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Biochemistry Honors Theses and Research Papers

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Biochemistry is the basic science which has as its goal an explanation of life processes in physical and chemical terms. Founded in 1883, today's Department of Biochemistry emphasizes cellular regulation, molecular genetics, protein structure, hormone action, virology, and developmental biology. The undergraduate biochemistry major fits the needs of both the student who wishes to terminate training at the B.S. level, and the student planning on graduate or professional school study. It serves as an excellent background for medical or veterinary school, and for graduate study in such fields as biochemistry, biology, bacteriology, genetics, molecular biology and oncology.

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Analysis of star rna splicing and lipid droplets composition in ma10 cells under different stimuli , determining the requirement for viral dna amplification in mediating the reorganization of cellular chromatin during the epstein-barr virus lytic cycle , the role of timp-1 after spinal cord injury , investigating fyv6’s role in splicing through rna sequencing and selective protein depletion , synthetic pan-group agonists of the quorum sensing receptor agrc in staphylococcus epidermidis , egfr signaling promotes invadosome-mediated 3-d axon outgrowth , essential amino acids have additive effects on torc1 in bovine mammary epithelial cells (mac-t) , the apoptotic role of cpeb1 in ins-1 cells , testicular degeneration in a rat model expressing p.r106c tfg , minicircle-derived scn8ab kock-in reporter line provides a model to study neuronal regulation of zebrafish fin regeneration , angiopoietin-2 levels increase following oxygen glucose deprivation (ogd) and reperfusion in brain microvascular endothelial cells , defining the molecular determinants required for rna binding functions of the bicaudal-c (bicc1) translational repressor protein , improving the production of terpenes by recombination of 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-ph , examining the role of grhl2 in collagen and spheroid structures , novel insight into the patterns of in vitro short abortive rna release by escherichia coli rna polymerase , investigation of the genome-wide distribution of histone variant h3.3 , functional changes in gut microbiota across the hibernation cycle of ictidomys tridecemlineatus examined by stable isotope-assisted labeling , effects of manganese on (p)ppgpp homeostasis in bacillus subtilis , neuronal ensemble reactivation in the ca3 hippocampal region in memory formation due to pattern completion , predicting and interpreting the hofmeister effects of different salts with nucleic bases and aromatic compounds using solubility assay .

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Biochemistry Theses and Dissertations

This collection contains theses and dissertations from the Department of Biochemistry, collected from the Scholarship@Western Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Theses/Dissertations from 2024 2024

Human transfer RNA anticodon variants suppress pathogenic nonsense mutations , Aruun Beharry

Proteomic characterization of LIN28A-driven resistance to imatinib in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia , Owen F. J. Hovey

Investigating the Dynamic Composition, Subcellular Localization, and Functions of the Human C-terminal to LisH Complex , Gabriel Onea

Resolving the Longitudinal Triglyceride Phenotype of Heterozygous LPL and Apo A-V Deficiency , Shehan D. Perera

Elucidating the temporal regulation of protein kinase CK2 by the peptidyl-prolyl isomerase Pin1 , Scott E. Roffey

Delivery and differentially phosphorylated AKT1 regulation in mammalian cells , Tarana Siddika

Transfer RNA Missense Suppressors in Nature and Disease , Rasangi Tennakoon

Kinome and Phosphor-proteome Dynamics of TCR/PD-1 Signalling and Strategies of Blocking PD-1 Signaling for Novel Immunotherapy , Shanshan Zhong

Theses/Dissertations from 2023 2023

Genetic Tools Towards A Synthetic Biology Approach For Whole Mitochondrial Genome Engineering , Ryan R. Cochrane

Characterization of DNA Regulatory Elements of the Highly Abundant Secreted Protein 1 (HASP1) Promoter and Analysis of Transcriptomic Responses Under Phosphate Depletion in the Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum , Mahsa Farmanbar

Multi-omics analysis of epithelial ovarian cancer metastasis , Mallory I. Frederick

Functionalizing conjugative systems to deliver CRISPR nucleases for targeted bacterial killing , Thomas A. Hamilton

Characterizing SaCas9 and SaCas9[D10E] tolerance to mismatches using Directed Evolution Using Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (DEUFACS) , Olha Haydaychuk

Selective Activation of Thrombin Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor (TAFI) Attenuates Metastatic and Angiogenic Capabilities of Melanoma and Lung Carcinoma in vitro , Jacklyn Krizsan

The inner workings of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor: a study of the TM-mediated activation of TAFI and inactivation of TAFIa , Haley D N Marier

Advances in Phaeodactylum tricornutum nuclear engineering , Mark Pampuch

Developing Regulated CRISPR Systems to Control Bacterial Microbiomes , Gregory M. Pellegrino

State-of-the-art Approaches for Sequencing, Assembling and Annotating Naphthenic Acid Degrading Bacterial Metagenomes , Henry H. Say

Mechanism of Permissive Cleavage Activity of TevCas12a , Alexa White

Acetylation regulates Thioredoxin Reductase activity and oligomerization , DAVID E. WRIGHT

Kinetic Analyses of SaCas9[D10E] in vitro , Claire Zhang

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

The development of Sinorhizobium meliloti and Deinococcus radiodurans as chassis for synthetic biology applications , Stephanie L. Brumwell

Applications of nanopore DNA sequencing for improved genome assembly , Daniel Giguere

Dual Functions of Interstrand Crosslink Repair Nuclease SNM1A , Ryan Grainger

Probing the genetic code with Leucine tRNA variants , Peter Anderson Hall

Perseverance of protein homeostasis despite mistranslation , Farah Hasan

Towards more complete metagenomic analyses through circularized genomes and conjugative elements , Benjamin R. Joris

Dissecting the Molecular Basis of NRF2 Activity Modulation in the Oxidative Stress Response , Nadun Karunatilleke

Chromatin regulation by RB-interacting proteins in cellular immune functions , Seung June Kim

Identification and characterization of novel fumonisin-detoxifying enzymes , Michael C. Kovacevic

Kinetic and structural influences of acetylation on ubiquitin processing , Rachel E. Lacoursiere

Illuminating Transfer RNA Variants as Genetic Modifiers in Models of Human Disease , Jeremy T. Lant

RHAMM as a biomarker and therapeutic target in triple-negative breast cancer , Britney Messam

Characterization of disease-causing HARS mutations , Yi Qiu

Global Regulation of miRNA and mRNA Homeostasis by Terminal Uridylyltransferases TENT3A/B , Pengcheng Zhang

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Mapping Ku70 Protein Interactions Using Proximity-Dependent Biotin Identification , Sanna Abbasi

Applications of Genetic Testing for Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders , Amanda Berberich

Implications and Applications of Transfer RNA Variants that Mistranslate the Genetic Code , Matthew D. Berg

Biochemical and biophysical characterization of a novel fumonisin detoxifying enzyme from Aspergillus niger , Shane G. Butler

Elucidating the Structural and Dynamical Properties of the Intrinsically Disordered Protein Nrf2 Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations , Megan Nicole Chang

Investigating The Role Of PKC And Its Mechanisms In Regulation Of IGF-I Bioavailability In Fetal Growth Restriction , Allan W. Chen

The Genetic Landscape of Neurodegenerative and Cerebrovascular Disease Phenotypes. , Allison A. Dilliott

New Perspectives on Phosphorylation State in the Parkin Ubiquitination Cascade , Karen Dunkerley

The study of the structure and dynamics of parkin activation , Elaine Aisha Freeman

Development of 3D Bioartificial Human Tissue Models of Periprosthetic Shoulder Joint Infection , Tony B. Huang

tRNA Regulation in Humans: The cellular effect of a pathological HARS Y454S mutation , Rosan Kenana

Genetic Approaches for the Study of Complex Human Diseases , Julieta Lazarte

Uncovering the ubiquitin ligase activity and substrates of the human C-terminal to LisH (CTLH) complex , Matthew E.R. Maitland

Characterizing the Role of TDG in FXR-dependent Signaling , Oladapo A. Onabote

Functional Role of DREAM and DYRK1A in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Cell Dormancy , Pirunthan Perampalam

Disruption of Insertion Sequence 200 (IS200) leads to a premature induction of the Cysteine regulon in Salmonella Typhimurium , Naomi-Jean Q. Scherba

A Characterization of RGNEF Biophysical Properties and Interactome , Brooke E. Wile

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Nutrient Sensing Pathways Mediating IGFBP1 Phosphorylation in FGR , Shapnil Bhuiyan

The Genetic Determinants of Complex Lipid and Lipoprotein Phenotypes , Jacqueline S. Dron

Development of a Thermosensitive Endonuclease to Act as a Plasmid Kill-Switch , Christopher D. Leichthammer

AWT1 is Constantly Expressed in Palmar Fascia Fibrosis and Promotes a Pro-Inflammatory Milieu , Johnny Luo

Practical Applications and Future Directions of Genetic Code Expansion: Validation of Novel Akt1 Substrates and the Design of a Synthetic Auxotroph Strain of B. subtilis , McShane M. McKenna

Deciphering the CK2-dependent phosphoproteome and its integration with regulatory PTM networks , Teresa Nunez de Villavicencio Diaz

Generation of Conditional Ku70 Knockouts in Human Cell Lines Using CRISPR/Cas9 and Dual-Nuclease CRISPR/TevCas9 , Gursimran Parmar

Thyroxine-Dependent and -Independent Effects on Premature Aging and Myelination in ATRX Mutant Mice , Megan E. Rowland

Development of the Model Marine Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum for Synthetic Biology Applications , Samuel S. Slattery

The role of Heat Shock Protein 90 in the Keap1/Nrf2 Mediated Oxidative-Stress Response , Zheng Song

Structural Study of the Complex Between DNA Polymerase Iota and Ub-PCNA , Harrison Taylor

Quinone Reductase 2 Roles in Proteomic Regulation and Response to Treatment with Clinical Drugs , Matthew D. Walker

Calcium signaling and pathogenesis of dysferlin C2 domains , Yuning Wang

Determining Whether the Nature of the Amino Acid Substitution or the Extent of Mistranslation Affects the Impact of Mistranslating tRNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. , Yanrui Zhu

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Placental MicroRNA Expression in Pregnancies Complicated with Preeclampsia and Intrauterine Growth Restriction , Zain Awamleh

Differentially activating the oncogenic kinase Akt1 , Nileeka Balasuriya

Regulation of RNA stability by terminal nucleotidyltransferases , Christina Z. Chung

The Characterization of the Rat Bone Sialoprotein Knockout Phenotype , Benjamin Harvey

Improving the genetic diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia , Michael Iacocca

High Molecular-Weight Hyaluronan Prevents Basal Cell Carcinoma Via Promoting Apoptosis In Cancer-Initiating Adult Stem Cells , Violet Liu

Applications of Phosphotyrosine Superbinding SH2 Domain Variants , Xuguang Liu

Functional investigation of the role of the retinoblastoma protein in genome stability , Aren E. Marshall

