About Us Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Two doctors reviewing information on the computer screen

The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology has 20 primary faculty, 4 administrative staff and over 100 students, postdoctoral fellows and scientists. Departmental members seek to understand the molecular basis of health and disease by focusing on a broad range of topics in basic biology, biochemistry and biophysics. Specific areas of interest include protein structural biology, genome biology, and mechanobiology. The Department houses several core facilities allowing for the application of the latest technologies to ongoing research projects. This includes the Next Generation Sequencing Core, Mass Spectrometry Facility, SCSB X-Ray Crystallography Laboratory and Cryo-electron Microscopy Facility all led by Research Faculty in the Department. The Department also benefits from a close relationship with the Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics.

The BMB Department is also home to the Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, which includes the Structural Biology and Biophysics Track. The Program is designed to prepare students for careers investigating the molecular nature of biomedical phenomena and translating that knowledge to improve human health. Our curriculum provides training in cutting edge technology, critical thinking, and verbal and written communication skills, preparing graduates to be fully competitive for positions in various career paths.

Office of the Chair

Sanja Sever, PhD
  • Vice President Drug Discovery,Director Sealy Institute Drug Discovery and Chair ad-interim
  • 108 Basic Science Building
  • 301 University Boulevard Galveston, TX 77555-0645 USA
  • P (409) 772-2271
  • Email: sasever@utmb.edu
Shirvonne Pope
  • Sr. Administrative Manager
  • 108 Basic Science Building
  • 301 University Boulevard
  • Galveston, TX 77555-0645 USA
  • Email:sapope@utmb.edu

Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program Contact Info

Dr. Petr Leiman, PhD
  • Dr. Petr Leiman, PhD
    Director, Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program
  • University of Texas Medical Branch
  • P (409) 747-2078
  • Email: pgleiman@utmb.edu
  • Program Coordinator: Taylor Groves

Areas of Research

The BMB Department conducts research in a broad range of topics focused on understanding the molecular basis of health and disease. Research spans from DNA to RNA to proteins to cells and their interactions with the environment. Topics are addressed through a variety of genetic, molecular, structural, cellular, and computational biology approaches and include:

DNA molecules
DNA
Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA replication and repair, genome organization, protein-DNA interactions.
Single helix RNA, Epigenetics concept
RNA
Gene regulation, phage-encoded RNA polymerases, mRNA translation, in vitro transcription, modified nucleotides.
Chain of amino acid or bio molecules called protein - 3d illustration
Proteins
Phase transitions in protein solutions, protein-protein interactions, protein biosynthesis, signal transduction, antibody epitopes in allergy and infectious disease, phage-derived systems and enzymes, chemokine mechanisms, methods development for proteomics data analysis, drug target identification.
Microscopic view of Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria, highlighting their small, intracellular form within human cells
Cells and Their Environment
Cytoskeleton dynamics and endocytosis, mechanobiology, host-pathogen interactions.