Biochemistry PhD with weird background?

[bsharpe269]

Hi everyone,

 

I will be applying to PhD programs this fall and am wondering if I have a shot at biochem programs. I am interested in protein dynamics and energy landscape theory. I would like to create biophysical models to describe protein folding, thermodynamics, and kinetics. I have a couple years worth of research experience in similar work that includes 1 first author paper and a couple middle author ones. Before doing this work, my research experience was in mathematical modeling but was also applied to biological systems. I have an REU and a conference paper and presentations related to that biomath work.

 

Anyway, the work that I want to do can fall into various departments, depending on the school. There are both physicists and chemists doing this sort of work. My undergrad degree was in math (where I focussed on the biomath research) and my MS will be in bioinformatics. As part of the MS ciriculum, I have taken biochem and cell molecular bio and ended up with >98% in both classes. As a math undergrad, I only took 2 semesters of chem so I taught myself orgo 1 and am currently taking orgo 2 and expect an A. My MS advisor has his PhD in physical chemistry (from a top 10 school) and will write me an amazing letter, stating that I have an amazing ability to teach myself information and catch up on material (I have already read one of his LORs for something else I applied for).

 

With this odd background, should I apply to biochem departments if they are a perfect research fit or should i stay away from them and only apply to biophysics departments? There are a couple biochem departments that focus on exactly what I hope to do. Is it worth submitting an application to them?

 

Any advice from you guys would be appreciated! Thanks!

[Vene]

I say apply, protein folding is right up a biochemistry department's alley and you will have obtained a life science MS. You have extra background in mathematics can actually be a good selling point.

[Eigen]

I can think of a couple of of groups in chemistry departments that do very similar research to what you're interested in, and I don't think anyone would care about your unusual background. 

 

In my experience, Chemistry departments are very forgiving of unusual backgrounds as long as you're prepared for the work you want to do. In our departments, we have math, physics and biology undergrads in with the traditional chemists. 

[bsharpe269]

Hmm thats for encouragement guys. My interests definitely fit well with a couple chemistry/biochemistry departments. My interests can easily be classified as computational bio, biophysics, or biochemistry. I don't really care which one I do my course work in as long as the research is great fit... My worry was that my application wouldn't be considered due to lack of chemistry coursework. It sounds like that might not be the case though.

[Faraday]

There are no "pure biochemists" anymore. Often someone who is in the "Biochemistry Department" (at my school Chemistry & Biochemistry are one huge mega-department) is probably dipping into either molecular biology, chemitry, or physics for the main focus of their research.  I don't see your background being a problem. Just make sure you show clear interest in some of the groups at the schools you are applying to and connect movitation to working with them to what you've done in the past and that should show your fit.

Edited June 7, 2014 by Faraday

[bsharpe269]

There are no "pure biochemists" anymore. Often someone who is in the "Biochemistry Department" (at my school Chemistry & Biochemistry are one huge mega-department) is probably dipping into either molecular biology, chemitry, or physics for the main focus of their research.  I don't see your background being a problem. Just make sure you show clear interest in some of the groups at the schools you are applying to and connect movitation to working with them to what you've done in the past and that should show your fit.

 

Thanks! The school that I am most interested is known for its research is my subfield and has at least 4 people that I could rave about in my SOP. I will definitely focus on connecting my background to theirs. It wont take much work even... the fit is perfect. It is probably one of the few best schools in the country for my particular interest but department wise is ranked around 30ish...so very competitive but maybe not quite as hard as MIT or anything.

 

My department confusion stems from the fact that even though my potential PIs are in the chem department, this school also has Systems Bio sort of department that all of faculty are also affiliated with so I could actually apply to either and still work with my dream professors. The Systems Bio might be a bit easier to get into with my background but looking at the coursework, it seems like it might not be quite as useful or interesting to me. I think I already know enough math/programming/stat stuff to do my research but a deeper understanding of chemistry could be really useful to me.

[biotechie]

I think you should give them a shot. You could also consider applying to interdisciplinary programs which will give you more flexibility to choose professors. In some cases, that means you could rotate with faculty from biophysics AND then do your next rotation with someone in biochemistry or molecular biology. Just something to keep in mind.