Structure and Function of Stomatin-like Protein 2 , Safee Mian

Nobiletin Corrects Intestinal Insulin Resistance and Lipid Metabolism in Ldlr-/- Mice Fed a High-fat Diet , Nadya Morrow

Systematic identification of the lysine methylome using methyllysine binding domains , Wen Qin

Investigating the Role of ATRX in Glutamatergic Hippocampal Neurons , Renee Tamming

Structural and Functional Characterization of Deinococcal DNA Damage Response A (DdrA) , Filip Todorovic

Parkin Structural Perturbations in Oxidative Stress , An Tran

Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics Analysis Of Bioactive Proteins In EMD That Modulate Adhesion Of Gingival Fibroblast To Improve Bio-Integration Of Dental Implants , David Zuanazzi Machado Jr

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Attenuation of Obesity, Hepatic Steatosis and Reversal of Atherosclerosis by the Flavonoids Naringenin and Nobiletin , Amy C. Burke

Regulation of Beta-Catenin by the CTLH Complex , Christopher Chiasson

Conformational Arrangements of UbcH7-Ubiquitin with OspG and Parkin , Tara E. C. Condos

Chromatin organizer CTCF in brain development and behaviour , Adrienne Elbert

Characterizing the Role of Thymine DNA Glycosylase in Transcriptional Regulation and Cancer In Vivo , Mohammad Haider Hassan

Genetic determinants underlying rare diseases identified using next-generation sequencing technologies , Rosettia Ho

The Role of Thymine-DNA Glycosylase In Transcriptional Regulation , Bart Kolendowski

Metabolic and Expression Changes Associated with a Mouse Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) , Bethany N. Radford

The Functional Characterization of the N-terminal Domains of TUT4 , Lauren E. Seidl

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

Autoinhibition and Activation of Parkin , Jacob D. Aguirre

Characterizing the Cofactor Specificity of NQO2 , Shahed Al Massri

Role of High Molecular Weight Hyaluronan in Ultraviolet B Light-Induced Transformation , Katelyn Cousteils

An Investigation of the CK2-dependent Phosphoproteome using Inhibitor Refractory CK2-alpha , Edward Cruise

Identification of novel binding partners and substrates of histone H3K4 specific demethylase KDM5B/JARID1B , Qi Fang

Effect on Pellicle Proteome upon Adsorption of Salivary Peptide on Hydroxyapatite and their effects on Enamel Demineralization , Rajesh Kr. Gupta

Tti2 in PIKK Biosynthesis and Its Use in Identifying Missense Suppressor tRNAs , Kyle S. Hoffman

The CDK-resistant pRB-E2F1 complex recruits chromatin-organizing proteins to repetitive DNA sequences , Charles A. Ishak

Proteomic Characterization of Human Multipotent Stromal Cells Secreted Proteins with Therapeutic Potential for β-cell Regeneration , Miljan Kuljanin

Coevolving Residues and the Expansion of Substrate Permissibility in LAGLIDADG Homing Endonucleases , Thomas A. McMurrough

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Home > Biochemistry > Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Biochemistry, Department of

Department of biochemistry: dissertations, theses, and student research.

Structural Analysis of DJ-1 Glyoxalase Activity by Mix-and-Inject Serial Synchrotron Crystallography , Coleman Dolamore

Data-driven Drug Repurposing for Immune System-related Diseases , Sabyasachi Mohanty

Mitochondrial Metal Homeostasis: A look into iron and copper mobilization within mitochondria , Jonathan Dietz

Characterization of the Multifunctional Enzyme Proline Utilization A , YiZi Mao

Development of High Value oil traits using the model oilseed crop Camelina sativa , Evan Updike

Characterization of Sphingolipid Biosynthesis and Modification in Plants , Dongdong Zhang

The Role of Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells in Liver Malady Homeostasis , Fatima Cabral

THE ROLE OF CONFORMATIONAL DYNAMICS IN ISOCYANIDE HYDRATASE CATALYSIS , Medhanjali Dasgupta

Dissecting the Regulatory Network of Sphingolipid Biosynthesis in Plants , Ariadna Gonzalez-Solis

Characterization of Human Pyrroline-5-Carboxylate Reductase Enzymes Responsible for L-Proline Biosynthesis , Sagar Patel

Protease OMA1 Modulates Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Ultrastructure through Dynamic Association with MICOS Complex , Martonio P. Viana

TRANSCRIPTOMIC ANALYSES AND COMPUTATIONAL MODELING REVEAL THAT FATTY ACID TRANSPORT PROTEIN 2 (FATP2) IMPACTS THE TRANSCRIPTIONAL ACTIVITY OF PPARα THUS ALTERING THE LIPID METABOLIC LANDSCAPE , Vincent M. Perez

Xenobiotic Exposure Requires Mitochondrial Metabolism for REDOX Homeostasis and Survival in Astrocytes , Jordan Rose

Defining the Roles of Serine Palmitoyltransferase-Interacting Proteins in the Regulation of Sphingolipid Homeostasis , Athen N. Kimberlin

Investigation of Pathways for Complex Sphingolipid Biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh , Kyle Luttgeharm

Functional Genomic Analyses of Switchgrass Developmental Processes , Nathan Palmer

Characterization of Inhibitors of Fatty Acid Transport Protein-2 in Cell and Animal Models , Nipun Saini

Reactive Oxygen Species Homeostasis and Proline Catabolism , Lu Zhang

Single Tube, Multiple Enzyme Reaction for Detection of UV and Oxidative Damage in Forensic Physiological Stains , Nicholas J. Eurek

REDOX REGULATION OF PROTEIN TRANSLATION IN EUKARYOTES , Maxim Gerashchenko

ER-associated Degradation and Cadmium Dependent Rescue of PCA1 , Nathan Smith

Investigation of Proline Utilization A: Kinetic Analysis of Substrate Channel-blocking Mutants and Creation of a Trifunctional Chimera Enzyme , Benjamin W. Arentson

Transcriptomic Analyses of the CO 2 -Concentrating Mechanisms and Development of Molecular Tools for Chlamydomonas reinhardtii , Andrew J. Brueggeman

MAKING CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII A BETTER MODEL ORGANISM: TACKLING THE INEFFICIENCY OF NUCLEAR TRANSGENE EXPRESSION AND IMPROVING METHODS FOR THE GENERATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF INSERTIONAL MUTANT LIBRARIES , Thomas M. Plucinak

Investigations of Substrate Channeling in the Proline Oxidative Pathway , Nikhilesh Sanyal

Sinusoidal Endothelial Dysfunction in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. , Sandhya Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan

Studies on the Small Ubiquitin-Like Modifier (SUMO) E2 Conjugases of the SUMOylation System in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and their Role in Stress Physiology , Amy R. Knobbe

Developing a High Throughput Protocol for Using Soil Molecular Biology as Trace Evidence , Sabreena A. Larson

Phylogenetic Engineering of the Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Large Subunit in Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii , Boon Hoe Lim

UNDERSTANDING OF FUNCTIONS OF SELENOPROTEINS AND DIETARY SELENIUM BY USING ANIMAL MODELS , Marina V. Kasaikina

Functional Studies of Human Cellular Detoxification Enzymes , Melanie Neely Willis

The crosstalk between human fatty acid transport protein 1 and fatty acid transport protein 4 , Zhe Yuan

METHIONINE-R-SULFOXIDE REDUCTASES AND BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF FREE METHIONINE SULFOXIDE REDUCTION , Byung Cheon Lee

The In Situ Function of a Microbial Community Profiled by FT-IR: A Snapshot in Time , Ryan Roberts

Consequences of Hyaluronan Metabolism on Cell Cycle Progression in Prostate Tumor Growth and Metastasis , Alamelu G. Bharadwaj

Identification and Characterization of a Cadmium-Transporting P-Type ATPase in Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae , David J. Adle

Structural Basis of Allosteric and Intrasteric Regulation in Human Cystathionine β-Synthase and its Regulation by a CXXC Motif , Suvajit Sen

Studies on Nutritional Muscular Dystrophy. I. Dietary Factors, II. Fibrosis and Lipomatosis of Tissues , Violet Myrtle Wilder

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Biochemistry Honors Thesis

Students who have shown particular interest and aptitude for independent research may wish to consider writing an honors thesis. Students successfully completing the requirements are recognized at graduation for Distinguished Independent Study in Biochemistry. The student must have the support of their research advisor.

Their research must relate in some way to biochemistry , and ample progress must have been made by the first semester of the student's senior year. The student's transcript will be marked "Distinguished Independent Work in Biochemistry." 

Course Registration - BCHM 497

You are NOT required to register for any specific course, however if you would like to receive credit hours for your independent research, you may register for BCHM 497 with your advisor as the instructor. Complete the BCHM 497 - Independent Study Registration Form and submit it to Kim Carpenter ( [email protected] ) to finalize your enrollment.

Distinguished Independent Study in Biochemistry

If you want to complete an honors thesis, you must begin planning in the fall of your senior year. If your advisor thinks that you have enough results to write an honors thesis, you must adhere to the following timeline:

The semester before you graduate

• Early in the semester, discuss your wish to complete an honors thesis with your research advisor. S/he must agree that you have accomplished enough to merit an honors thesis. S/he must agree to mentor you through the remainder of your research, the writing of your thesis, and the defense of your thesis.
• By mid-semester, you must submit a thesis proposal to the assistant to the director of the biochemistry program ( [email protected] ). This proposal should be 4-8 pages long. It should contain background on your project and provide evidence that you have accomplished enough in your research for an honors thesis. Include data and figures to support your proposal. You are not expected to have completed your experiments at the time you submit the proposal, but it should be evident from the proposal that what experiments remain can reasonably be accomplished in the remaining time. Include an interpretation of the results you have thus far and details about what experiments remain. The deadline for the submission of this proposal is November 1st for May graduates, and March 1st for December graduates. The director of the biochemistry program will then submit your proposal to the University Biochemistry Committee.
• Form the committee of professors that will evaluate your thesis. Your committee will consist of three professors: your advisor, one professor chosen by the University Biochemistry Committee, and a third professor that you and your advisor choose. The third professor may be anyone from the biology or chemistry department, although you should choose someone who is generally familiar with the subject matter of your research. Be sure to ask that professor if they are willing to sit on your committee before you submit their name.

