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Biochemistry and Biophysics

Biomedical Science T-705
1960 East-West Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-8490
Fax: (808) 956-9498

Faculty

* Graduate Faculty

• *N. V. Bhagavan, PhD (Chair)--clinical biochemistry, role of surfactant in pulmonary function, thyroid and cholesterol metabolism, structural studies on human serum albumin
• *R. J. Guillory, PhD--bioenergetics, mechanism of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and membrane-dependent energy-linked reactions, structure of contractile proteins
• *H. F. Mower, PhD--problems in carcinogenesis in normal and neoplastic systems

Cooperating Graduate Faculty

• J. S. Bertram, PhD--carcinogenesis, growth regulation, chemo-prevention of cancer
• R. V. Cooney, PhD--role of nitrogen oxides in carcinogenesis
• M. A. Dunn, PhD--nutritional biochemistry, trace elements
• J. Stollberg, PhD--synaptogenesis, localization of membrane constituents

Adjunct Faculty

• G. Edlin, PhD--regulation of viruses and bacteria, molecular mechanism of disease, molecular evolution
• B. Vennesland, PhD--enzymology of photosynthesis and nitrate reduction
• G. Weber, MD, PhD--thermodynamics of biomolecular interactions, fluorescence spectroscopy

The Academic Program

Biochemistry (BIOC) and biophysics (BIOP) entail the study of the chemistry and physics of living systems. In these disciplines, students learn how the fundamental compounds present in all cells react in enzyme-catalyzed processes to form the macromolecular assemblies that in turn govern cell growth, cell function, and cell senescence. The understanding of these myriad and complex processes ultimately requires an understanding of the underlying chemical and physical processes. Indeed, molecular biophysics attempts to evaluate, by the methods of physics, biological processes at the molecular level. These disciplines are currently in a time of explosive growth and development. New knowledge is rapidly being discovered; new theories are being proposed and tested; and ever wider application of the principles of biochemistry, biophysics, and molecular biology to the understanding of other biological and medical sciences is occurring.

Students benefit from the study of biochemistry and biophysics in many ways. Productive and fulfilling lifelong careers are available to graduates of master's and doctoral degree programs. Opportunities exist in government, industrial, and academic institutions that can lead to administrative responsibilities and policy-making positions. Teaching positions at the undergraduate and graduate levels are also available.

The study of biochemistry and biophysics provides the student with a broad understanding of life processes that are also fundamental to the understanding of many of the disciplines of biological, agricultural, and medical sciences. It is often an advantage to enter these fields after the completion of a program of study in biochemistry or biophysics.

The Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of Hawai'i offers the student broad training in the fundamentals of both biochemistry and biophysics. Courses are offered at introductory and advanced levels. Specialty courses that bring the student to the frontiers of the developing subdisciplines are a part of the department's curriculum. Laboratory and research experience is available either through formal courses or through participation in one of the many funded research programs of the department. 

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