Course Descriptions - Fall 2008

G16. 1999 - Scientific Methods: Survival Techniques for Young Investigators in Biomedical Research
This course is required of all first year Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. students on a non-credit basis.
Although tremendous scientific progress has been made in recent times, the way we train our young investigators has remained basically the same - we practice apprenticeship. We offer our students courses on selected subjects, but we do not really teach them how to do research. Rather, by putting a student in a laboratory, we expect him to learn, perhaps by osmosis, everything there is to know about doing research. Many students found this process inefficient and frustrating. Dr. Sun has therefore organized this course, which deals with practical issues such as: how to get (any) laboratory techniques to work reproducibly and predictably; how to read a paper actively, rather than passively; how to pick a research project; how to write a scientific paper; and how to be an effective seminar speaker. A graduate student and/or a young scientist will leave this course knowing the skills they must master in order to survive and to excel in doing research. In four sessions, four topics are covered that a graduate student must master in order to survive and to excel in doing research.This year we have arranged for Dr. Sun to give these four lectures in a one-day workshop on Saturday, September 20th. These lectures will cover the following topics: experimental design; literature analysis; scientific writing; oral presentation.
Course Director: Tung-Tien Sun (212) 263-5685
Tung-Tien.Sun@nyumc.org
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G16.2001 - Foundations of Cell and Molecular Biology I
Please see Syllabus for varied dates and times.
This course, offered by the Cell and Molecular Biology Training Program, provides a broad overview of nucleic acid and protein metabolism and function. The fall semester begins with five weeks of Basic Molecular Biology, covering protein and nucleic acid structure, and fundamental aspects of gene expression. This initial section features intensive lectures, and weekly discussion groups. This segment of the course is followed by nine weeks of Selected Topics in Molecular Biology. The latter segment covers prokaryotic and eukaryotic transcription, chromatin structure and gene silencing, telomeres, DNA replication and recombination, protein translation, and RNA splicing and processing. Selected Topics includes two lectures and a discussion section per week. Particularly in the Selected Topics portion of the course, the reading of primary research articles is heavily emphasized. The course has a total of three in-class exams.
6 credits
Course Director: James Borowiec (212) 263-8453
James.Borowiec@nyumc.org
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G16.2004 – Principles of Structural Biology
The goal of this course is to provide students with an introduction to protein structure and to demonstrate how knowledge of the three-dimensional structures of proteins affords an in-depth understanding of biological processes. A primer on structure determination by x-ray crystallography, electron microscopy and NMR spectroscopy will also be given.
4 credits
Course Director: Steve Hubbard – (212) 263-8938
hubbard@saturn.med.nyu.edu
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G16.2005 Introduction to Cellular Neuroscience
Introduction to the anatomy, cell biology, molecular structure, and physiology of neurons and glial cells. The course is structured to equip students with skills necessary to read contemporary neuroscience literature, as well as to provide a grounding in the fundamental concepts of cellular neurobiology. Emphasis is placed on basic cellular and molecular mechanisms used by neurons to receive, integrate and transmit information. Subjects covered include the structural anatomy and electrophysiological properties of neurons and glia, synaptic transmission and integration, biochemistry, physiology of neurotransmitters, and regulation of neuronal function by gene expression.
6 credits
Course Director: Stewart Bloomfield (212) 263-5770
stewart.bloomfield@med.nyu.edu
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G16.2202 Medical Microbiology
This course, for second year graduate students and above, contains both lectures organized by the medical school and separate graduate student sessions. Topics include: concepts in medical bacteriology; E. coli; evasion of host defenses; viral structure and replication; herpes; HIV; tumor viruses; host defenses in viral infection. Course begins Wednesday, 8/20.
3 Credits
Course Director: Michael Garabedian (212) 263-7662
michael.garabedian@nyumc.org
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G16.2213 Genetics
Transmission genetics in diploid organisms. Principles and methods of genetic analysis in diploid organisms, including Drosophila, worms, zebrafish, plants, mice and humans, will be emphasized. Classes include lectures, problem solving and discussion of primary literature. Topics include: linkage, gene interactions, mapping, mutagenesis, clonal analysis, sex determination, transgenic studies, use of mosaics, imprinting and methods of study in human genetics. First year students need permission of instructor to enroll.
