Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UMass Amherst
Alice Y. Chueng recognized as Spotlight Scholar
The UMass Amherst Spotlight Scholar program publicly acknowledges highly accomplished faculty and their professional achievements.
Department News
-
Intergrating authetic research into the classroom
A recent manuscript, published in the journal Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, describes how BMB undergraduates engage with authentic research as part of their major requirements. Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) allow students to conduct real-world research in the classroom, such as combating the highly destructive plant pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. -
Ludmila Tyler co-authors paper reflecting on first year of inclusive community workshops
Ludmila is on the steering committee for ICABL, an Inclusive Community for the Assessment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Learning, which offers a series of workshops designed to help teachers develop best practices in measuring student learning. The paper identifies factors that contribute to an effective workshop series. -
Cheung/Wu Lab discovers key to how plant cells work together in response to stress
Their research, published in the journal Cell, identifies the interactions between four compounds (pectin, receptor proteins FERONIA and LLG1, and the signal RALF peptide) and how these interactions sustain plants through challenges like disease and climatic extremes. -
Heuck Lab sabotages Type 3 secretion systems to prevent pathogens from infecting host cells
Research from the Heuck lab provides a new tool for disrupting a key piece of machinery, called the Type 3 secretion system, that pathogens use to infect their host cells. Their findings, published in the journal ACS Infectious Diseases, provide a new avenue for combating antibiotic-resistant pathogens. -
Hebert Lab makes breakthrough in understanding protein folding
New research, published in the journal Molecular Cell, uses an innovative technique called glycoproteomics to explore how the location and composition of carbohydrates attached to serpins ensure that they fold correctly. This discovery opens the door to future advancement in understanding and eventually treating hundreds of diseases that result from misfolded proteins. -
Amy Springer named 2023-24 ADVANCE Faculty Fellow
Amy is one of 49 faculty members from across campus who will partner with UMass ADVANCE to promote gender and racial equity for faculty at UMass Amherst. Faculty Fellows provide recommendations and feedback to the team about ADVANCE programming and liaise with their departments to promote the ADVANCE program.
Advising
Meet with a BMB Peer Advisor!
BMB Peer Advisors are upperclassmen majoring in Biochemistry who are able to answer and resolve general advising questions. Boula, Anish, CeCe, Nandini, and Tiffany are available to meet with undergraduates throughout the semester. Ask them about:
- Degree requirements for BMB
- Course prerequisites
- Advanced Electives
- How to get into a research lab
- Choices for Gen Ed classes
- Use of SPIRE
Explore Our Department
Award-winning teaching, research opportunities, and interdisciplinary programs in a diverse, inclusive community of excellence.