Asymmetric Synthesis (Spring - 2009) - FLORIDA
This course will focus on recent advances in organic synthesis methodology, with a primary focus on acyclic stereochemical control and asymmetric synthesis. The course is based on a Short Course that I have presented to more than 30 pharmaceutical companies since ca. 1990.
(Dr. William Roush) 2007 Syllabus

Bioorganic Chemistry I (Fall - 2007)
In depth coverage of the synthesis, conformational properties and biophysical methods used to study proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids. There will be three exams in this course.
(Dr. Peter Schultz) 2007 Syllabus

Biophysical Chemistry (Winter - 2008)
This Biophysics course deals with the main techniques for elucidation of 3D structures. Major sections include: X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, Electron Microscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, and single molecule techniques. In each section, both the theoretical underpinnings and the practical application are covered. The course is intended to be a survey course to provide a basic familiarity with each method and its application to current problems in biology.
(Dr. Ian Wilson, Dr. Jamie Williamson) 2008 Syllabus

Cell Biology (Winter - 2008)
This course covers cellular organization and functions, with focus on membrane trafficking, nuclear organization, cell motility and the cytoskeleton, and cell signaling, adhesion and communication.
(Dr. Larry Gerace) 2008 Syllabus

Chemical and Biological Principles of Evolution (Spring - 2008)
This class is intended for students in both the Chemistry and Biology programs. It will focus on the molecular mechanisms of biological evolution and how these concepts are being implemented in the evolution of chemical and biological function in the laboratory. In many ways, the study and creation of evolving systems has become a recognizable and distinct discipline straddling chemistry, molecular biology, immunology, and genetics. Speakers from TSRI and elsewhere will describe their work in this context. In addition, students will be required to give a presentation to the class at the end of the semester on any topic from the literature in the general area of evolution.
(Dr. M.G. Finn) 2006 Syllabus

Classics in Total Synthesis (Winter - 2008)
This course deals with modern methods of organic synthesis and the synthesis of complex organic molecules. Methods of asymmetric synthesis, retrosynthetic analysis of target molecules, synthetic strategies, and tactics in total synthesis are covered. Aspects of molecular design and chemical synthesis of biologically active molecules are also discussed.
(Dr. K.C. Nicolaou, Dr. Phil Baran) 2008 Syllabus

Critical Thinking and Communication in Science (Summer - 2008)
A twelve-week course that seeks to sharpen the skills of students in assessment, and communication of scientific information and ideas. The course comprises a literature presentation/evaluation component, and a research proposal writing/evaluation one. The course starts the first week in August and is completed within a 12-week period, with a one-week hiatus starting on Labor Day.
The course opens with an introductory lecture, followed by 6 micro-courses/paper discussions during weeks 3-8. During this time period students also work on developing a research proposal. A preliminary Summary for the proposal is due at the end of the third week, and completed proposals are presented and evaluated during weeks 9-12.
(Dr. Francisco Asturias, Dr. Ashok Deniz) 2007 Syllabus

Current Topics in Immunology (Winter - 2008)

The aim of this course is to expose students to current topics in immunology and to train students in critical analysis and in communication of research material. The subject matter of this course will follow the Immunology Affinity Group's (IAG) seminar series. The IAG series runs from the beginning of September through the end of May. Students will read, analyze, present, and discuss papers relevant to the seminar speaker's topic. Seminar speakers will be solicited for papers they consider relevant to their lecture, whether they be their own papers or other papers on the same topic. To solidify concepts introduced during the discussion, students will also attend the weekly IAG seminar. Additionally, students will have the option to meet with speakers following the seminar. The students will chose the seminar topic on which they would like to present background and lead the discussion. Past IAG seminars have covered broad range of immunology subjects, including tolerance, innate immunity, infectious diseases, signal transduction, and immune receptor structure. Participants will meet a total of 2 hours weekly.
(Dr. Kerri Mowen) 2008 Syllabus

Genetics/Genomics Course (Spring 2009)
The focus of this course will be on human DNA sequence and in particular on naturally occurring DNA sequence variations and their impact on molecular physiology, clinical phenotypic expression, and the gene pools of populations. Basic DNA sequence manipulation and query technologies/tools will also be discussed and exposed to the students. The classes each week will be paired with one didactic lecture to be offered first and one student-led discussion-oriented session involving two papers of relevance to the topic covered in the didactic lecture: one 'classic' paper and one contemporary high-impact paper. Students will be graded on their participation, presentations, a mid-term exam and a final exam.
(Schork, Topol, Frazer, Murray, Nievergelt, et al.) 2008 Syllabus

Heterocyclic Chemistry (Spring - 2008)
Since the majority of bioactive compounds are heterocyclic compounds, this is really a course on the fundamental chemistry of medicines. Rather than surveying the infinite variety of heterocyclic systems, the focus will be on fundamental principles and reactivity of basic ring systems. The mission of this class is to produce students who can derive practical and creative retrosyntheses of nearly any heterocycle and be able to predict the reactivity of systems they have never seen before.
(Dr. Phil Baran) 2008 Syllabus