The semester that you graduate

• Finish your experiments.
• By March 1st for May graduates, or November 1 st for December graduates, inform the assistant to the director ( [email protected] ) your intent to complete an honors thesis that semester.
• Write your thesis. The format should be generally the same as Master’s and Doctoral theses. You can consult either your faculty research advisor or the Director of Biochemistry for details and examples. Be sure to leave ample time to write your thesis, because it is a time-consuming process. The time it takes to write and polish the thesis is often underestimated by students. Your thesis should be complete to your advisor’s satisfaction one month before the last day of classes.
• Two weeks before your defense, submit your thesis to your committee members.
• Two weeks prior to the last day of classes, hold the oral defense of your thesis. This is typically a 30 minute powerpoint presentation that is open to the public. After the presentation, there will be a closed-door defense of the thesis. Unless drastic revisions are demanded by the thesis committee, your advisor should notify the biochemistry department of your successful defense.
• Make revisions to your thesis as recommended by your committee. This also can be a time-consuming process.
• Submit your final thesis to your advisor and an electronic copy to the ORB .
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Last Updated: 8/27/24

Senior Capstone/Thesis

The Senior Capstone in Chemistry and Biochemistry is required for the Bachelor of Science degree, and is designed to provide the student with laboratory research experience. Participation in research helps in choosing careers, develops mentoring relationships with faculty and other members of research groups, and is the best way to learn science. Students in the Honors College can use the senior capstone thesis toward both the Chemistry and Biochemistry degree and for the required Honors Thesis. A minimum of two semesters of laboratory work (including a minimum of 6 units total of CHEM/BIOC 498(h) credit is required, which begins during a student’s penultimate semester. It is usually comprised of focused research work, followed by a semester of writing a thesis. Students who choose not to complete the Senior Capstone in Biochemistry can still obtain a degree in Biochemistry, however they must switch to a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry (talk to your academic advisor).

TO ENROLL FOR SENIOR CAPSTONE/THESIS CREDIT (CHEM/BIOC 498/498H) STUDENTS MUST:

1. Work with the faculty research advisor   to write a Senior Capstone/Thesis Prospectus to include with the CBC Capstone Thesis. Only general faculty are available to be research faculty advisors, not post-docs, graduate or undergraduate students. However they can be listed as supervisors on the thesis form.

• a statement of the problem
• background information
• methods to be used
• expected outcomes

2. Biochemistry and Chemistry students will be enrolled for credit by Olivia Mendoza, Undergraduate Senior Program Coordinator,  after obtaining signatures from the research faculty mentor and your faculty advisor.

Note: Biochemistry majors wanting to work in laboratories of faculty outside of Chemistry & Biochemistry must obtain permission from the department, contact Olivia Mendoza at  [email protected] .  The process of obtaining approval of the Senior Capstone/Thesis must be completed prior to the start of the first semester of research. This would normally be in the spring semester of the junior year.

It is the policy of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry that students enrolled in an Individual course such as Senior Thesis/Capstone, Directed Research, Independent Student and Preceptor units cannot be paid for the same hours as lab work. Therefore, academic credit can be awarded only for faculty-approved academic work as defined by department policy, whereas, paid laboratory work must follow university or programmatic policies for student employment.

3. There are no exams for CHEM/BIOC498(H).  At the end of your first semester, your research mentor will assign you a grade based on the agreed upon criteria in the registration form. After one semester of research, students must submit a revised Prospectus to their Biochemistry Faculty Advisor.

4. Before your second semester of Capstone/Thesis begins, touch base with your research mentor to clarify what you should be focusing on for this final semester.  It is expected that the research faculty mentor will work with the student as the student prepares and writes the thesis.

5. At the start of your second semester , complete and submit the Registration Form for Capstone/Thesis (the most current form is available on the  Undergraduate Studies Forms page ) – Second Semester. Use the form to help you plan out your writing tasks for this semester. Writing should be an ongoing process during the second semester, so that there is ample time to work on the thesis drafts with input from the research faculty mentor.

6. At least 2 weeks prior to the completion of classes for the second semester, the student must submit a thesis  in  scientific paper format  for approval by the research mentor and by the Biochemistry faculty advisor. The Capstone/Thesis is not only the documentation of your research project, but also a scientific writing assignment. Before submission of the senior Capstone/Thesis, the research faculty mentor must sign the title page (with date), signifying approval of the thesis for both scientific content, scope of the Capstone/Thesis, and writing style. The student should then bring the Capstone/Thesis to their assigned BIOC faculty advisor for their approval and signature. The BIOC faculty advisor will only approve the thesis after they have read the document. Once approved by the BIOC faculty advisor the thesis is turned in to the senior program coordinator in the CBC Advising office by email at  [email protected] . 

7. Students graduating in the spring and summer semesters are required to present a poster in spring,  of their senior Capstone/Thesis (includes Honors Thesis) at the  Annual CBC Poster Fair Contest , a special presentation for undergraduate research and senior thesis presentations sponsored by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.   Fall Graduates are required to present at a fall poster fair, unless specified.

8. At the end of the semester, honors students must submit their Senior Honors Thesis  to the  Honors College  by the last day of classes. The deadline to submit your thesis is usually one week before finals. Research advisors/mentors will assign grades after the completed Capstone/Thesis is submitted.

If Interested in This Program, Contact:

Olivia mendoza, phone: (520) 621-3868, email:  o [email protected].

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES MAJOR

Senior thesis examples.

Graduating seniors in Biological Sciences have the option of submitting a senior thesis for consideration for Honors and Research Prizes .  Below are some examples of particularly outstanding theses from recent years (pdf):

Sledd Thesis

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Honors Theses (Bachelor's)

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Theses submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Bachelor's degree, with honors. See Dissertations and Theses (Ph.D. and master's) for graduate work done at U-M.

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• Thesis Guidelines

A thesis for Distinction in Biology is a wonderful way for you to close the loop on your undergraduate research experience and showcase your scientific scholarship. Your thesis will be evaluated by the Faculty in Biology and answers the following questions: What did you do? Why did you do it? What is the significance of your results? What else would you do, were you to continue the project?

In answering the above questions, you have an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding and intellectual ownership of a project; not simply your productivity in the lab. The volume of results or completeness of the study is not critical for a successful thesis. Instead, we will be looking for the following:

• An argument for the significance of your research, contextualized within the scientific literature;
• A review of appropriate literature as evidence in support of claims you make in your argument;
• A statement of your research goals, i.e., a meaningful question of biological importance;
• A description of experimental approaches and methods ;
• Appropriate presentation of results through tables, figures, and images;
• A discussion of the meaning and significance of your results;
• A description of limitations and future directions for the project.

Expanded guidelines can be found in the Biology Thesis Assessment Protocol (BioTAP):

Format of the Thesis

The basic format of the thesis should resemble that of any scientific journal article that is common in your subdiscipline. It generally includes the following sections: Introduction & Background; Methods; Results; Discussion; Acknowledgements; and References. In some instances, it may be useful to sub-divide the Methods & Results section to correspond to multiple aims. However, if you chose to take this route, remember that there should still be a general Introduction and Discussion sections that address the project as a whole. The thesis should not consist of several "mini-papers" that are unconnected.  

Submission Guidelines

The format of the final copy should follow these guidelines:

• Cover Page ( sample ): Title; student's name; supervisor's name; date of submission; 3 signature lines at bottom right (Research Supervisor, DUS, Reader). Please follow the format and language of the sample.
• Abstract Page: single-spaced, roughly 250 words.
• Thesis should be double-spaced
• Pages should be numbered at the top right corner of the page
• It is preferred that figures are embedded within the document instead of all at the end
• There is no minimum page requirement or limit, although most are approximately 25 pages. 

Sample Theses

Examples of Distinction papers from previous years are available for examination in the Undergraduate Studies Office (Rm 135 BioSci).  Several samples are also available below as PDF files.

• Tracing the origins of antimalarial resistance in Plasmodium vivax
• Interaction network optimization improves the antimicrobial efficacy of phage cocktails
• Identifying how ufmylation of RAB1B regulates IFN-β signaling

Additional Resources

• Library Resources for Students Writing Theses
• How to write and publish a scientific paper by Barbara Gastel and Robert A. Day
• Biology 495(S): Scientific Argument in Writing . This course is particularly appropriate for seniors working on an undergraduate thesis or major research paper and is recommended, although not required, for all candidates for Graduation with Distinction in biology. The course is writing intensive and carries a “W” designation and, in the fall semester only, is a seminar and carries an “S” designation.
• Biology Writes  offers writing resources, feedback, one-on-one consultations, and more.  
• Duke Biology’s Mission Statement
• AJED Annual and Semester Reports
• AJED Meeting Notes
• Biology Cultural Association (BCA)
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Example Dissertation Titles

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Major subjects

Biochemistry.

Do histone modifications control gene expression?

Does endotoxin cause or contribute to neurodegenerative diseases?

Molecular interactions of drugs with the allosteric sites of vertebrate Cys-loop receptors

Why do bacteria carry toxin-antitoxin systems?

Aneuploidy in cancer: lessons so far

Big data in genomics and healthcare and how it has defined cancer diagnosis and treatment

Modelling in Biology: accurate descriptions of our pathetic thinking or pathetic descriptions of the real world?

Trace the economic and biological causes of the current antibiotic resistance crisis. Is there a solution and, if so, does it lie in the hands of patients, clinicians, regulators or researchers?

Transposable elements – a powerful force driving evolution

Can the gut microbiota influence host appetite? Implications for the aetiology of obesity

Can vaccine innovation solve the last mile problem for vaccines in low-resource settings

Eradication of Polio: Past Challenges and Future Prospects

Is the age of antibiotics over?

Microbiome regulation of the gut-brain axis: implications for anxiety and depression

On the origin of the bacterial flagellum: an example of irreducible complexity?

Recent advances in the blockade of immune checkpoints in cancer immunotherapy

What are the major causes of delay in response to emerging disease outbreaks: the case of the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa

Pharmacology

Cystic-fibrosis related diabetes

How do SNAREs mediate membrane fusion?

Is CRISPR ready for the clinic?

Phantom pain: a ghost in the machine or a biological basis?

Plant-derived polysaccharides - sweet medicine of tomorrow?

Why are opioids problematic analgesics?

Plant Sciences

"Scrambled Genomes": examining the methodology and goals of the Sc2.0 synthetic genome project

Engineering C4 Rice: Molecular Targets and Progress so far

Is Trehalose-6-phosphate a central regulator of plant carbon partitioning?

Sucrose signalling and its role in plant development

Who needs cells anyway?

Is visual adaptation diminished in autism spectrum disorders?

Memory reconsolidation blockade: a novel treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Parental influence on child language development: does gender matter?

Sleep disorders as model for Consciousness Research: a cognitive framework for parasomnias

The role of genetics in the transgenerational transmission of memories

The role of insulin in cognitive decline in the elderly

Physiology, Development and Neuroscience

Adaptations of cancer cells for metastasis to the brain

How and why is the infant gut microbiota affected by caesarean section? The crying need for well-designed research

How do astrocytes support and modulate neuronal function? Exploring neurovascular coupling, neurometabolic coupling, and gliotransmission

The missing nuances of science and society: How popular science is shaping policy and understanding

The role of operant conditioning in spinal cord plasticity and its potential therapeutic implications for spinal cord injury

The significance of proinflammatory mediators in disrupting HRV: a link to cardiovascular morbidity in schizophrenia?

Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour

Prenatal stress: relevance to major depressive disorder

Promises and limitations of a combinatorial approach to spinal cord injury

Social neurons? A critical examination of how individual neurons might implement primate social cognition

The bidirectional relationship between the hippocampus and metabolic syndrome

The Cognitive and Neurobiological Benefits of an Imperfect Memory

Why are drug seeking habits maladaptive?

How have homosexual mating preferences evolved in males and females?

How relevant is the Drosophila segmentation paradigm to the study of segmentation in other arthropods and other animals?

Mechanisms of mass extinction

Migration of Homo erectus out of Africa

The meaning of alarm calls: honesty and deception

Wolves verses Eurasian Lynx as candidates for large predator reintroduction in mainland Britain - which may be the most suitable and why?

Minor subjects

Conservation science.

Causes and remedies for the decline in red squirrel numbers in Britain

How do deer impact forest organisms in UK lowland woodland?

Reintroduction and translocation as conservation tools for rhinos

Translocation as a tool for tiger ( Panthera tigris ) conservation: problems and potential solutions

With respect to myxomatosis and RHD virus how have rabbit populations co-evolved with the viruses and how may rabbit populations be affected in the future?

Development and Psychopathology

To what extent have biasing in screening and diagnosis contributed to the sex ratios observed in autism?

Health, Medicine and Society

Medicalisation and violence against women: implications for the medical encounter

Human Ecology and Behaviour

The use of wood in prehistory

Neural Degeneration and Regeneration

Progress towards establishing lead times of biomarkers for early diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease

The Pharmacological Targeting of the Amyloid-beta pathway in Alzheimer's: issues and prospects

Philosophy and Ethics of Medicine

Dementia: how changing perspectives affect clinical decision making

Should the MMR vaccine be mandatory? The problem of herd immunity threshold

Psychology and Social Issues

Reducing Extremist Violence by increasing Integrative Complexity - why understanding the role of emotion is central to success

Information contacts

For information regarding Major Subjects such as content and timetables, please see the contact details on the Major Subjects webpage .

For information regarding Minor Subjects such as content and timetables, please see the contact details on the Minor Subjects webpage .

For general administration of BBS and general questions which cannot be answered in departments, please contact the Faculty of Biology Office ( [email protected] )

If you wish to move to or from BBS or wish to change Major and/or Minor subject(s), please contact the departments involved AND the Faculty of Biology Office.

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Senior Thesis

A senior thesis gives you a chance to dive deeper into a research topic of interest. It is the culmination of your undergraduate research career at one of the best biochemistry departments in the country. The thesis experience will help you develop your reading, research, and writing skills, and many students find this a rewarding experience in which to develop new skills through independent work. Senior theses are two-semester commitments, and senior honors theses are often required by Honors programs here at UW–Madison. Senior Thesis (691-692) and Senior Honors Thesis (681-682) are two-semester course sequences for students in the lab of a Biochemistry department faculty member. You must be a senior and you cannot take the two semesters concurrently.

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Getting permission to enroll

Work with your thesis advisor (the faculty member who is the PI of your lab) to complete

• Your Senior Thesis Proposal Form (download here) , signed by your thesis advisor
• Your Research Proposal

Turn in your completed Research Proposal Form and Research Proposal to the Biochemistry/Microbiology Undergraduate Advising Hub ( [email protected] ) by the end of the third week of class.

Thesis proposal guidelines

Your senior thesis or senior honors thesis proposal should be two to five double-spaced pages with 1-inch margins and 11-12 pt font. The abstract and references are included in the 5-page limit and the proposal should follow disciplinary guidelines and use headers appropriate to the field. If you are uncertain about how to format your proposal, talk to your thesis advisor. All proposals should contain the following:

• An abstract of the proposed research (200 words or less, may be single-spaced)
• Introduction and literature review, detailing the originality and significance of the proposed project
• Methods section, describing plans for data collection and analysis
• Timeline for completion of project
• Conclusion/future directions
• References (may be single-spaced)

These guidelines are adapted from the Hilldale/Holstrom Application with permission from the Office of Undergraduate Academic Awards. Your thesis advisor may have additional requirements or recommendations.

Thesis guidelines

Overall, your senior thesis should follow a similar format as a Masters or Doctoral thesis. Consult with your thesis advisor for guidance.

• Title Page : Cover Page (download here) signed by your thesis advisor
• Introduction and Literature Review : Provide a short introduction to the questions addressed in the thesis, including a review of the relevant literature. The literature review need not be extensive, but it should summarize the status of the field at the time the project was undertaken. This section should conclude with a clear, concise statement of the hypothesis to be tested or the questions to be answered.
• Materials and Methods : In this section, you should report the materials (usually biological and/or chemical) used in the experiments and describe all techniques. If a technique has been used essentially as reported in the literature, it can be referenced without further description. You should note any significant modifications of the original report. Methods should be reported in enough detail to allow an interested colleague to reproduce the experiments.
• Results : You should describe the major experimental findings, which are usually summarized in the form of tables or figures. Tables and figures should be numbered consecutively, with each on a separate page. They may be inserted into the text as needed (usually as the page immediately following the text page on which a given table or figure is first mentioned) or collected together at the end of the thesis.
• Discussion and Conclusions : You should provide a discussion, interpretation, and summary of the thesis findings. The conclusions that can be drawn from the data should be stated clearly and defended concisely. It is often appropriate to discuss the results in relation to the findings of other investigators, particularly if the conclusions appear to be in conflict with those of others.
• References : You should collect all references cited in the text together in a bibliographic listing at the end of the thesis. Use a consistent format for all references. References may be cited in the text by number (in parentheses or as superscripts) and listed in the Reference section in order of citation. Alternatively, references may be cited by name and listed alphabetically in the References section. In the latter case, papers with one or two authors are usually cited in the text by name(s) and year (i.e., Smith and Barnish, 1999), whereas papers with three or more authors are usually cited as the first author et al. with the year (i.e., Barnish et al., 1999).
• Other Sections : It is helpful to include a short (≤1 page) abstract or summary and a table of contents at the beginning of the thesis. The thesis may also include a page of acknowledgments to express appreciation to those who were especially helpful in the work.
• Appendices : Experimental details or findings that are only tangentially relevant to the thesis may be included as appendices, if it seems desirable to preserve a record of the information.

Additional resources:

• ACS Style Guide – contains details on scientific writing, & guidelines for figures, tables, citations, references, etc.
• Helpful writing guide: Scientific Writing
• UW-Madison doctoral thesis guidelines: https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/doctoral-guide/
• UW-Madison Writing Center: https://writing.wisc.edu/

Final thesis submission

We recommend that you give a completed copy of your thesis to your thesis advisor three weeks before the semester ends, so they have enough time to review your work and assign a grade.

You also need to turn in your thesis with a signed Cover Sheet to the Biochemistry / Microbiology Undergraduate Advising Hub ( [email protected] )​​​ by the last day of class of your second Senior Thesis semester. If you are in an honors program, check with them to see if they have an earlier deadline.

If you anticipate needing additional time to complete your work, you must discuss this with your thesis advisor and have the advisor inform Biochemistry/Microbiology Undergraduate Advising Hub ( [email protected] )​. You will receive a grade of incomplete and you will not officially graduate until the thesis is reviewed and the incomplete grade is changed to a letter grade.

The grade for the thesis will be given by your thesis advisor. During the first semester, your thesis advisor will give you a grade of “P” for progress or “F” for non-attendance/non-contact. Your thesis advisor will assign the letter grade at the end of your second semester, and it will serve as both the first and second semester grade. The thesis advisor will assign the grade through MyUW.

Student checklist for Biochemistry Theses

Semester before thesis work begins:

• Speak with a professor about doing a thesis in their lab.
• Begin work on the research proposal, which includes an experimental plan, methods and procedures, expected results, and the significance of the work (2-5 pages).
• Get authorized to enroll! Turn your Research Proposal Form and your Research Proposal in to the Biochemistry/Microbiology Undergraduate Advising Hub ( [email protected] ) this semester or by the end of the third week of class of your first semester of thesis work.
• Enroll in BIOCHEM 681 or 691

Start of first semester of thesis work:

• Turn in your Research Proposal Form and your Research Proposal to the Biochemistry/Microbiology Undergraduate Advising Hub ( [email protected] ) by the end of the third week of class.
• Enroll in BIOCHEM 681 or 691 by the end of the third week of class, if you haven’t already.
• Work on your thesis!

End of first semester and beginning of second semester of thesis work:

• Enroll in the second semester of your Senior Thesis course (BIOCHEM 682 or 692). If you are not authorized to enroll, then contact the Biochemistry / Microbiology Undergraduate Advising Hub ( [email protected] ).​​​​
• Your thesis advisor will issue you a “P” grade for “progress” for the first semester of thesis work. This is normal. The grade received for the second semester will automatically also apply to the first semester once it is issued.

Three weeks before end of second semester of thesis work:

• Complete your thesis!
• Have thesis advisor read your final thesis and sign your thesis cover sheet — the thesis advisor will then assign a grade electronically.
• Submit one copy of the finished thesis with the signed cover sheet to the Biochemistry/Microbiology Undergraduate Advising Hub ( [email protected] ) before the end of the last week of class.
• Note: Students in Honors programs may require earlier thesis submission and additional paperwork, depending on the program requirements and deadlines.

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Digital Commons @ USF > College of Arts and Sciences > Chemistry > Theses and Dissertations

Chemistry Theses and Dissertations

Theses/dissertations from 2024 2024.

