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W elcome to the Biology Department, where research lies at the heart of the
Ph.D. experience. We strive to provide our graduates with the technical and intellectual training needed for future success in a wide variety of careers.
Our department is well-equipped for modern molecular, genomics and proteomic research, biochemistry, imaging and bioinformatics.
We have core facilities with state-of-the-art instrumentation for fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, excellent animal facilities and substantial computational resources. We continue to grow our faculty with new hires who further strengthen our core areas of studies, examining fundamental problems in cell and developmental biology, microbiology and infection, and bioinformatics.
The Biology Department is comprised of a closeknit group of graduate students, faculty, post-docs and researchers who collaborate to produce an atmosphere of congenial learning and discovery.
Our robust department life facilitates graduate students’ entry into this community of scholars.
From our annual Graduate Research Day, which kicks off each academic year, to our weekly graduate student Journal Club, students enjoy abundant activities, creating a strong sense of collegial community.
Our program is committed to providing enhanced training. Ph.D. students begin their research by conducting three seven-week rotations in laboratories of their choosing. Each rotation period ends with an afternoon of short presentations by the students to the entire department. Upon completion of these rotations, students enter the laboratories where they will work side-by-side with other graduate students, postdoctoral scientists and researchers.
Along with learning to design and conduct experiments, our Ph.D. students are provided additional opportunities to grow and develop as scientists through the mentoring of undergraduate research students and by giving presentations at our Departmental Data Club.
The department provides funding for students to attend local, national and international scientific meetings that provide an opportunity for students to present their work and interact with other members of the scientific community. Our
Departmental Seminar Series brings in leaders in various research fields, and our students have a chance to meet with these speakers over lunch to learn more about their work.
For more information, please visit the Biology
Department website at bc.edu/biology.
Program Overview
Faculty
Courses
Outcomes
Academic Resources
Student Life &
Campus Resources
Admission & Financial
Information
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Basic areas of study for the Ph.D. in biology include biochemistry, cellular and developmental biology, genetics, cell cycle, vector biology and neurobiology.
Our Ph.D. program provides an in-depth training experience. Core course work is provided in cell biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics and bioinformatics. Advanced electives are available in all areas of faculty expertise. Seminar courses provide students with ongoing training in critical thinking and oral presentation of scientific data. Research experience is provided by working in close cooperation with faculty members, postdoctoral fellows and senior students in a collaborative, supportive environment.
Research lies at the heart of the biology experience at
Boston College. The department offers a wide array of opportunities for scientific investigation within the areas of:
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Molecular cell biology and genetics
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Cell cycle
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Neurobiology
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Developmental biology
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Structural and cellular biochemistry
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Vector biology
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Infectious disease
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Bioinformatics
For specific areas of research in the department, please refer to our faculty profiles.
Professor
Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, Amherst
RESEARCh INTERESTS
Molecular biology, chromatin assembly and histone modifications in human cells and fission yeast
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Nagarajan, P.; Ge, Z.; Sirbu, B.; Doughty, C.; Agudelo Garcia,
P.; Schlederer, M.; Annunziato, A.T.; Cortez. D.; Kenner, l.;
Parthun, M.R. (2013) histone acetyltransferase 1 is essential for mammalian development, genome stability and the processing of newly synthesized histones h3 and h4.
PLOS Genetics
9(6): e1003518. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003518.
 Tong, K.; Keller, T.; hoffman, C.; Annunziato, A.T. (2012).
Schizosaccharomyces pombe hAT1 (KAT1) is required for telomeric silencing.
Eukaryotic Cell , 11: 1095 1103.
 Annunziato, A.T. (2012). Assembling chromatin: the long and winding road.
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta , 1819: 196-210.
Professor
Ph.D., University of California, Davis
RESEARCh INTERESTS
Cytokinesis and the polarization of the cytoskeleton
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Minc, N.D.; Burgess, D.R.; Chang, F. (2011). Influence of cell geometry on division plane positioning.
Cell , 144: 414-26.
