Cell Biology and Biotechnology – Master of Science (Thesis)

The MS thesis option is a research-focused degree in which the student completes a research project under the mentorship of one of the program faculty members and defends that thesis to the program faculty. Each MS (thesis) option student completes a minimum of 20 credits of didactic courses and 10 credits of research.

The objectives of the MS thesis option program are to provide opportunities for each student to

Develop skill and knowledge in the fields of cell biology, biotechnology, molecular biology, and related disciplines of bioinformatics, developmental biology, microbiology, or biophysics.
Initiate, conduct and complete a research project that makes use of the knowledge and skills relevant to the program.
Demonstrate an improving set of oral and written presentation skills for communication of research results.
Develop competence in acquisition and interpretation of the scientific literature relevant to the program disciplines.

Core Courses

BS 761 - Advanced Cell Biology Credits: 3
BS 763 - Cell Biology Methods Credits: 3
BS 764 - Biotechnology Credits: 3
BS 765 - Biotechnology Laboratory Credits: 2
BS 767 - Cell Biology Methods Laboratory Credits: 2
BS 898 - Graduate Seminar Credits: 1
ST 310 - Introduction to Biostatistics Credits: 3
or
ST 702 - Statistical Principles in Bioassay Credits: 3
or
ST 704 - Statistics for Research Credits: 3

Electives

Courses from other programs may be elected with permission of the program director; it is the responsibility of the student to fulfill course prerequisites. MS students may take up to 6 didactic credits from undergraduate courses at the 300 or 400 level. MS students must complete at least 3 credits at the 800 level. Program electives include:

BI 450 - Bioinformatics I: Genomics Credits: 3
BI 451 - Bioinformatics II Credits: 3
BI 465 - Microarray Technology Credits: 3
BI 475 - Proteomics Credits: 3
BS 736 - Advanced Pharmacognosy Credits: 3
BS 750 - Virology Credits: 3
BS 752 - Advanced Immunology Credits: 3
BS 786 - Research Ethics Credits: 1
BS 820 - Advanced Ethnobotany Credits: 2
BS 850 - Metabolic Engineering Credits: 3
BS 860 - Special Topics in Cell Biology and Biotechnology Credits: 2 to 3
BS 862 - Biological Membranes Credits: 3
CH 727 - Physical Biochemistry Credits: 3
CH 728 - Advanced Biochemistry Credits: 3
CH 748 - Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD) Credits: 3
CH 811 - Chemistry of Medicinals Credits: 3
PY 340 - Biophysics I Credits: 3

In addition to the program core outlined above, these students will complete the following:

BS 785 - Introduction to Research Credits: 2 to 4
(See Footnote Below)
BS 799 - Master’s Research Credits: 1 to 12
(10 minimum)

Footnote:

Required at the discretion of the program director.

Faculty – Graduate Biological Sciences Programs

John R. Porter
BS (Pittsburgh State, Kansas); PhD (Montana)
Professor of Biology
Research Professor of Pharmacognosy
Director, Biology Graduate Programs
Phone: 215.596.8917
E-mail: j.porter@usciences.edu
Research: genetics of plant-microbe interactions; cytotoxic and antimicrobial natural plant products; plant tissue and cell culture; molecular biology of biosynthetic pathways

Peter B. Berget
BS, PhD (Minnesota)
Professor of Biological Sciences
Chair, Department of Biological Sciences
Phone: 215.596.7417
E-mail: p.berget@usciences.edu
Research: discovery, engineering, and development of single-chain variable fragment antibodies that can be used as intracellular and extracellular biosensors of gene, pathway, and metabolic activity; molecular biology, cell culture, microbiology, and biochemistry techniques

Ara DerMarderosian
BS, MS (Massachusetts College of Pharmacy);
PhD (Rhode Island)
Professor of Pharmacognosy
Research Professor of Medicinal Chemistry
Phone: 215.596.8915
E-mail: a.dermar@usciences.edu
Research: bioactive and immunoregulatory substances from natural sources; PCR typing of medicinal plants; nutraceuticals

James R. Johnson
BS (Auburn); PhD (Duke)
Associate Professor of Biology
Coordinator, BS in Microbiology
Phone: 215.596.8521
E-mail: j.johnso@usciences.edu
Research: molecular mechanisms regulating gene expression and gene product function; analysis of protein factors and DNA structures that regulate gene activity in E. coli K12 and Staphylococcus aureus; microbial sulfur metabolism

Margaret R. Kasschau
BA (Rochester); MS, PhD (South Carolina)
Professor Emeritus of Biology
E-mail: m.kassch@usciences.edu

Zhijun Li
BS, MS (Tsinghua, China); PhD (Vanderbilt)
Associate Professor of Bioinformatics
Phone: 215.596.7539
E-mail: z.li@usciences.edu
Research: use of computational and bioinformatics methods to generate and analyze three-dimensional structures of protein molecules and to gain insight into protein sequence, structure, and function relationships; the leveraging and combining of a broad range of computational techniques that tackle biological problems in multiple dimensions

Vandana Ahuja Miller
BS (Hindu College); MD (Lady Hardinge, India)
Assistant Professor of Biology
Phone: 215.596.7591
E-mail: v.miller@usciences.edu
Research: regulation of purine signaling through expression of extracellular enzymes during maturation and activation of phagocytic cells

Suzanne K. Murphy
BA (Rosemont); PhD (Hahnemann)
Professor of Biology
Interim Dean, Misher College of Arts and Sciences
Director, Pre-Health Professions Programs
Phone: 215.596.8921
E-mail: s.murphy@usciences.edu
Research: analysis of expression of the ras oncogene; perturbations in signal transduction pathways and expression of heat shock proteins

Kenneth Myers
BS (Phila University); PhD (Drexel)
Assistant Professor of Biology
Phone: 215.596.7531
E-mail: k.myers@usciences.edu
Research: microtube dynamics of endothelial cells in branching and directed motility; interactions with the extracellular matrix; high-resolution light and fluorescence microscopy

Dana Pape-Zambito
BA (Delaware); PhD (Penn State)
Assistant Professor of Biology
Phone: 267.295.3173
E-mail: d.zambito@usciences.edu
Research: breast cancer initiation and progression; mammary gland development and lactation; influence of endocrine disrupter hormones

Bela Peethambaran
BTech (St. Xavier’s, India); MS (Gujarat University, India); PhD (Mississippi State)
Assistant Professor of Biology
Phone: 215.596.8923
E-mail: b.peethambaran@usciences.edu
Research: plant metabolic engineering for antioxidant and bioactive compound production; manipulation of plant signaling pathways to enhance stress responses; anti-cancer activities of plant extracts

Robert A. Smith
BS, MS (Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science)
Distinguished Assistant Professor of Biology
Phone: 215.596.8918
E-mail: r.smith@usciences.edu
Research: plant tissue culture for secondary metabolite production; plant tissue culture models of organogenesis and embryogenesis

Affiliated Faculty

Natalia Coleman
BS, MS, PhD (St. Petersburg Agrarian University, Russia)
Research Assistant Professor of Biology
Phone: 215.596.7592
E-mail: n.colema@usciences.edu

Melissa G. Marko
BS (Penn State); MS, PhD (Tufts)
Assistant Professor of Biology
Phone: 215.596.7437
E-mail: m.marko@usciences.edu

Gilbert L. Zink
BS, MS, PhD (Ohio State)
Associate Professor of Biology
Phone: 215.596.8520
E-mail: g.zink@usp.edu

Adjunct Faculty

Joseph Betz, PhD
Adjunct Associate Professor of Cell Biology and Biotechnology