Overview
The OGI School of Science & Engineering is one of four schools of Oregon Health & Science University. OGI provides a graduate-level education that combines a vigorous research emphasis and state-of-the-art instrumentation with the intimacy and personal attention associated with small colleges. The research environment emphasizes the fundamentals and practical applications to solve problems in advanced technology, science, management, the environment, and health. The faculty members are internationally recognized for their research, giving students the opportunity to get involved in all aspects of the departmental research programs and have ready access to state-of-the-art research instrumentation.

The student population is divided equally between men and women and between individuals of U.S. and international origin.

BMB graduates succeed in careers with the world's leading universities and corporations.

The Location and Community
The School is located 12 miles west of downtown Portland in an area known as the Silicon Forest. The School's neighbors include Intel's largest research and development facility, Tektronix, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Mentor Graphics, Nike, and Addidas. The greater Portland metropolitan area provides diverse cultural and recreational activities, including the largest wilderness park within the limits of any city in the United States.

Programs of Study and Degree Requirements
The department offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology (BMB). Early exposure to research allows each student to become familiar with the variety of activities in the program as well as aiding in thesis research selection. BMB research areas include metallobiochemistry, with emphasis on the structure and function of metal ions in proteins and the mechanisms of metal trafficking in cells; fungal, yeast, and bacterial biochemistry, with emphasis on gene regulation and enzyme characterization; and ion transport across biological membranes, with emphasis on molecular biology and reconstitution of cation and anion carriers.

The Ph.D. program in BMB allows the graduate student more extensive research, study, and expertise in a chosen field. A comprehensive examination and a Ph.D. dissertation and its defense are required. Ph.D. candidates take three required courses in biochemistry, choose three other core courses depending on the particular interest, and select from available student seminars and research projects.

The thesis option M.S. is a research degree that requires satisfactory completion of 44 credits, 20 of which are in graded courses (including required courses) and 8 or more in advanced courses, and a written thesis based on independent research. The thesis M.S. degree can be completed in two years of full-time study.

The nonthesis M.S. requires satisfactory completion of 44 credits, 28 of which are in graded courses and 16 derived from an experimental research project. Three courses (12 credits) in biochemistry are required, after which students choose from a list of advanced courses depending on the specific interest. Student seminars are offered in metallobiochemistry, molecular biology and biochemistry, and ion transport. The experimental research project is typically a specific contribution to a larger project, providing students with extensive hands-on experience in biochemical and molecular biological techniques. The nonthesis M.S. degree can be completed in one year of full-time study.

Facilities & Resources
Instruments and equipment available include a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer with computer data system, a high-resolution mass spectrometer, capillary column gas chromatographs with flame ionization detectors, and a controlled atmosphere reaction chamber. Spectrophotometer and spectrometer types include magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), laser Raman and Raman with CCD detector, ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared, X-band electron paramagnetic resonance, and Fourier transform infrared. A complete list of research projects and lab equipment can be found on the department's Web site.

Research sites combine expertise across disciplines and scales and can be found anywhere from the Columbia River to a molecular-scale process such as manganese catalases. Current research in biochemistry and molecular biology includes analyzing the chemistry of copper-containing enzymes, spectroscopy of copper proteins and biological metal complexes, anaerobic analysis of Bacillus subtilis, and the mechanism of antimicrobial peptide biosynthesis.

Expenses and Aid
Tuition and fees vary by course load. Students should contact the Graduate Education Office for details.

Financial Aid:
Research assistantships are provided to students who are admitted to the Ph.D. program. These assistantships include a full tuition scholarship and an annual stipend

Housing/Living Expenses:
Graduate students live off campus. A variety of off-campus housing is available near OGI, ranging from $550 to $950 per month. Housing is also available through Portland State University housing programs.

How to Apply
For degree programs, students must submit a completed application form and a nonrefundable application fee, official transcripts from each college or university attended, and three letters of recommendation. Master's degree applicants are not required to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Ph.D. applicants must submit general GRE scores as well as subject scores in biology, chemistry, or biochemistry; cell biology; and molecular biology. Applications are considered on a year-round basis, and it is recommended that students submit their applications ten weeks prior to the quarter in which they would like to begin (fifteen weeks for international students). Communication with individual faculty members is encouraged prior to applying or enrolling.

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