Teaching & Courses
BCBP 400: Molecular and Cellular Biophysics
How do the physical laws that dominate our lives change at the small length and energy scales of individual molecules? What design principles break down at the sub-cellular level and what new chemistry and physics becomes important? We will answer these questions by looking at bio-molecules, cellular substructures, and control mechanisms that work effectively in the microscopic world. How can we understand both the static and dynamic shape of proteins using the laws of thermodynamics and kinetics? How has the basic understanding of the smallest molecular motor in the world, ATP synthase, changed our understanding of friction and torque? We will explore new technologies, such as atomic force and single molecule microscopy that have allowed research into these areas. This course will address topics in each of the three major divisions of Biophysics: bio-molecular structure, biophysical techniques, and biological mechanisms.
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2021F
This is a collaboratively designed, project-oriented course that looks specifically at the theme of diversity within STEM fields--at Amherst College and beyond. We plan to ground our understanding of the STEM experience at Amherst in national and global contexts, specifically looking at the way in which gender, class, race, sexuality, and geographic upbringing might shape these experiences. We will accomplish this goal two distinct ways: first and foremost, we will conduct in-depth research into these topics, looking at peer-reviewed articles and surveying existing best practices at our peer institutions. We will supplement this research with weekly interviews with STEM students, faculty, staff and alumni. These interviews will give us a better understanding of the history and present of the Amherst STEM environment. Together, we believe these two components–-research and testimony--will be instrumental in guiding Amherst to develop a more inclusive STEM community for all. We will present our results (and final projects) in a salon at the end of the semester; we will also share them via this student-designed website.
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1516S, 1617F, 1617S, 1718F, 1718S, 1819S, 1920S, 2021J
Bio/Chem 330: Fundamental Principles of Life at the Molecular Level
As future health professionals, scientists and patients, each student researched the biochemical role of a specific rogue molecule involved in a human disease. In designing the poster to present their capstone research project, students incorporated concepts from the course, read primary literature, and refined their posters and presentations to be accessible to non-scientists and scientists alike. Amherst community members, including faculty, staff, students and administrators (including President Biddy Martin!) attended our Open House. Click photo to see additional photos by Rob Mattson.
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1314F, 1415F, 1516F
Structure and function of biologically important molecules and their role(s) in life processes. Protein conformation, enzymatic mechanisms and selected metabolic pathways will be analyzed. Additional topics may include: nucleic acid conformation, DNA/protein interactions, signal transduction and transport phenomena.
0910S, 1011S, 1112S
CHEM 151: Introductory Chemistry
This course examines the structure of matter from both a microscopic and macroscopic viewpoint. We begin with a detailed discussion of the physical structure of atoms, followed by an analysis of how the interactions between atoms lead to the formation of molecules. The relationship between the structures of molecular compounds and their properties is then described. Experiments in the laboratory provide experience in conducting quantitative chemical measurements and illustrate principles discussed in the lectures.
0910F, 1011F, 1112F, 1314S, 1415S, 1516S, 1718F,1718S, 1819F, 1819S, 1920F