Effects of Diminazene Aceturate on Drosophila melanogaster : A Lipidomic Analysis , Gabriela Suarez

Introductory Chemistry Student Success: Evaluating Peer-Led Team Learning and Describing Sense of Belonging , Jessica D. Young

Explorations on Non-Covalent Interactions: From Supramolecules to Drug-Like Molecules , Zhanpeng Zhang

Theses/Dissertations from 2023 2023

aPKCs role in Neuroblastoma cell signaling cascades and Implications of aPKCs inhibitors as potential therapeutics , Sloan Breedy

Protein Folding Kinetics Analysis Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy , Dhanya Dhananjayan

Affordances and Limitations of Molecular Representations in General and Organic Chemistry , Ayesha Farheen

Institutional and Individual Approaches to Change in Undergraduate STEM Education: Two Framework Analyses , Stephanie B. Feola

Applications in Opioid Analysis with FAIMS Through Control of Vapor Phase Solvent Modifiers , Nathan Grimes

Synthesis, Characterization, and Separation of Loaded Liposomes for Drug Delivery , Sandra Khalife

Supramolecular Architectures Generated by Self-assembly of Guanosine and Isoguanosine Derivatives , Mengjia Liu

Syntheses, Photophysics, & Application of Porphyrinic Metal-Organic Frameworks , Zachary L. Magnuson

Integration of Algae and Biomass Processes to Synthesize Renewable Bioproducts for the Circular Economy , Jessica Martin

Considerations for curricular reform in undergraduate chemistry: Cooperative adoption factors, modeling social influence, and focusing on specific populations , Jacob D. McAlpin

Chemical Analysis of Metabolites from Mangrove Endophytic Fungus , Sefat E Munjerin

Synthesis of Small Molecule Modulators of Non-Traditional Drug Targets , Jamie Nunziata

Conformational Dynamics and Free Energy Studies of DNA and Other Biomolecules , Paul B. Orndorff

Synthetic Studies of Potential New Ketogenic Molecules , Mohammad Nazmus Sakib

Coupling Chemical and Genomic Data of Marine Sediment-Associated Bacteria for Metabolite Profiling , Stephanie P. Suarez

Enhanced Methods in Forensic Mass Spectrometry for Targeted and Untargeted Drug Analysis , Dina M. Swanson

Investigation of Challenging Transformations in Gold Catalysis , Qi Tang

Diazirines and Oxaziridines as Nitrogen Transfer Reagents in Drug Discovery , Khalilia C. Tillett

Developing New Strategy toward Ruthenium and Gold Redox Catalysis , Chenhuan Wang

Gold-Catalyzed Diyne-ene Cyclization: Synthesis of Hetero Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons and 1,2-Dihydropyridines , Jingwen Wei

Development of Antiviral Peptidomimetics , Songyi Xue

Self-Assembly of Metallo-Supramolecules Based on Terpyridine and its Derivatives , Yu Yan

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

Synthesis and Antibacterial Testing of Novel Thiosulfonate Compounds , Lindsay I. Blume

Investigating a Potential STING Modulator , Jaret J. Crews

Development of Lipidated Antimicrobial Polycarbonates , Ruixuan Gao

Exploring the Structure and Activity of Metallo-Tetracyclines , Shahedul Islam

Large Area Projection Sintering of Semicrystalline Polymers and Part Analysis of the Printed Specimens , Taranjot Kaur

Interfacing Computational Techniques with Synthetic and Spectroscopic Methods for Research and Education , Nicole Annette Miller

An Investigation into the Protein Dynamics and Proton Transfer Mechanism of Class-A β-lactamase (CTX-Ms) by NMR Spectroscopy , Radwan Ebna Noor

Effects of acid hydrolyzed chitosan derivatives on MHV infection , Krishna Sharma

Metabolomic Analysis, Identification and Antimicrobial Assay of Two Mangrove Endophytes , Stephen Thompson

Advanced Analytical Method Development: from Highly-Enrolled Classroom to Data-Intensive Proteomics , Laxmi Sinduri Vuppala

Measuring and Improving Student Attitude in College-level Chemistry: A Novel Survey Methodology and Social-psychological Interventions , Ying Wang

Targeting the Side-Chain Convergence of α-Helical Hot Spots to Design Small-Molecule Mimetics Disrupting Protein-Protein Interaction , Zhen Wang

Bioactivity of Suberitenones A and B , Jared G. Waters

Developing Efficient Transition Metal Catalyzed C-C & C-X Bond Construction , Chiyu Wei

Chemical Investigation and Drug Discovery Potential of Terpenoid Secondary Metabolites from Three Deep-Sea Irish Soft Corals , Joshua Thomas Welsch

Measurement in Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics Education: Student Explanations of Organic Chemistry Reaction Mechanisms and Instructional Practices in Introductory Courses , Brandon J. Yik

Study on New Reactivity of Vinyl Gold and Its Sequential Transformations , Teng Yuan

Study on New Strategy toward Gold(I/III) Redox Catalysis , Shuyao Zhang

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Design, Synthesis and Testing of Bioactive Peptidomimetics , Sami Abdulkadir

Synthesis of Small Molecules for the Treatment of Infectious Diseases , Elena Bray

Social Constructivism in Chemistry Peer Leaders and Organic Chemistry Students , Aaron M. Clark

Synthesizing Laccol Based Polymers/Copolymers and Polyurethanes; Characterization and Their Applications , Imalka Marasinghe Arachchilage

The Photophysical Studies of Transition Metal Polyimines Encapsulated in Metal Organic Frameworks (MOF’s) , Jacob M. Mayers

Light Harvesting in Photoactive Guest-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks , Christopher R. McKeithan

Using Quantitative Methods to Investigate Student Attitudes Toward Chemistry: Women of Color Deserve the Spotlight , Guizella A. Rocabado Delgadillo

Simulations of H2 Sorption in Metal-Organic Frameworks , Shanelle Suepaul

Parallel Computation of Feynman Path Integrals and Many-Body Polarization with Application to Metal-Organic Materials , Brant H. Tudor

The Development of Bioactive Peptidomimetics Based on γ-AApeptides , Minghui Wang

Investigation of Immobilized Enzymes in Confined Environment of Mesoporous Host Matrices , Xiaoliang Wang

Novel Synthetic Ketogenic Compounds , Michael Scott Williams

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Biosynthetic Gene Clusters, Microbiomes, and Secondary Metabolites in Cold Water Marine Organisms , Nicole Elizabeth Avalon

Differential Mobility Spectrometry-Mass spectrometry (DMS-MS) for Forensic and Nuclear-Forensic applications , Ifeoluwa Ayodeji

Conversion from Metal Oxide to MOF Thin Films as a Platform of Chemical Sensing , Meng Chen

Asking Why : Analyzing Students' Explanations of Organic Chemistry Reaction Mechanisms using Lexical Analysis and Predictive Logistic Regression Models , Amber J. Dood

Development of Next-Generation, Fast, Accurate, Transferable, and Polarizable Force-fields for Heterogenous Material Simulations , Adam E. Hogan

Breakthroughs in Obtaining QM/MM Free Energies , Phillip S. Hudson

New Synthetic Methodology Using Base-Assisted Diazonium Salts Activation and Gold Redox Catalysis , Abiola Azeez Jimoh

Development and Application of Computational Models for Biochemical Systems , Fiona L. Kearns

Analyzing the Retention of Knowledge Among General Chemistry Students , James T. Kingsepp

A Chemical Investigation of Three Antarctic Tunicates of the Genus Synoicum , Sofia Kokkaliari

Construction of Giant 2D and 3D Metallo-Supramolecules Based on Pyrylium Salts Chemistry , Yiming Li

Assessing Many-Body van der Waals Contributions in Model Sorption Environments , Matthew K. Mostrom

Advancing Equity Amongst General Chemistry Students with Variable Preparations in Mathematics , Vanessa R. Ralph

Sustainable Non-Noble Metal based Catalysts for High Performance Oxygen Electrocatalysis , Swetha Ramani

The Role of aPKCs and aPKC Inhibitors in Cell Proliferation and Invasion in Breast and Ovarian Cancer , Tracess B. Smalley

Development of Ultrasonic-based Ambient Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry , Linxia Song

Covalent Organic Frameworks as an Organic Scaffold for Heterogeneous Catalysis including C-H Activation , Harsh Vardhan

Optimization of a Digital Ion Trap to Perform Isotope Ratio Analysis of Xenon for Planetary Studies , Timothy Vazquez

Multifunctional Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) For Applications in Sustainability , Gaurav Verma

Design, Synthesis of Axial Chiral Triazole , Jing Wang

The Development of AApeptides , Lulu Wei

Chemical Investigation of Floridian Mangrove Endophytes and Antarctic Marine Organisms , Bingjie Yang

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

An Insight into the Biological Functions, the Molecular Mechanism and the Nature of Interactions of a Set of Biologically Important Proteins. , Adam A. Aboalroub

Functional Porous Materials: Applications for Environmental Sustainability , Briana Amaris Aguila

Biomimetic Light Harvesting in Metalloporphyrins Encapsulated/Incorporated within Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs). , Abdulaziz A. Alanazi

Design and Synthesis of Novel Agents for the Treatment of Tropical Diseases , Linda Corrinne Barbeto

Effect of Atypical protein kinase C inhibitor (DNDA) on Cell Proliferation and Migration of Lung Cancer Cells , Raja Reddy Bommareddy

The Activity and Structure of Cu2+ -Biomolecules in Disease and Disease Treatment , Darrell Cole Cerrato

Simulation and Software Development to Understand Interactions of Guest Molecules inPorous Materials , Douglas M. Franz

Construction of G-quadruplexes via Self-assembly: Enhanced Stability and Unique Properties , Ying He

The Role of Atypical Protein Kinase C in Colorectal Cancer Cells Carcinogenesis , S M Anisul Islam

Chemical Tools and Treatments for Neurological Disorders and Infectious Diseases , Andrea Lemus

Antarctic Deep Sea Coral and Tropical Fungal Endophyte: Novel Chemistry for Drug Discovery , Anne-Claire D. Limon

Constituent Partitioning Consensus Docking Models and Application in Drug Discovery , Rainer Metcalf

An Investigation into the Heterogeneity of Insect Arylalkylamine N -Acyltransferases , Brian G. O'Flynn

Evaluating the Evidence Base for Evidence-Based Instructional Practices in Chemistry through Meta-Analysis , Md Tawabur Rahman

Role of Oncogenic Protein Kinase C-iota in Melanoma Progression; A Study Based on Atypical Protein Kinase-C Inhibitors , Wishrawana Sarathi Bandara Ratnayake

Formulation to Application: Thermomechanical Characterization of Flexible Polyimides and The Improvement of Their Properties Via Chain Interaction , Alejandro Rivera Nicholls

The Chemical Ecology and Drug Discovery Potential of the Antarctic Red Alga Plocamium cartilagineum and the Antarctic Sponge Dendrilla membranosa , Andrew Jason Shilling

Synthesis, Discovery and Delivery of Therapeutic Natural Products and Analogs , Zachary P. Shultz

Development of α-AA peptides as Peptidomimetics for Antimicrobial Therapeutics and The Discovery of Nanostructures , Sylvia E. Singh

Self-Assembly of 2D and 3D Metallo-Supramolecules with Increasing Complexity , Bo Song

The Potential of Marine Microbes, Flora and Fauna in Drug Discovery , Santana Alexa Lavonia Thomas

Design, Synthesis, and Self-Assembly of Supramolecular Fractals Based on Terpyridine with Different Transition Metal Ions , Lei Wang

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Fatty Acid Amides and Their Biosynthetic Enzymes Found in Insect Model Systems , Ryan L. Anderson

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Thesis: Bachelor & Master

The final thesis is one of the last sections of the degree program. For information on registration deadlines, please refer to your corresponding examination regulations, linked on the page Exams

The thesis must always be registered in the Student Administration Office (exception: Master IBT ). Please use the corresponding forms for this purpose:

Request for admission to the Bachelor thesis

Request for admission to the Master thesis

With the registration of a thesis, the student bindingly determines the title, start and submission of his/her thesis. The period of practical and written work until submission comprises six months. Each registered thesis is counted as an attempt. Without submission, final papers may be repeated once.