PMID: 21295701.
 Gudekjo, h.; Alford, l.; Burgess, D.R. ( 2012). Polar expansion during cytokinesis.
Cytoskeleton , 69: 1000-1009.
 Atilgan, E.; Burgess, D.R.; Chang, F. (2012). localization of
Cytokinesis factors to the future cell division site by microtubule-dependent transport.
Cytoskeleton, 69: 973-82.
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Harvard University
RESEARCh INTERESTS
Epigenetic control of higher-order genome organization and chromatin structures, CENP-B cooperates with Set1 in bidirectional transcriptional silencing and genome organization of retrotransposons.
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 lorenz, D.R.; Meyer, l.; Grady, P.J.R.; Meyer, M.; Cam, h.P.(2014) heterochromatin assembly and transcriptome repression by Set1 in coordination with a class II histone deacetylase.
eLife , 10.7554/elife.04506.
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 Mikheyeva, I.V.; Grady, P.J.R.; Tamburini, F.B.; lorenz,
D.R.; Cam. h.P. (2014) Multifaceted genome control by Set1 dependent and independent of h3K4 methylation and the
Set1C/COMPASS complex.
PLOS Genetics, 10.1371/journal.
pgen.1004740.
Professor, The DeLuca Chair in Biology, Vice Provost for Research
Ph.D., University of Florida
RESEARCh INTERESTS
B lymphocyte growth and survival, metabolomics, nanodiagnostics
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Rizal B.; Merlo J.M.; Burns M.J.; Chiles T.C.; Naughton M.J.
(2015) Nanocoaxes for optical and electronic devices.
Analyst,
140(1): 39-58. doi: 10.1039/c4an01447b.
 Dufort, F.J.; Gumina, M.R.; Ta, N.l.; Tao, Y.; heyse, S.A.;
Scott, D.A.; Richardson, A.D.; Seyfried, T.N.; Chiles, T.C. (2014)
Glucose-dependent de novo lipogenesis in B lymphocytes: a requirement for atp-citrate lyase in lipopolysaccharide-induced differentiation.
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 289(10): 7011-24.
doi: 10.1074/jbc.M114.551051. Epub 2014 Jan 27.
 Rizal B.; Archibald, M.M.; Connolly, T.; Shepard S.; Burns,
M.J.; Chiles, T.C.; Naughton, M.J. (2013) Nanocoax-based electrochemical sensor.
Analytical Chemistry, 85(21): 10040-4.
doi: 10.1021/ac402441x. Epub 2013 Oct 21.
Professor
Ph.D., Duke University
Doctorat d'Etat l'Université Paris VII
RESEARCh INTERESTS
RNA thermodynamics-based algorithms, protein and
RNA structure, function and molecular evolution machine learning in bioinformatics
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Senter, E.; Dotu, I.; Clote, P. (2015) RNA folding pathways and kinetics using 2D energy landscapes.
Journal of
Mathematical Biology, 70(1-2): 173-96.
 Dotu, I.; Garcia-Martin, J.A.; Slinger, B.l.; Mechery, V.; Meyer,
M.M.; Clote, P. (2015) Complete RNA inverse folding: computational design of functional hammerhead ribozymes.
Nucleic
Acids Research, 42(18): 11752-62.
 Clote P. (2015) Expected degree of RNA secondary structure networks.
Journal of Computational Chemistry, 36(2): 103-17.
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Notre Dame
RESEARCh INTERESTS
Cellular organization—mechanisms of nuclear movement and the role of nuclear movement in muscle development and disease pathogenesis
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Folker, E.S.; Schulman, V.K.; Baylies, M.K. (2014). Translocating myonuclei have distinct leading and lagging edges that require Kinesin and Dynein.
Development, 141(2): 355-56.
 Chang, W.; Folker, E.S.; Worman, h.J.; Gundersen, G.G.
(2013). Emerin organizes actin flow for nuclear movement and centrosome orientation in migrating fibroblasts.
Molecular
Biology of the Cell, 24(24): 3869-80.
