Biochemistry Orientation---BL1800_Syllabus_2012---Tang

Instructor

Guiliang Tang, Associate Professor, gtang1@mtu.edu

Office: DOW 406, 487-2174; anytime cell phone #: 859-402-5077.

Office Hours: Anytime whenever I’m in the office, or by email appointment if you like.

Course Identification

BL-1800 Biochemistry Orientation

Course Location

EERC 313

Course Description

Introduction to selected research and career opportunities in biochemistry with emphasis on the interdisciplinary nature of the field. I am a biochemical and molecular biologist with a focus on gene silencing so that I will try to organize and present some materials you may not otherwise see at MTU (but maybe you will).

Learning Outcomes/Objectives

Get a perspective and background about your field of study and begin thinking ahead about what you will be doing with your degree, so that you can shape your choice of classes and electives of your learning curve in the coming years.

Prerequisites/Corequisites

None

Grading Scheme

Class participation, writing assignment and oral presentation: 100% of grade

Schedule

We meet weekly, Thursday 1:05-1:55, to discuss various topics associated with biochemistry

Course Policies

Interaction and curiosity are welcome

University Policies

You should familiarize yourself with all University policies

www.admin.mtu.edu/catalog/university/academic/

Date Topic

09.06.12 Introduction: The instructor, the course (download BL1800 syllabus) and the students. What is biochemistry and what type of job can I get with my degree?

Your learning curve assessment:

· has nothing to do with your current ability;

· has nothing to do with your points of BL1800.

1. What do you know about your major knowledge as a freshman? Answer: none to little.

2. What should you have learned near graduation? Answer: A lot and ready to go.

09.13.12 Video presentation “Naturally Obsessed: The Making of a Scientist” (a documentary about careers in science)

(http://www.thirteen.org/naturally-obsessed/) (Confirmed)

09.20.12 Dr. Rupak Rajachar, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering-“Careers in Biomedical Engineering” (http://www.biomed.mtu.edu/ebl/index.html)

(Confirmed)

09.27.12 Karyn Fay, Professor of Practice-“Careers in Clinical Laboratory Science” (http://www.bio.mtu.edu/faculty/fay.htm ) (Confirmed)

10.04.12 Stacey Cotey, Academic Advising and Scheduling for Spring Term (http://www.bio.mtu.edu/degree/advising.htm)

(Confirmed)

10.11.12 Dr. Xiaoqing Tang, Ph.D., Prof. of Diabetes Research in Biology Dept. of MTU-“Biochemistry in Diabetes”

(http://www.bio.mtu.edu/faculty/Xiaoqing_Tang.htm)

(Confirmed)

10.18.12 Video presentation: “My Health Chat: Advances in Diabetes Research”

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xX20ZGeDdk)

10.25.12 Video presentation: “A map of the brain” by Allan Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Allen Institute for Brain Science

(http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2012/02/18/ted-allan-jones.ted)

(Confirmed)

11.01.12 Student class presentations (4 students/10-12 mins. each)

11.08.12 Student class presentations (4 students/10-12 mins. each)

11.15.12 Student class presentations (4 students/10-12 mins. Each)

11.22.12 Thanksgiving break week

11.29.12 Video presentation “Naturally Obsessed: The Making of a Nobel Prize Winner”-------Part I

(a documentary about the Discovery of RNAi in Medicine)

(http://www.nobelprize.org/mediaplayer/index.php?id=952&view=1)

(Confirmed)

12.06.12 Video presentation “Naturally Obsessed: The Making of a Nobel Prize Winner”-------Part II

(a documentary about the Discovery of RNAi in Medicine)

(http://www.nobelprize.org/mediaplayer/index.php?id=87&view=1)

(Confirmed)

12.13.12 FINALS WEEK-NO CLASS

Writing assignment-“Individual goals with a degree in Biochemistry”—we will discuss more in class but the goal is to describe what your aspirations entail in 6-8 paragraphs of 1200-1500 words or so. Due in class 11/08/12.