Further necessary information and forms from the examination boards of the biological sciences can be found on this page. If you are still missing something, please feel free to contact the appropriate contact person listed opposite.

External Bachelor thesis

External work can be done e.g. in researching companies, at institutes of other departments or faculties of the University of Ulm, at non-university research institutions or at institutes of other universities.

Bachelor theses in Biology B. Sc. programs are "external" if they are not officially supervised by a person who is appointed as an examiner in the aforementioned programs and is allowed to prepare the expert opinion. Appointed examiners are, in addition to the professors and post-doctoral lecturers of the Department of Biology, all post-doctoral lecturers (also from other subjects) who are regularly involved in teaching in the degree programs with an effort of at least 1 SWS in compulsory or elective courses.

If you want to do an external Bachelor thesis, you have to get it approved by the examination board Biology in time (at least two weeks) before starting the thesis. For this purpose, please submit an (informal) application to the Biology Examination Committee, including your complete sender (address), and addressed to the chairperson(s) of the Examination Committee.

The application must contain a brief description of the planned bachelor thesis. This must indicate where the work is to be carried out and who is responsible for supervision there. As a rule, this person must have a habilitation. Furthermore, it must be clear from the application which methods will be used.

The brief description of the project can also be prepared as a separate letter by the potential supervisor and attached to the application. External work must always be reviewed by an examiner from biology in the sense mentioned above. You should already indicate in the application whom you could win as a reviewer.

Please send the application by email to Mrs Theilacker.

Your application will then be reviewed by the Examination Committee (PA) and you will be informed of the decision made as soon as possible.

The following criteria are important for the PA's decision:

• adequate supervision must be ensured,
• the subject must be biologically oriented,
• the range of methods must also be biological and appropriate to a scientific thesis;
• Topics that could also be carried out at institutes of the University of Ulm in a very similar way should not be prepared externally; if necessary, cooperations or the like can be sought here.

Application for external theses for students in the subject Biology

The following professors are involved in teaching biology (list not complete):

All professors in the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Biophysics, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, and additional:

• Central Facility Electron Microscopy: Prof. Dr. Walther
• Institute for Experimental Physics: Prof. Dr. Marti
• Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Prof. Dr. Kühl
• Institute for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Toxicology and Naturopathy: Prof. Dr. Barth, Prof. Dr. Syrovets, Prof. Dr. Möpps, Prof. Dr. Panagiotis Papatheodorou
• Institute of Physiological Chemistry: Prof. Dr. Wirth
• Institute of Human Genetics: Prof. Dr. Siebert, Prof. Dr. Ammerpohl, Prof. Kehrer-Sawatzki
• Institute of Molecular Virology: Prof Dr Kirchhoff, Prof Dr Münch, Jun.-Prof. Sauter
• Institute of Virology: apl Prof. Dr. von Einem, Prof. Dr. Sinzger, Prof. Dr. Stamminger
• Clinic for Internal Medicine 1: apl. Prof. Dr. Oswald, apl. Prof. Dr. Schirmbeck
• Clinic for Neurology: Prof. Dr. Steinacker

Handout for students for writing an external thesis

Model contract

Bachelor theses in the Biochemistry B. Sc. program are "external" if they are not done in institutes of the Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biophysics and not with certain associated lecturers (professors and private lecturers) who are substantially involved in the teaching of biochemistry (for a list of these institutes, as well as further notes on this, see below).

If you want to do an external bachelor thesis, you have to get it approved by the examination board Biochemistry in time before starting the thesis, at least six weeks before.

! Important for planning !

Applications for master theses to start in the period August to January have to be submitted for the May meeting of the examination board (submission until 30.4.). Applications for master theses to start in the period February to July have to be submitted for the November meeting of the examination board (submission until 31.10.).

To do this, please submit an application to the Biochemistry Examination Committee, including your full sender (address with email address) and addressed to the chair of the Examination Committee. The application must contain a short description of the planned Bachelor thesis. It must indicate where the work is to be carried out and who is responsible for supervision there. As a rule, this person must be a habilitated professor. The brief description of the project can also be prepared as a separate letter by the potential supervisor and attached to the application.

Furthermore, the application must indicate which methods will be used.

External work must always be reviewed either by a reviewer from the institutes of the Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biophysics or by associated faculty (professors and private lecturers) who are substantially involved in teaching biochemistry. A list of possible supervisors/reviewers can be found below.

You should already indicate in the application whom you could win as an "internal" or associated supervisor or reviewer.

Please send the application by email to Mrs Theilacker (Office of the Examination Committee).

Your application will then be reviewed by the Examination Committee and you will be informed of the decision taken as soon as possible.

The following criteria are important for the decision of the examination board:

• Topics that could also be carried out at institutes of the University of Ulm in a very similar way should not be done externally, but if necessary, cooperations or the like can be sought,
• the subject must be a "biochemical" one,
• the range of methods must also be biochemical and sufficient,
• adequate supervision must be ensured.

Important information for external final projects at companies (with non-disclosure agreement) can be found here, with an example of an agreement.

List of internal and associated supervisors/reviewers

1. internal supervisors/ reviewers

• All professors and private lecturers of the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, the Institute of Biophysics, and Prof. Dr. Gottschalk.

2. associated supervisors/reviewers

• Institute for Quantum Physics: Prof. Dr. Freyberger
• Institute of Naturopathy and Clinical Pharmacology: Prof. Dr. Syrovets
• Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology: Prof. Dr. Barth, Prof. Dr. Möpps
• Institute of Virology: Jun.Prof. Dr. von Einem
• Internal Medicine I: Prof. Dr. Oswald

External Master's thesis

External Master's theses can be written, for example, in research-based companies, at institutes of other departments or faculties of the University of Ulm, at non-university research institutions or at institutes of other universities.

Master's theses in the M. Sc. Biology program are "external" if they are not officially supervised by a person who is appointed as an examiner in the above-mentioned degree programs and who is allowed to prepare the expert opinion. Appointed examiners are, in addition to the professors and post-doctoral lecturers of the Department of Biology, all post-doctoral lecturers (also from other subjects) who are regularly involved in teaching in the degree programs with an effort of at least 1 SWS in compulsory or elective courses.

If you want to do an external Master's thesis, you have to get it approved by the Biology Examination Committee in due time (at least two weeks) before starting the thesis. To do so, please submit an (informal) application to the Biology Examination Committee, including your full sender (address), and addressed to the chairperson(s) of the Examination Committee.

The application must contain a short description of the planned master thesis. It must indicate where the work is to be carried out and who is responsible for supervision there. As a rule, this person must be a habilitated professor. Furthermore, it must be clear from the application which methods will be used.

Please send the application by email to the Examination Committee Biology .

• Institute of Molecular Virology: Prof. Dr. Kirchhoff, Prof. Dr. Münch, Jun.-Prof. Sauter
• Department of Neurology: Prof. Dr. Steinacker

Information for students on the preparation of external theses

Master's theses in the Biochemistry MSc program are "external" if they are not done in institutes of the Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biophysics and not with certain associated lecturers (professors and private lecturers) who are substantially involved in the teaching of biochemistry (for a list of these institutes, as well as further notes on this, see below).

If you want to do an external master thesis, you have to get the approval of the examination board Biochemistry in time before starting the thesis . The examination board decides on available applications in two meetings per year , usually one meeting takes place in May , the other in November . For the May meeting, applications must be submitted to the Examination Committee Biochemistry by 04/30, for the November meeting by 10/31. Please take this into account in your planning. Please also plan for the fact that your application may be rejected.

Application

To apply, please submit the following three documents:

• The filled out Application form for external Master thesis
• Project description prepared by the external supervisor (informal, 0.5 - 1 page)
• The filled out Declaration of the supervisor that he provides an assessment of the student

For external papers you need two reviewers , both reviewers must be appointed examiners, one reviewer must be from institutes of the Department of Chemistry, Biology or Biophysics. Please also include the names of both reviewers in the application (you must obtain their consent before doing so). Please send the application by email to Mrs Theilacker .

Your application will then be reviewed by the Examination Board in a meeting and you will be informed of the decision made as soon as possible. The review board meetings for external work requests are held twice a year, usually in May and November. Please keep this in mind when making your plans, please also be prepared for the possibility that your application may be rejected.

The following criteria are important for the decision of the review committee:

• Topics that could also be carried out at institutes of the University of Ulm in a very similar way should not be done externally, if necessary, one can then also strive for cooperation here. Please also note the offers of the internal working groups of the University of Ulm, which are linked here,
• it must be a biochemical issue,
• different methods should be used in the work and mainly biochemical methods should be used.

Important information for external final theses at companies (with non-disclosure agreement) you will find here . With an example of an agreement.

Wann müssen Sie einen Antrag stellen:

• Institutes of the Department of Chemistry,
• Biology and
• Biophysics and
• at Prof. Dr. Gottschalk.  
• Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology: Prof. Dr. Barth, Prof. Dr. Möpps
• Institute of Virology: Jun. Prof. Dr. von Einem
• Internal Medicine I: Prof. Dr. Oswald  

or all other institutes of the university (which are not listed under 1 and 2) ... is to be carried out!

Master theses in the M.Sc. Industrial Biotechnology program are " external " if they are not officially supervised by a person who is appointed as an examiner in the M.Sc. Industrial Biotechnology program.

A list of possible internal examiners can be found at the bottom of this page.

If you want to do an external master thesis, you have to get it approved by the Examination Board Industrial Biotechnology in time before starting the thesis. Please take into account in your planning that the examination board usually only decides once per semester on available applications. Please also plan for the fact that your application may be rejected.

For approval, please submit an application to the Industrial Biotechnology Examination Committee. The application must contain a short description of the planned master thesis. It must state where the work is to be carried out and who is responsible for supervision there*. Furthermore, the description must indicate which methods will be used. External work must always be examined by an examiner in the sense mentioned above. You should already indicate in the application whom you could win as an examiner. Furthermore, please submit the signed form " Information for students on the preparation of external theses " together with the application.

Please submit the application to Dr. Eigenstetter, the program coordinator at Biberach University (House PBT, Room P3.04) or to Mrs Dr. John , the study program coordinator at Ulm University (M24 / 574).

• the topic must be oriented towards the subject of the curriculum,
• the range of methods must also be oriented to the subject orientation of the curriculum and be appropriate for a scientific thesis;
• Topics that could also be carried out in a very similar way at institutes of the University of Ulm or the Biberach University of Applied Sciences should not be prepared externally; if necessary, cooperations or similar can be sought here.

*: In addition to a Master's degree, the external supervisor should have at least 3 years of professional experience before the supervision of the Master's thesis begins.