 Folker, E.S.; Baylies, M.K. (2013). Nuclear positioning in muscle development and disease.
Frontiers in Physiology,
4 (363).
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Utrecht University, The Netherlands
RESEARCh INTEREST
The genetic and cell biological basis of Toxoplasma gondii cell division and host cell invasion
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Farrell, A.; Coleman, B.; Benenati, K.M.; Brown, I.; Blader, I.;
Marth, G.T.; Gubbels, M.-J. (2014). Whole genome profiling of spontaneous and chemical mutagenesis induced mutations in
Toxoplasma gondii.
BMC Genomics, 15: 354.
 Chen, C.-T. and Gubbels, M.-J. (2013). The Toxoplasma gondii centrosome is the platform for internal daughter budding as revealed by a Nek1 kinase mutant.
Journal of Cell Science, 126:
3344-55.
 Farrell, A.; Thirugnanam, S.; lorestani, A.; Dvorin, J.; Eidell,
K.P.; Ferguson, D.J.P.; Anderson-White, B.; Duraisingh, M.T.;
Marth, G.; Gubbels, M.-J. (2012). A DOC2 protein identified by mutational profiling is essential for apicomplexan parasite exocytosis.
Science, 335: 218-21.
Professor and Graduate Program Director
Ph.D., Tufts University, The Sackler School
RESEARCh INTERESTS
Glucose sensing, signal transduction, transcriptional regulation in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 de Medeiros, A.S.; Kwak, G.; Vanderhooft, J.; Rivera,
S.; Gottlieb, R.; hoffman, C.S. (2015) Fission yeast-based high-throughput screens for PKA pathway inhibitors and activators.
Methods in Molecular Biology, 1263: 77-91. doi:
10.1007/978-1-4939-2269-7_6.
 Mudge, D.K.; Yang, F.; Currie, B.M.; Kim, J.M.; Yeda, K.;
Bashyakarla, V.K.; Ivey, F.D.; hoffman, C.S. (2014) Sck1 negatively regulates Gpa2-mediated glucose signaling in
Schizosaccharomyces pombe.
Eukaryot Cell, 13(2): 202-8.
doi: 10.1128/EC.00277-13.
Professor and Department Chairperson
Ph.D., Tufts University School of Medicine
RESEARCh INTERESTS
Retroviruses, primate lentiviruses, endogenous retroviruses (ERV), virus-host coevolution
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Krupp, A.; McCarthy, K.R.; Ooms, M.; letko, M.; Morgan, J.S.;
Simon, V.; Johnson, W.E. (2013). Apobec3G Polymorphism as a
Selective Barrier to Cross-species Transmission and Emergence of Pathogenic SIV and AIDS in a Primate host.
PLoS Pathogens,
9(10): e1003641
 McCarthy, K.R.; Schmidt, A.G.; Kirmaier, A.; Wyand, A.l.;
Newman, R.M.; Johnson, W.E. (2013). Gain-Of-sensitivity Mutations in a Trim5-Resistant Primary Isolate of Pathogenic SIV
Identify Two Independent Conserved Determinants of Trim5alpha Specificity.
PLoS Pathogens, 9(5): e1003352.
 Kirmaier, A.; Wu, F.; Newman, R.M.; hall, l.R.; Morgan, J.S.;
O’Connor, S.; Marx, P.A.; Meythaler, M.; Goldstein, S.;
Buckler-White, A ; Kaur, A.; hirsch, V.; Johnson, W.E. (2010).
TRIM5 Suppresses Cross-Species Transmission of a Primate
Immunodeficiency Virus and Selects for Emergence of Resistant Variants in the New Species.
PLoS Biology , 8(8): e1000462
Professor
Ph.D., Harvard University
RESEARCh INTERESTS
Structural analysis of amyloids and myelin sheaths, neurodegenerative diseases, peripheral demyelinating neuropathies
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Gilardini, A.; Avila, R.A.; luckett, R.; lu, J.; Oggioni, N.;
Rodruguez-Menendez, V.; Bossi, M.; Canta, A.; Cavaletti,
G.; Kirschner, D.A. (2012). Myelin structure is unaltered in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
NeuroToxicology ,
33: 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j. neuro.(2011).10.010.