Introduction to X-Ray Crystallography (Winter - 2009)
Introduction to X-ray Crystallography provides the fundamentals for solving atomic resolution protein structures by crystallography. Areas covered include geometry of diffraction, detection of diffraction, intensity of diffracted waves, symmetry of crystals, the phase problem, the heavy atom method, direct methods, isomorphous and molecular replacement, anomalous dispersion and MAD phasing methods. The only prerequisites are introductory physics, first year calculus and interest. Mathematics and physics beyond this are developed within the course. The course will consist of about 30 (50 minutes) lectures, three times per week.
(Dr. Jack Johnson) 2007 Syllabus

Immunology (Spring - 2009)
This course focuses on the constituents of the immune system and the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in generating a protective or pathologic immune response. Lecture topics cover various aspects of innate and adaptive immunity, including MHC genes and structure, antigen presentation, antigen recognition, lymphocyte development and function, receptor signaling, autoimmunity, tumor immunology and immunologic aspects of AIDS.
(Dr. Jonathan Kaye) 2007 Syllabus

Molecular Biology (Fall - 2008)
This course focuses on essential biological processes at the molecular level, including DNA replication, transcription and processing of RNA, regulation of gene expression, and protein synthesis.
(Dr. Joel Gottesfeld, Dr. Curt Wittenberg) 2007 Syllabus

Molecular Medicine (Spring - 2008)
Teaches basic conepts underlying the working understanding of the biology of health and disease. Highlights opportunities for studying fundamental challenges defined in the practice of medicine using the tools of the basic biological and chemical sciences. In this dynamic process, the solutions advance both disciplines and define the foundations of translational medicine.
(Dr. Daniel Salomon) 2008 Syllabus

Molecular Recognition (TBA)
Principles of molecular recognition are reviewed from the standpoint of theory, physical organic chemistry and bioorganic chemistry. The weak intermolecular forces-hydrogen bonds, van der Waals interactions, hydrophobic effect, cation/pi interactions and aryl stacking are demonstrated with calculations, synthetic organic receptors and biological macromolecules.
(Dr. Julius Rebek, Jr.) 2007 Syllabus

Neurobiology (Spring - 2009)
The neurosciences course will focus on how the nervous system functions at a molecular, cellular, and systems level. Topics include chemical transmission in the nervous system, electrical transmission in the nervous system, the molecular and cellular structure of neurons, the neurobiology of sensation, neural development, and neuropharmacology. Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on relating the basic functions of the nervous system to behavior and disease.
(Dr. Ben Cravatt) 2007 Syllabus

Organic Synthesis ( Fall - 2008)
In-depth coverage of specific synthetic reactions including, but not limited to, conformational analysis, oxidations, reductions, aldol and alkylation reactions, pericyclic reactions and their stereochemical issues.
(Dr. Dale L. Boger, Dr. Phil Baran) 2007 Syllabus Part I, Part II

Organometallics (Spring - 2009)
The course will focus on the transformations of organometallic compounds of transition metals. Bonding theory, synthesis, and fundamental reactivity features of organotransition metal species will be examined. Modern applications of transition metal complexes in organic synthesis and catalysis, such as oxidations, reductions, carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond forming processes, will be surveyed. The role of transition metals in biological systems will also be highlighted.
(Dr. Valery Fokin) 2007 Syllabus

Physical Organic Chemistry (Fall - 2008)
The study of reaction mechanisms including, but not limited to, acid-base catalysis, transition state theory, kinetics, thermodynamics, pericyclic reactions, and linear free energy relationships.
(Dr. Floyd Romesberg, Dr. M. G. Finn) 2007 Syllabus Part I, Part II

Spectroscopy for Organic Chemists (Winter - 2008)
Introduction to a variety of spectroscopic methods, but not limited to mass spectroscopy, x-ray crystallography and NMR techniques.
(Dr. Floyd Romesberg) 2008 Syllabus

Structural Biology (Fall - 2008)
This course covers all aspects of structural biology from primary to quaternary structure and deals with the 3D structure of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids. The enzyme component deals with kinetics, mechanism and drug design. Macromolecular assemblies and higher order structures include as topics: oligomers, viruses, immune system, GroES/GroEL and membrane proteins.
(Dr. Ian A. Wilson) 2007 Syllabus

Theoretical and Computational Statistical Biophysics (Spring - 2008)
Covers the foundations and applications of statistical mechanics as it is used in chemistry and structural biology. The proposed audience would primarily consist of students in the biology and chemistry programs working in computation, spectroscopy or structural biology who want training in the foundations of statistical mechanics and molecular simulation ideas that go beyond what is taught in the Structural Biology course. The course is modeled after graduate-level Physical Chemistry courses previously taught at other institutions by the instructors.
(Dr. Charles Brooks, Dr. David Case) 2008 Syllabus

Virology (Spring - 2009)
This is a ten-week elective course intended for students who wish to improve their knowledge of the fundamental principles of virology. It will focus on human RNA and DNA viruses including viral agents and prions associated with emerging diseases. Subject matter will include basic aspects of virus structure, evolution, and cell entry mechanisms as well as the role of host immune responses, implications for vaccine development, and the use of viral vectors for gene transfer. The course will consist of twenty lectures (90 minutes), two times per week.
(Dr. Glen Nemerow) 2007 Syllabus