6 credits
Course director: Hannah Klein (212) 263-5778
hannah.klein@nyumc.org
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G16.2306 Introduction to Immunology
This comprehensive core course will provide a broad but intensive examination of the immune response, with a special emphasis on the experimental approaches that led to our current understanding of immunological principles. Designed for research-oriented students but open to others, the class will meet 2 times each week. Students will be assigned weekly reading in the form of textbook chapters and a primary research paper. Students and faculty will discuss the textbook information during one session each week, and regular quizzes on this information will provide feedback to all students on their preparation and progress. Critical analysis of the original research articles in a discussion format will be held on Fridays. The research papers will form the starting point for a dialogue between students and faculty that will probe intellectual and practical questions in immunology research, venturing beyond the material presented in the papers into related issues and current research. This is a discussion class and participation in the discussions will be required. Grading will be based on exams and participation. Mid-term and Final Exams will require students to apply general and specific information and approaches learned from the readings and discussion. The textbook for the class will be Immunobiology by Janeway, Travers, Walport. 7th Edition. 2007. Garland Science.
4 credits
Course director: Michael Dustin (212) 263-3208
dustin@saturn.med.nyu.edu
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G16.2401 Principles in Pharmacology
This course is a combination of lectures, workshops and seminars. The lectures and workshops are part of the Medical Pharmacology course for medical students. Topics include: pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug metabolism, drug receptors and drugs affecting the autonomic nervous system.
The seminars cover the major receptor signaling pathways as well as enzyme inhibitors and monoclonal antibody therapies to demonstrate how basic principles of pharmacology are used in the development of new drugs. Each session will consist of a 20-30 minute overview of the particular topic followed by a 1-hour discussion of a seminal paper(s) in the field. Take home exams at the end of each section will be the major component for assessment. This course is open to all graduate students and is required for students in the Pharmacology program. Instructors/Times/Locations are listed in the attached schedule.
3 credits
Course Directors:
Arnold Stern (212)-263-7118
sterna01@nyumc.org
(Medical School portion)
Frederick Stanley (212) 263-7927
Frederick.Stanley@nyumc.org
(Graduate school portion)
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G16.2406 - Molecular Pharmacology of Receptors
This course gives an overview of the principles in pharmacology, modern approaches to studying pharmacology and molecular aspects of receptors and signal transduction. The course is divided into three parts. The first part, introduction to molecular pharmacology, will focus on some of the basic concepts in signaling and drug-receptor interactions. The second part, modern approaches to pharmacological research, will emphasize methods such as expression profiling, computational approaches to receptor structor and function, imaging live cells, mass spectrometry, and genetic studies with Drosophila as a pharmacological tool. The third part, applications of pharmacology research, will focus on the structure and function of tyrosine kinase receptors, insulin receptors, insulin receptors, potassium channels, steroid/thyroid hormone nuclear receptor gene family, glycoproteins and proteoglycans of the nervous system, the role of histone code in receptor signalling, and proteolytic processing of receptors. Classes include lectures as well as weekly discussions on selected papers.
3 credits
Course Directors: Efrat Levy (845) 398 5540
elevy@nki.rfmh.org
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G16.2511 Tutorial in Structural Biology
Graduate Students will be paired with Structural Biology faculty members and a specific topic for the semester will be researched by the student and discussed with the faculty member during weekly sessions.
1.5 credits
Course Director: David Stokes (212) 263-1580
stokes@saturn.med.nyu.edu
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G16.2605 Research Presentations in CMB
Seminar required of all students in the CMB program.
1.5 Credits
Course Director: Lynette Wilson (212) 263-7684
Elaine.Wilson@nyumc.org
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G16.2606 Tutorial in Developmental Genetics
Required of all students in the Developmental Genetics Program.
1.5 Credits
Course Director: Ruth Lehmann (212) 263-8071
lehmann@saturn.med.nyu.edu
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G16.2610 Developmental Genetics I
This course is an introduction into Developmental Genetics. Fundamental questions, concepts and methodologies of modern inquiry into the genetic and cellular mechanisms of development will be explored through lectures and discussion of primary literature. Topics include embryonic axis determination and the establishment of cellular asymmetry, cell specification through cell-cell interaction and region-specific gene expression, morphogenesis and organogenesis in different species.
Each week two instructors will discuss current topics in developmental biology. Each session includes a lecture and discussion part. In the discussion part students will discuss research articles related to the topic. Students will read 2 research articles as well as a review or book chapter for each session. Each student is expected to have read the articles before each session and to be able to present a summary, a detailed description of the data, underlying techniques and figures, and a critique of the research papers.
To facilitate discussion, students will meet in small groups Wednesday or Thursday to discuss the papers.
6 credits
Course Director: Jane Hubbard (212) 263-7154
Jane.Hubbard@med.nyu.edu
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G16.2611, Section 001, Tutorial in Cell Biology
Required seminar for graduate students in the Cell and Molecular training program (second year and beyond)
1.5 credits
Course Director: Alan Frey (212) 263-8129
Alan.Frey@nyumc.org
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G16.2617, Tutorial in Biomedical Imaging
Students who register for G16.4404, Fundamental Concepts in Magnetic Resonance Imaging must register for this tutorial. For a course sumary, see G16.4404.