 Saporta, M.A.C.; Shy, B.R.; Patzkó, A.; Bai, Y.; Pennuto, M.;
Ferri, C.; Tinelli, E.; Saveri, P.; Kirschner, D.A.; Crowther, M.;
Southwood, C.; Gow, A.; Wu, X.; Feltri, M.l.; Wrabetz, l.; Shy,
M.E. (2012). MpzR98C arrests schwann cell development in a mouse model of early-onset Charcot-Marie-Tooth 1B.
Brain , 135:
2032-47. doi: 10.1093/brain/aws140.
 Patzkó, A.; Bai, Y.; Saporta, M.A.C.; Katona. I.; Wu, X.Y.;
Wrabetz, l.; Feltri, M.l.; Wang, S.; Dillon, l.M.; Kamholz, J.;
Kirschner, D.A.; Sarkar, F.; Shy, M.E. (2012). Curcumin derivatives promote schwann cell differentiation and improve neuropathy in R98C CMT1B mice.
Brain , 135: 3551-66. doi:
10.1093/brain/aws299.
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
RESEARCh INTERESTS
Cytoskeletal dynamics during cell migration, axon outgrowth, development of the nervous system
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Nwagbara B.; Faris A.; Bearce E.: Erdogan, B.: Ebbert, P.:
Evans, M.: Rutherford, E.: Enzenbacher, T.” lowery, l.A. (2014)
TACC3 is a microtubule plus-end tracking protein that promotes axon elongation and also regulates microtubule plus-end dynamics in multiple embryonic cell types.
Molecular Biology of the Cell, 25(21): 3350-62.
 Stout, A.; D’Amico, S.; Enzenbacher, T.: Ebbert, P.; lowery, l.A. (2014) Using plusTipTracker software to measure microtubule dynamics in Xenopus laevis growth cones.
Journal of
Visualized Experiments, (91): e52138.
 lowery, l.A.; Stout, A.; Faris, A.E.; Ding, l.; Baird, M.A.;
Davidson, M.W.; Danuser, G.; Van Vactor, D. (2013) Growth cone-specific functions of XMAP215 in restricting microtubule dynamics and promoting axonal outgrowth.
Neural Develoment,
8(1): 22.
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology
RESEARCh INTERESTS
Computational biology, non-coding RNA discovery and validation, molecular evolution, RNA and protein structure
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Fu, Y.; Deiorio-haggar, K.; Soo, M.W.; Meyer, M.M. (2014).
Bacterial RNA motif in the 5’ UTR of rpsF interacts with an
S6:S18 complex.
RNA, 20: 168-76.
 Fu, Y.; Deiorio-haggar, K.; Anthony, J.; Meyer, M.M. (2013).
Most RNAs regulating ribosomal protein biosynthesis in E. coli are narrowly distributed to Gammaproteobacteria.
Nucleic Acids
Research, 41(6): 3491-503.
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 Miller, C.; Anthony, J.; Meyer, M.M.; Marth, G. (2013). Scribl: an hTMl5 canvas-based graphic library for visualizing genomic data over the web.
Bioinformatics, 29: 381-83.
 Zarringhalam, K.; Meyer, M.M.; Dotu, I.; Chuang, J.; Clote, P.
(2012). Integrating chemical footprinting data into RNA secondary structure orediction.
PLOS ONE, 2012 , 7(10): e45160.
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology
RESEARCh INTERESTS
Systems biology of microbial communities; Mathematical modeling of biological systems; Microbial ecology
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Momeni, B.; Waite, A.J.; Shou, W. (2013). Spatial self-organization favors heterotypic cooperation over cheating.
eLife , 2: e00960.
 Momeni, B.; Brileya, K.A.; Fields, M.W.; Shou, W. (2013).