The following persons are possible as internal examiners of the master thesis (this list may not be complete, please ask Dr. Eigenstetter or Dr. John if necessary):

Biberach University of Applied Sciences, Institute for Applied Biotechnology :

• Prof. Dr. Carsten Schips
• Prof. Dr. Sybille Ebert
• Prof. Dr. Heike Frühwirth
• Prof. Dr. Hartmut Grammel
• Prof. Dr. Friedemann Hesse
• Prof. Dr. Hans Kiefer
• Prof. Dr. Jürgen Hannemann
• Prof. Dr. Katharina Zimmermann
• Prof. Dr. Chrystelle Mavoungou
• Prof. Dr. Oliver Hädicke
• Prof. Dr. Kerstin Otte
• Prof. Dr. Annette Schafmeister
• Prof. Dr. Sabine Gaisser
• Prof. Dr. Bernd Burghardt
• Prof. Dr. Ute Traub
• Dr. René Handrick
• Dr. Gerhard Eigenstetter
• Dr. Sabine Arnold
• Dr. Barbara Bottenbruch
• Dr. Francoise Chamouleau
• Dr. Jens Geier
• Dr. Anna Gilles
• Dr. Kinga Gerber

Ulm University, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology:

• Prof. Dr. Bernhard Eikmanns
• Prof. Dr. Peter Dürre
• Dr. Frank Bengelsdorf
• PD Dr. Christian Riedel

Ulm University, Institute for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology:

• Prof. Dr. Dierk Niessing
• Dr. Frank Rosenau
• Dr. Thomas Monecke

Ulm University, Institute of Animal Molecular Endocrinology:

• Prof. Dr. Jan Tuckermann

Ulm University, Institute for Experimental Physics:

• Prof. Dr. Kay Gottschalk

Master theses and / or advanced internships in the M.Sc. Pharmaceutical Biotechnology program are " external " if they are not officially supervised by a person appointed as an examiner in the M.Sc. Pharmaceutical Biotechnology program.

If you want to do an external master thesis and / or an external advanced internship, you have to get it / them approved by the Examination Board Pharmaceutical Biotechnology in time before starting the thesis. Please submit your application at least 2 months before the start of the external master thesis and / or external advanced internship. Please also plan for the fact that your application may be rejected.

For approval, please submit an application ( FSPO 2016 / FSPO 2020 ) (preferably in digital form) to the Examination Committee Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. The application must include a brief description of the planned master's thesis and / or advanced internship. This must indicate where the thesis and / or the internship is to be carried out and who is responsible for supervision there*. Furthermore, the description must indicate which methods will be used. External work and advanced internships must always be reviewed by an internal examiner. You should already indicate in the application whom you could win as an internal examiner. Furthermore, please submit the signed form " Information for students on the preparation of external theses " together with the application.

Please hand in the application to Ms. Annetraut Scheiffele (secretary's office of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology; room N27 2.076).

• adequate supervision must be ensured
• the topic must be oriented towards the subject of the curriculum
• the range of methods must also be oriented to the subject orientation of the curriculum and must be appropriate for a scientific final thesis
• Topics that could also be carried out at institutes of the University of Ulm or the Biberach University of Applied Sciences in a very similar way should not be prepared externally, if necessary, cooperations or the like can be striven for here

 *: In addition to a Master's degree, the external supervisor should have at least 3 years of professional experience before the supervision of the Master's thesis begins.

The following persons are possible as internal/examiners for the master thesis and / or the advanced internship (this list may not be complete, please check with Dr. John if necessary):

Ulm University,  Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology (Ulm University Hospital):

• Prof. Dr. Barbara Möpps
• Prof. Dr. Holger Barth

Ulm University, General and Visceral Surgery (Ulm University Hospital):

• Prof. Dr. Uwe Knippschild
• PD Dr. rer. nat. Joachim Bischof
• Dr. med. Pengfei Xu

Ulm University, Institute of Virology (Ulm University Hospital):

• Jun.Prof. Dr. Jens von Einem

Ulm University, Department of Internal Medicine I (Ulm University Hospital):

• Prof. Dr. Franz Oswald

Extension of the thesis

Upon justified request, the Bachelor's or Master's thesis can be extended (see § 16c (7) of the framework regulations of UUlm).

A Bachelor's thesis can be extended by max. 2 weeks, a Master's thesis by max. 4 weeks (exception Master IBT: here an extension of the Master's thesis is limited to max. 2 months).

Please refer to the tab of your study program for the respective information on how to apply.

Requests for extension of the bachelor thesis must be submitted to the Biology Examination Committee 2 weeks before the first deadline. Bachelor's theses can be extended by 2 weeks depending on the circumstances.

For all extensions please fill in the following form:  Application form

Requests for extension of the master thesis must be submitted to the Biology Examination Committee 2 weeks before the first deadline. Master's theses can be extended by 4 weeks depending on the circumstances.

Please send the application by email tothe Examination Committee Biology .

Please send the application by email to the Examination Committee Biochemistry .

Please submit an informal application. This must contain the following information:

         1. the address of the sender,          2. the address of the person to whom the letter is addressed (chairperson(s) of the PBT Audit Committee),          3. the date the letter was written,          4. the date of the original deadline,          5. one - two sentences for a brief justification of why the extension is requested,          6. signature of the supervisor that he/she agrees with the extension.

Requests for an extension of the master's thesis must be submitted in original to the examination board at least 2 weeks before the first deadline. Master's theses can be extended by 4 weeks depending on the circumstances.

Please send the request to Ms. Annetraut Scheiffele (secretariat of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology; room N27 2.076).

Requests for extension of the bachelor or master thesis must be submitted to the Examination Committee 2 weeks before the first deadline. Bachelor's theses can be extended by 2 weeks, master´s thesis by 4 weeks, depending on the circumstances.

"Methods course"

In the bachelor's and master's degree courses in biology and biochemistry, there is a so-called "methods course" before the thesis. This is carried out by the supervisor with whom the thesis is being carried out and, among other things, topic-specific working methods that are required for the respective thesis are learned.

After successful completion, the supervisor enters the relevant proof of achievement in the university portal. Independent registration is not possible. Please note that in the case of internships carried out externally, the internal supervisor must record the proof of achievement.

The "methods course" must be completed so that the thesis can be registered.

For students in the PO 2017, after passing the "methods course", a period begins to register the thesis in the study secretariat (in the bachelor: 2 weeks, in the master: 2 months).

Finally, you will find an overview of how the "methods course" is called in the individual courses and how many CP it includes:

 *: corresponds to regular participation in the working group seminar. In the Bachelor of Biochemistry, the supervisor registers the corresponding proof of achievement in the university portal. Independent registration is not possible. In the Master of Biology, please register yourself.

Office of the Study Commission Biology

• Rainer Pfaff
• Location: M24/573
• Phone: +49-(0)731-50 23 93 1
• Fax: +49-(0)731-50 23 93 2
• Office hours:
• Mon. 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Wed. 9 - 11 a.m. & 1 - 3 p.m. Fri. 9 - 11 a.m.
• Please send enquiries by email to sekretariat.biologie(at)uni-ulm.de

Biology & Biochemistry

Please contact sekretariat.biologie(at)uni-ulm.de

Pharmaceutical and Industrial Biotechnology

• Dr. Lena John
• Location: M24/574
• Phone: +49-(0)731-50 22 38 4
• Office hours by arrangement*

*: Please arrange an appointment via sekretariat.biologie(at)uni-ulm.de

Teaching profession / International

Teaching profession biology.

• Prof. Dr. Christian Riedel
• Location: M23/2412
• Phone: +49-(0)731-50 24 85 3
• Fax: +49-(0)731-50 22 71 9
• Office hours by arrangement

FAQs concerning Master theses

Info Master thesis Biochemistry and Biology

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Edinburgh Research Archive

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Chemistry thesis and dissertation collection

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The School of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh is the top rated for teaching and research in Scotland.

Presented here is a selection of research from the School

This material is presented to ensure timely dissemination of scholarly and technical work. Copyright and all rights therein are retained by authors or by other copyright holders. All persons copying this information are expected to adhere to the terms and constraints invoked by each author's copyright. In most cases, these works may not be reposted without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.

Recent Submissions

Raman-active chemical probes for cancer cell imaging and medicinal chemistry , good vibrations: highly versatile small molecule raman optical probes to image metabolism in tissue microenvironments , unravelling complex systems: development and applications of nmr and ms methodology , application of ultrafast spectroscopic techniques to single-molecule magnets , investigation of polymorphism in phase-change materials for latent heat storage applications , biocatalytic valorisation of natural polymers , computational methods for the interpretation of ultrafast photochemical reactions , towards a computational screening programme for energetic materials , solid-phase synthesis of s-tetrazines: method development and applications in chemical biology , magneto-structural investigations of calix[n]arene-supported metal clusters , sensitive detection of photosensitised singlet oxygen within single-ring hollow-core photonic crystal fibres , it’s not all about u: the role of volume and entropy in weakly bound crystal structures , creation of an artificial stetterase through the design, synthesis and installation of an organocatalyst into a protein scaffold , mixed-valence titanium oxide materials as photocatalyst and electrocatalyst , exploring cooperativity in multimetallic main group catalysts for polyester synthesis via ring opening (co)polymerisation , probing the organisation and turnover of synaptic proteins at the nanometre length scale , molecular dynamics simulations of engine lubricant additives , utilising non-canonical amino acids in the design of artificial enzymes: an exploration of cu-enzymes, steroid carrier protein scaffolds and synthetic biology , magnetism of multinuclear 3-d transition metal complexes of 2-hydroxymethylpyridine , antimicrobial polymers .

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Bachelor and Master Thesis in Biochemistry

The Institute of Biochemistry continuously offers projects for bachelor and master theses to students of STEM subjects. The focus of these projects is on the biochemical and structural characterization of proteins associated with pathogenicity processes. We offer students the opportunity to work in individual research groups on current research projects, thereby applying and expanding the knowledge acquired during their studies in practice. For more details, please do stop by for a personal consultation.

What our students say ...

"I felt very well integrated into the team and I enjoyed going to the lab every day. It was possible for me to get to know and practically apply many different methods during my time in the lab." - Friederike, MLS - "The supervision was better than expected. There were regular discussions about how to proceed and the possible interpretation of experimental results. Even supposedly "stupid" questions were taken seriously. The atmosphere between the bachelor students was consistently good. We helped each other a lot in the lab and partly explained equipment and techniques. This rounded out the supervision well." - Andre, MLS -

"Since I have been writing my bachelor's thesis at the Institute of Biochemistry, I have definitely outgrown myself. I have learned a lot of new things as I have been able to use many different techniques in the lab. Every day I can challenge myself anew in the lab, which is super fun. I definitely don't regret going to the Institute of Biochemistry for a bachelor's thesis, and I can easily imagine returning to the institute for a master's thesis." - Mira, MLS -

"I never thought that I would be able to gain that much experience in my bachelor thesis already. My supervisor dedicated a lot of time and gave me insights into many scientific methods and contexts. Anyone who wants to learn a lot, work on interesting projects and is willing to invest a lot of time is in good hands here." - Elina, MEW -

"My research internship has remained in my memory especially because of the great experimental freedom. The supervision was excellent, both professionally and personally. In general, I was impressed by the methodological bandwidth and was able to take away a lot for myself." - Alexander, Trainee -

During my bachelor thesis I was able to gain versatile insights into biochemical research, learn many methods and work independently on a project. It was an exciting and intensive time, which I will remember positively, especially because of the valuable support and the pleasant working atmosphere. - Hanna, MLS -

We are also happy to arrange direct contact with students who have already successfully completed their thesis in biochemistry. Just get in touch with us by E-mail .

