Learning Goals |
Learning Objectives |
Students will... |
Students will be able to... |
Know problem-solving and critical thinking |
- Define a problem clearly and develop a testable hypothesis
- Analyze data and perform calculations
- Draw conclusions |
Know scientific information literacy |
- Retrieve information from library and journal search engines (e.g. ScifFinder, PubMed, Google Scholar)
- Critically analyze and/or discuss literature |
Know laboratory skills |
- Synthesize, separate, and characterize compounds
- Carry out an experiment precisely and accurately using the appropriate instrumentation
- Record results in a laboratory notebook
- Work safely in the laboratory |
Know effective written and oral communication skills |
- Prepare and present a scientific poster
- Prepare and present a formal oral scientific presentation
- Write a paper in style of a professional scientific journal |
Understand scientific ethics |
- Avoid plagiarism (including self-plagiarism)
- Cite scientific literature appropriately
- Follow ethical guidelines when keeping a laboratory notebook |
Know the Fundamentals of Chemistry and Biochemistry |
- Demonstrate mastery of the fundamentals of inorganic chemistry (electronic structure, physical and chemical properties, bonding, inorganic chemical reactions and analyses, stoichiometric relations between reactants)
- Demonstrate mastery of the fundamentals of organic chemistry (structure and bonding in organic molecules; acid/base properties of molecules and how they affect reactivity; organic mechanisms, predict outcomes/routes; spectral analysis (IR, NMR, MS); green chemistry)
- Demonstrate mastery of the fundamentals of analytical chemistry (collect and analyze data from analytical instrumentation including spectrometric instruments (UV-vis, NMR, infrared ATR-FTIR, fluorometer); chromatographic instruments (GC); and electroanalytical instrumentation (potentiometry))
- Demonstrate mastery of the fundamentals of physical chemistry (quantum chemistry; molecular spectroscopy; statistical thermodynamics; laws of thermodynamics; spontaneity; chemical and physical equilibria; chemical kinetics; advanced theories of reaction rates)
- Demonstrate mastery of the fundamentals of biochemistry (structure/function of amino acids, proteins, enzymes, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids; protein folding, regulation; enzyme kinetics, inhibition, thermodynamics; bioinformatics) |
Know advanced biochemistry concepts |
- Demonstrate mastery of the concepts of metabolism, including its regulation, integration, and compartmentalization
- Demonstrate mastery of cellular bioenergetics including cellular respiration, electron transport, chemical and proton gradients, and energy coupling |