Strong inter-population cooperation leads to partner intermixing in microbial communities.
eLife, 2: e00230.
 Momeni, B.; Chen, C.-C.; hillesland, K.l., Waite, A.J.; Shou, W.
(2011). Using artificial systems to explore the ecology and evolution of symbioses.
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 68: 1353-68.
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Rockefeller University
RESEARCh INTERESTS
Nuclear import pathways for human papillomavirus
(hPV) proteins and genomic DNA
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Onder, Z.; Chang, V.; Moroianu, J. (2015) Nuclear export of cutaneous hPV8 E7 oncoprotein is mediated by a leucine-rich nuclear export signal via a CRM1 pathway.
Virology, 474: 28-33.
 Onder, Z.; Moroianu, J. (2014). Nuclear import of cutaneous beta genus hPV8 E7 oncoprotein is mediated by hydrophobic interactions between its zinc-binding domain and FG nucleoporins.
Virology, 449: 150-62.
 Eberhard, J.; Onder, Z.; Moroianu, J. (2013). Nuclear import of high risk hPV16 E7 oncoprotein is mediated by its zinc-binding domain via hydrophobic interactions with Nup62.
Virology, 446:
334-45.
Professor
Ph.D., Stanford University
RESEARCh INTERESTS
Malaria and vector biology, vector mosquito genomics and genetics, malaria parasite proteasome function
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Jenkins A.M.; Waterhouse, R.M.; Muskavitch M.A.T. (2015). long non-coding RNA discovery across the genus Anopheles reveals conserved secondary structures within and beyond the An. gambiae complex.
BMC Genomics, 16: 337. [Epub ahead of print]
 Jenkins, A.M.; Muskavitch, M.A.T. (2015). Evolution of an epigenetic gene ensemble within the genus Anopheles. Genome Biology and Evolution.
Genome Biology and Evolution, pii: evv041. [Epub ahead of print]
Professor
Ph.D., University of Illinois
RESEARCh INTEREST
Gene-environmental interactions in epilepsy and brain cancer
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Meidenbauer, J.J.; Mukherjee, P.; Seyfried, T.N. (2015) The glucose ketone index calculator: a simple tool to monitor therapeutic efficacy for metabolic management of brain cancer.
Nutrition &
Metabolism, 12: 12.
 Akgoc, Z.; Sena-Esteves, M.; Martin, D.R.; han, X.; d’Azzo, A.;
Seyfried, T.N. (2015) Bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate: a secondary storage lipid in the gangliosidoses.
Journal of Lipid Research, 56(5):
1006-13.
 Seyfried, T.N.; Flores, R.; Poff, A.M.; D’Agostino, D.P.;
Mukherjee, P. (2015) Metabolic therapy: a new paradigm for managing malignant brain cancer.
Cancer Letters, 356: 289-300.
 Seyfried, T.N. (2014) Ketone strong: emerging evidence for a therapeutic role of ketone bodies in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases.
Journal of Lipid Research, 55(9): 1815-7.
 Seyfried, T.N.; Flores, R.E.; Poff, A.M.; D’Agostino, D.P. (2014)
Cancer as a metabolic disease: implications for novel therapeutics.
Carcinogenesis, 35(3): 515-27.
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology
RESEARCh INTEREST
Crosstalk between immune and nervous systems; development and function of tissue macrophages; inflammatory signaling and processes; genetics, genomics, transcriptomics and live imaging
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Shiau, C.E.; Kaufman, Z.; Meireles, A.M.; Talbot, W.S. (2015).
Differential Requirement for irf8 in formation of Embryonic and Adult Macrophages in Zebrafish.
Plos One, 10(1): e0117513.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117513 .
 Meireles, A.M.: Shiau, C.E.; Guenther, C.; Sidik, h.; Kingsley,
D.; Talbot, W.S. (2014). The phosphate exporter xpr1b is required for differentiation of tissue-resident macrophages.
Cell Reports,
8(6): 1659-67.