Selected Bachelor and Master Thesis

• Mira Lettmann - Untersuchung des Aktivierungsprozesses von Cathepsin B aus Trypanosoma brucei
• Levante Röhrs - Optimierung eines Baculovirus Shuttle Systems mittels CRISPR/Cas9
• Josephine Franke - Screening of HEX-1 homologous for crystallization in living cells
• Elina Muriel Guzman – Molecular characterization of human antibodies neutralizing the hepatitis E virus
• Imke Hinrichs - Molecular characterization of human antibodies neutralizing SARS-CoV-2

Universität zu Lübeck Institute of Biochemistry Tel:  +49 451 3101 3101 Email: biochem.secretary(at)uni-luebeck.de

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Biochemistry - Bachelor (mono)

Key data on study program.

Faculty Science

Academic Degree Bachelor (mono)

Restricted admission Yes, in first and higher semesters

Regular duration of studies 6 semester

Is a combination subject required? No

Application deadline 1st semester Overview of application deadlines

Program start Winter semester

Language of instruction German

Costs Tuition and other fees

Requirements and application

On what criteria are applicants selected.

The Bachelor degree is admission-restricted and subjected to the admission procedures . Study places are awarded according to the university's own selection procedure, which is based on the following criteria:

• Average grade of the university entrance qualification (Abitur)
• Professional training, practical work experience, special previous education or
• outside school achievements and qualifications (e.g., prizes, awards) related to biochemistry.

For this additional qualification you can get a bonus on the university entrance qualification (Abitur) up to 0,5 points.

Currently, 80 study places are allocated per year. Start of study is the winter term exclusively. For admission registration at Hochschulstart.de is required.

Der Studiengang ist zulassungsbeschränkt. Die NC-Werte stehen jeweils erst nach Abschluss des Auswahlverfahrens fest. Hier finden Sie eine Übersicht über die Grenznoten des letzten Verfahrens.

Which requirements must I meet for studies?

Besides the university entrance qualification the study program Bachelor of Science Biochemistry has no admission restriction. Good knowledge of chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics, as well as a keen interest in these subjects, is required for successful study. A good knowledge of English is recommended for studying. A small "self-test", e.g. the so-called online self-assessment can help with orientation.

In Baden-Württemberg, with enrollment in an undergraduate degree program there is an obligation to provide proof of participation in a study orientation procedure .

Which languages must I know?

The language of study and examination is German. Individual courses may be given in English. A good knowledge of English is expected for the study of literature. Therefore, knowledge of English is required. However, formal proof of English proficiency is not required. German language skills to the extent of DSH-2 (Testdaf4) are required for international students.

International applicants *without* a German-language university entrance qualification must provide evidence of German language proficiency in accordance with the university's matriculation regulations (see also information on proof of linguistic study ability / DSH language test ).

Which other subjects can I combine with my main subject?

This is a so-called "mono-bachelor", i.e. the study is in one scientific subject.

The study of further subjects is possible to a limited extent within the framework of the free elective area (typically in the third year of study).

Program details

Which topics are dealt with in the program.

In the first two years of study, a broadly diversified basic education in natural sciences is offered, always with reference to biochemistry. In the third year, courses from the entire natural sciences and medicine can be chosen.  In seminars, emphasis is placed on imparting competence in recognising issues and possible ways of solving them. Numerous internships give you the necessary methodological tools for your further career.

The acquisition of credit points in the area of "soft skills" strengthens your interdisciplinary qualification, e.g. by learning foreign languages or presentation and writing techniques, or gives you an insight into the professional world of biochemists.

How is the program structured?

The 1st year of study is intended to provide orientation and imparts basic knowledge in the subjects of biology, chemistry and biochemistry, but also mathematics and physics. This happens not only in lectures and seminars/exercises, but also early in lab courses. In the 2nd year of study, the basic knowledge in the natural science subjects is deepened. In the 5th semester, 4 elective courses are to be taken. There is the possibility of setting focal points, which can be freely chosen from the range of biochemistry, but also from other areas of the Faculty of Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine. The content of the biochemical modules is oriented towards the range of research topics in structural biology, protein purification, gene expression, cell biochemistry and molecular biology.  In addition, specialist knowledge in bioinformatics, which is essential for scientific work, is taught. In the 6th semester, a project work and the Bachelor's thesis are completed. In addition to subject-specific knowledge, the study-related module "Soft Skills" enables students to take additional courses that qualify  for profession. For example, you can expand or improve your language skills through the Foreign Language Centre at the University of Tübingen, take courses in ethics or improve your knowledge in the field of IT.

You find an overview of the study organisation and further information of the Bachelor-course at the webpage course of study Biochemistry Bachelor of Science

Is study abroad expected?

Zurzeit gibt es im IFIB ein Austauschprogramm mit dem College of Life Sciences der Capital Normal University in Peking/China, an dem pro Semester drei Studierende teilnehmen können. Im 5. Semester können zwei von 4 Wahlpflichtmodulen an externen Instituten - auch im Ausland- durchgeführt werden. Nähere Infos finden Sie auf der Homepage des IFIB.

Optional time abroad You may choose to spend some time abroad as part of any study program. You should start planning it 12 to 18 months before your departure.  Here you will find general information and advice on studying abroad . In addition, some departments have their own subject-specific services providing information on studying abroad.

What else do I need to know?

In the winter term 2023/24 about 460 students are studying at the Department of Biochemistry:

Module handbook

Das Modulhandbuch beschreibt die Ziele und den Aufbau eines Studiengangs. Sie finden im Modulhandbuch des  Studiengangs B.Sc. Biochemie genauere Angaben zu Art und Umfang aller Module sowie deren Lehrveranstaltungen, Anforderungen und Prüfungen. Ein idealtypischer Studienverlaufsplan im Modulhandbuch hilft bei der Planung Ihres Studiums. Das Modulhandbuch und die Prüfungsordnung helfen Ihnen, die Rahmenbedingungen Ihres Studiums zu verstehen und die richtigen Module/Lehrveranstaltungen auszuwählen.

Exam regulations

Die Studien- und Prüfungsordnung des B.Sc. Biochemie  enthält rechtlich verbindliche Regelungen zu einem Studiengang. Darin ist unter anderem festgelegt, welche Module eines Studiengangs absolviert und welche Prüfungen abgelegt werden müssen, um den Studiengang erfolgreich abzuschließen. Die Studien- und Prüfungsordnung regelt auch, wie oft Prüfungen wiederholt werden können, welche Fristen für die Prüfungen eines Studiengangs gelten und wie die Abschlussnote berechnet wird. Die Prüfungsordnung und das Modulhandbuch helfen Ihnen, die Rahmenbedingungen Ihres Studiums zu verstehen und die richtigen Module/Lehrveranstaltungen auszuwählen.

Help with choosing a study program

Is the program right for me, help with your decision to study in tübingen:.

To help you decide whether Tübingen is right for you, here are some contact points and information on studying in Germany:

University of Tübingen

• University of Tübingen’s international profile  
• Contact: University office for the Advising and Admission of International Students
• Information on application for international students  
• FAQs for international students  
• Addresses and contact points for international students at the University of Tübingen  

General information

• Study and conduct research in Germany (DAAD information)  
• All degree programs in Germany
• Find scholarships   

After your studies

Career prospects.

Biochemiker erforschen im Grenzgebiet zwischen Chemie, Medizin und Biologie die molekularen Grundlagen der Lebenserscheinungen. Sie untersuchen deren Strukturen, Eigenschaften und Funktionen in Auf- und Abbauprozessen lebender Zellsubstanzen bei Menschen, Tieren, Pflanzen und Mikroorganismen und nutzen sie, um Wirksubstanzen zu produzieren. Mittels biologischer, chemischer und physikalisch-chemischer Methoden erfassen sie die beteiligten chemischen Verbindungen wie Proteine, Vitamine, Hormone und Nukleinsäuren. Da der Stoffwechsel, z. B. die Atmung, Verdauung, Nervenreizleitung, Muskelbewegung, Zellteilung und Vererbung auch auf biochemischen Vorgängen beruht, umfasst das Forschungsgebiet ebenfalls komplexere Abläufe in Geweben, Organen und Organismen. Die Gentechnologie eröffnet den Biochemikern neue Möglichkeiten durch gezielte Eingriffe in die Erbsubstanz. Eigenschaften werden manipuliert und teilweise über Artengrenzen hinaus rekombiniert. 

Biochemiker sind vor allem in der Forschung und Entwicklung tätig, vorwiegend in der chemisch-pharmazeutischen Industrie und an Hochschulen, z.B. in Untergebieten wie Molekularbiologie, Medizin, physikalische Biochemie, Enzymologie und Immunbiochemie. Überdies arbeiten sie im Umweltschutz, in der Lebensmittelkontrolle, im Wissenschaftsjournalismus, im Patentwesen oder im Unterricht.

Folgende Internetlinks bieten einen Überblick über die Berufsmöglichkeiten eines Biochemikers / einer Biochemikerin:

Arbeitsagentur Verband Biologie, Biowissenschaften und Biomedizin berufsberatung.ch

Advice and internships The University’s Career Service assists with careers orientation and getting started in your profession . Jobs and internships can be found in the Praxisportal .

Postgraduate programs

In der Regel schließt sich an den Bachelorstudiengang der Studiengang Biochemistry Master of Science an. Zulassungsvoraussetzungen den Masterstudiengang finden Sie auf der  entsprechenden Webseite .

Doctorate options

Eine Zulassung zur Promotion mit Bachelorabschluss ist nicht möglich. Für die Zulassung zur Promotion ist der Abschluss eines Masterstudienganges erforderlich .

Join the alumni society

M.o.B.B.E.L., der Verein ehemaliger Tübinger Biochemiker, wurde 1984 von einigen Tübinger Biochemikern als eingetragener Verein gegründet, um einen lockeren Kontakt zwischen Kollegen mit gemeinsamer Vorgeschichte aufrecht zu erhalten. Nähere Infos finden Sie auf der Homepage von  M.o.B.B.E.L. 

Hier finden Sie alle Informationen zur Ehemaligen-Vereinigung Alumni Tübingen .