3 credits
Course Director: Glyn Johnson (212) 263-8746
glyn.johnson@med.nyu.edu
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G16.3211 Seminar in Microbiology
Required seminar for graduate students in the Microbiology training program (second year and beyond)
1.5 credits
Course Director: Joel Belasco (212) 263-5409
belasco@saturn.med.nyu.edu
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G16.3311 Seminar in Pathology
Required seminar for graduate students in the Molecular Oncology and Immunology training program (second year and beyond)
1.5 credits
Course Director: David Levy (212) 263-8192
david.levy@nyumc.org
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G16.3404 Seminar in Developmental Genetics
Required seminar for graduate students in the Developmental Genetics program (second year and beyond)
1.5 credits
Course Director: Ruth Lehmann (212) 263-8071 lehmann@saturn.med.nyu.edu
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G16.3411 Seminar in Pharmacology
Required seminar for graduate students in the Pharmacology program (second year and beyond)
1.5 credits
Course Director: Erika Bach (212) 263-5963
erika.bach@med.nyu.edu
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G16.3715 Seminar in Structural Biology
Required seminar for graduate students in the Structural Biology program (second year and beyond)
1.5 credits
Course Director: David Stokes (212) 263-1580
stokes@saturn.med.nyu.edu
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G16.4012 - G16.4402 Readings in Biomedical Sciences
Students may opt to take Readings courses for a variable amount of credits in order to study a specific area complementary to their thesis research under the guidance of a Sackler faculty member. Contact the graduate advisor for your program for assistance in selecting a faculty member and area of study.
Variable 1 - 4 credits
Course Director: Staff
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G16.4404 Fundamental Concepts in Magnetic Resonance Imaging
In conjunction with this course, students must simultaneously register for G16.2617, Tutorial in Biomedical Imaging for 3 credits. This course will provide a largely non-mathematical introduction to the principles of MRI, and is therefore accessible to students with varied backgrounds. Topics covered include the basics of nuclear magnetic resonance, image formation and the properties of images, contrast mechanisms and how to exploit them, basic instrumentation for MRI, and an introduction to clinical and biological applications. Several advanced topics such as angiography, diffusion and perfusion imaging, covered more fully in the “Advanced MRI” course, will be introduced. This course includes weekly lectures, discussion sessions revolving around assigned research articles, and practical labs pertinent to material covered in the lectures.
3 credits
Course Director:Glyn Johnson (212) 263-8746
glyn.johnson@med.nyu.edu
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G16.4405 Independent Study in Structural Biology
Students concentrating in Structural Biology can register for an independent study in a variable amount of credits when their research and coursework requires them to pursue academic research and/or coursework at the NIH.
Variable 1 - 6 credits
Course Director: David Stokes (212) 263-1580
stokes@saturn.med.nyu.edu
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G16.4406 Introduction to Tissues and Organ Systems
This survey course and its accompanying laboratory will be the cornerstone for the newly developed graduate training program in pathobiology. The specific goal of this course is to provide an overview of the basic development and physiology of mammalian tissues and organs and introduce the tools, techniques and strategies important in the study of in vivo model systems for human disease.
4 credits
Course Director: Cynthia Loomis (212) 263-6827
loomic01@med.nyu.edu
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G16.4407 Introduction to Histopathobiology Laboratory
This introductory laboratory course must be taken in conjunction with the lecture course "Tissues and Organ Systems." The specific goal of this laboratory course is to introduce students to the tools, techniques and strategies necessary for the study of in vivo model systems for human disease.
2 credits
Course Director: Cynthia Loomis (212) 263-6827
loomic01@med.nyu.edu
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G16.4408 Cryoelectron Microscopy of Macromolecular Assemblies
CryoEM in combination with image analysis is increasingly powerful in producing 3D structures of individual molecules and large macromolecular complexes that are unapproachable by other methods. This comprehensive course will cover the theory and practice of solving molecular structures by electron microscopy. We will start with optics, sample preparation and a basic mathematical description of diffraction before moving into a detailed exploration of the three main methods of structure determination: electron crystallography, single particle analysis, and electron tomography. We will end with a discussion of map interpretation and molecular fitting.
This will predominantly be a lecture course involving one 2-hour lecture per week accompanied by a discussion session and an occasional practical session using facilities at the New York Structural Biology Center. Lecturers will be given by expert electron microscopists from around NYC and students from various campuses will be encouraged to attend.
http://www.nysbc.org/seminars/CryoEM%20Courses/CemGraduateCourse.html
3 credits
Course Director: David Stokes 212-263-1580
stokes@saturn.med.nyu.edu
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