The scientific revolution in molecular genetics has made possible the decoding and manipulation of genetic information. A corresponding revolution in the methods for studying the structural and biological properties of gene products promises to engage the next generation of research scientists. Training of researchers who will be part of this era in biological sciences is a national priority. Major goals are to understand and to predict how proteins fold and how they recognize other molecules in an exquisitely selective fashion. New therapies and new technologies based on modern structural biology include the development of antiviral drugs and the production of stable and/or novel enzymes.

The interdisciplinary field of Molecular Biophysics encompasses the approaches that are essential for studies of the conformation and interactions of biological macromolecules. Molecular Biophysics combines a wide variety of techniques for the analysis of the structure, function, and dynamics of macromolecules, theoretical chemistry allied with advanced computing methods, and recombinant DNA technology. Together, these approaches are developing the ability to predict and design the properties and behavior of biological macromolecules.

Students in Molecular Biophysics fulfill the requirements for a Ph.D. in either Biological Chemistry, Biophysics, Chemistry or Physics. Training in Molecular Biophysics aims to develop independent investigators who will contribute in significant ways to advances in understanding structural and cellular biology at the molecular level. Students concentrating in Molecular Biophysics elect courses in areas such as protein structure and function, techniques in NMR and crystallography, and spectroscopic methods.

The dissertation is the key part of research training, and is developed in a series of steps. Introduction to research takes the form of research rotations, laboratory seminars, and student seminars in Molecular Biophysics. By the end of the first year students will usually have selected a mentor and begun dissertation research. After completion of exams for admission to candidacy, normally at the end of the second year of enrollment, students meet with a dissertation committee to present a prospectus for their individual research. Candidates subsequently devote full time to research and research training, utilizing a comprehensive array of modern facilities and instrumentation.