.
• for students doing laboratory research—design, prepare, and execute experiments, using appropriate research techniques.
• critically interpret research data and evaluate findings using appropriate statistical analyses.
• effectively communicate their scientific research and findings in a variety of written and oral formats.

Doctoral Programs

The Department of Biological Sciences offers two Ph.D. graduate programs: Biochemistry & Biophysics and Biology.  Candidates for the Ph.D. must satisfy the requirements of the Graduate Program Committee (GPC) including passing the first year Core Course, which serves as a qualifying exam with a grade of B or better, and passing two 4-credit graduate elective courses (one of which must be at the 6000 level, and one of which must be in BIOL or BCBP). Students must also pass a candidacy exam which consists of a written and an oral portion, and must be taken by the end of the second year of full-time study. Degree candidates also must submit a dissertation based on an original research project, present their findings in a public seminar, and defend their work in an oral examination. Additionally, all doctoral candidates are required to participate in teaching for at least one semester under the supervision of a faculty member. Seventy-two credit hours are required for the Ph.D.

Outcomes of the Graduate Curriculum

As a result of completing a Biological Sciences Ph.D. program, students will:

• explain general principles and concepts from a variety of sub-disciplines within the broader field of biology or biochemistry and biophysics.
• demonstrate expert knowledge of a specialized field of biology or biochemistry and biophysics, and be able to ask and answer challenging questions in that field.
• critically analyze and interpret the scientific literature and scientific presentations.
• independently design, prepare, and execute experiments, using appropriate research techniques.
• critically interpret research data and evaluate findings using appropriate statistical analyses.
• independently design and execute a research strategy aimed towards answering a pressing scientific question in the field.
• effectively communicate their scientific research and findings in a variety of written and oral formats, including the ability to prepare a manuscript of original research for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
• discuss issues related to scientific ethics and scientific misconduct and apply ethical standards to their research and professional conduct.

Minor Programs

The Department of Biological Sciences offers Biochemistry/Biophysics Minor for Biology Majors , Biology Minor , Biological Neuroscience Minor , and Ecology Minor . 

Course Descriptions

Courses directly related to all Biological Sciences curricula are described in the Course Description section of this catalog under the department code BIOL or BCBP.

Faculty * 

Professors

Barquera, B.—Ph.D. (National Autonomous University of Mexico); microbial biochemistry, bacterial energy metabolism, human gut microbiota and human pathogens

Bystroff, C.—Ph.D. (University of California, San Diego); bioinformatics, computational biology, and protein design.

Dordick, J.—Ph.D. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); biochemical engineering, enzyme technology, bioseparations.

Gilbert, S.P.—Ph.D. (Dartmouth College); structure and mechanisms of microtubule-based molecular motors involved in cell motility and microtubule dynamics.

Koffas, M.—Ph.D. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, industrial microbiology, natural products. 

Makhatadze, G.—Ph.D. (Moscow Physico-Technical Institute;) experimental and computational design of thermostable proteins, thermodynamics of protein-ligand interactions.

Nierzwicki-Bauer, S.A.—Ph.D. (University of New Hampshire); plant molecular biology, subsurface microbiology.

Relyea, R.—Ph.D. (University of Michigan); aquatic ecology, evolution, animal behavior, and ecotoxicology.

Royer, C.—Ph.D. (University of Illinois at U-C); protein interactions in vitro and in live cells, regulation of gene expression, advanced microscopy, protein folding, high pressure.

Swank, D.—Ph.D. (University of Pennsylvania); muscle physiology and motor protein biophysics.

Wan, L.—Ph.D. (Columbia University) developing novel strategies for tissue regeneration/repair, establishing innovative organ-on-a-chip devices for disease diagnosis and drug screening.

Wang, C.—Ph.D. (Cornell University): NMR spectroscopy, neuroscience and aging, Alzheimer’s disease.

Associate Professors

Forth, S.—Ph.D. (Cornell); protein biophysics, mechanics of cell division, neuronal cytoskeleton, single molecule methods and force spectroscopy.

Hurley, J.M.—Ph.D. (Rutgers University/UMDNJ); molecular genetics, protein biochemistry and systems biology of circadian rhythms.

Ligon, L.A.—Ph.D. (University of Virginia); cell biology, cancer cell biology, cytoskeleton/microtubules.

Rose, K.—Ph.D. (Miami University); aquatic ecology and biogeochemistry, effects of human activity on structure and function of fresh water ecosystems.

Assistant Professors

Bentley, M.—Ph.D. (University of Montana); cell biology, neuroscience, vesicle transport, motor proteins.

Larson, B. – Ph.D. (University of California, Berkeley); cell biology, biophysics, evolutionary biology, regulation and evolution or complex cellular function in microbial eukaryotes.

Senior Lecturers

Bonocora, R.—Ph.D. (University of Albany, New York).

Farrell, J.—Ph.D. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).

Fraser, K.—Ph.D. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).

Klein, M. – Ph.D. (Albany Medical College)

Ramanath, S.—Ph.D. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute).

Rutledge, E.—Ph.D. (Albany Medical College).

Stetler, J. – Ph.D. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)

Lecturers

Jensen, B. – Ph.D. (University of Delaware, Newark)

Professors Emeritus

Boylen, C.W.—Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin); microbial ecology, physiological effects of starvation on microorganisms.

Diwan, J.J.—Ph.D. (University of Illinois); cell physiology, bioenergetics.

Ehrlich, H.L.—Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin); microbial ecology, biotransformation and biodegradation of natural polymers and pesticides, biotechnology.

Koretz, J.—PhD. (University of Wisconsin); structural biophysics of protein aggregation, computer modeling.

McDaniel, C.N.—Ph.D. (Wesleyan University); plant development and cell culture.

Parsons, R.H.—Ph.D. (Oregon State University); cellular physiology, epithelial transport.
 

*Departmental faculty listings are accurate as of the date generated for inclusion in this catalog. For the most up-to-date listing of faculty positions, including end-of-year promotions, please refer to the Faculty Roster section of this catalog.

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