 Shiau, C.E.: Monk, K.; Joo, W.; Talbot, W.S. (2013). An anti-inflammatory NOD-like receptor is required for microglia development.
Cell Reports, 5(5): 1342-52.

SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Jenkins A.M.; Waterhouse, R.M.; Muskavitch M.A.T. (2015). long non-coding RNA discovery across the genus Anopheles reveals conserved secondary structures within and beyond the An. gambiae complex.
BMC Genomics, 16: 337. [Epub ahead of print]
 Jenkins, A.M.; Muskavitch, M.A.T. (2015). Evolution of an epigenetic gene ensemble within the genus Anopheles. Genome Biology and Evolution.
Genome Biology and Evolution, pii: evv041. [Epub ahead of print]
Professor
Ph.D., University of Illinois
RESEARCh INTEREST
Gene-environmental interactions in epilepsy and brain cancer
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Meidenbauer, J.J.; Mukherjee, P.; Seyfried, T.N. (2015) The glucose ketone index calculator: a simple tool to monitor therapeutic efficacy for metabolic management of brain cancer.
Nutrition &
Metabolism, 12: 12.
 Akgoc, Z.; Sena-Esteves, M.; Martin, D.R.; han, X.; d’Azzo, A.;
Seyfried, T.N. (2015) Bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate: a secondary storage lipid in the gangliosidoses.
Journal of Lipid Research, 56(5):
1006-13.
 Seyfried, T.N.; Flores, R.; Poff, A.M.; D’Agostino, D.P.;
Mukherjee, P. (2015) Metabolic therapy: a new paradigm for managing malignant brain cancer.
Cancer Letters, 356: 289-300.
 Seyfried, T.N. (2014) Ketone strong: emerging evidence for a therapeutic role of ketone bodies in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases.
Journal of Lipid Research, 55(9): 1815-7.
 Seyfried, T.N.; Flores, R.E.; Poff, A.M.; D’Agostino, D.P. (2014)
Cancer as a metabolic disease: implications for novel therapeutics.
Carcinogenesis, 35(3): 515-27.
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology
RESEARCh INTEREST
Crosstalk between immune and nervous systems; development and function of tissue macrophages; inflammatory signaling and processes; genetics, genomics, transcriptomics and live imaging
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Shiau, C.E.; Kaufman, Z.; Meireles, A.M.; Talbot, W.S. (2015).
Differential Requirement for irf8 in formation of Embryonic and Adult Macrophages in Zebrafish.
Plos One, 10(1): e0117513.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117513 .
 Meireles, A.M.: Shiau, C.E.; Guenther, C.; Sidik, h.; Kingsley,
D.; Talbot, W.S. (2014). The phosphate exporter xpr1b is required for differentiation of tissue-resident macrophages.
Cell Reports,
8(6): 1659-67.
 Shiau, C.E.: Monk, K.; Joo, W.; Talbot, W.S. (2013). An anti-inflammatory NOD-like receptor is required for microglia development.
Cell Reports, 5(5): 1342-52.
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
RESEARCh INTERESTS
Microbial systems biology; drug/gene interaction networks and the development of new antimicrobials, the development of genome-wide next generation sequencing strategies to link genotypes to phenotypes, the engineering of bacteria with new traits and novel applicability
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 van Opijnen, T.; lazinski, D.; Camilli, A. (2015). Tn-seq, a high throughput massively parallel sequencing method for determining genome-wide fitness and genetic interactions in microorganisms.
Current Protocols in Microbiology , 36: 1E.3.1-
1E.3.24. PMID: 25641100
 Carter, R.; *Wolf, J.; *van Opijnen, T.; Muller, M.; Obert, C.;
Burnham, C.; Mann, B.; li, Y., hayden, R.T.; Pestina, T.;
Persons, D.; Camilli, A.; Flynn, P.M.; Tuomanen, E.I.; Rosch,
J.W. (2014). Genomic analysis of pneumococci from children with sickle cell disease reveals disease-specific bacterial adaptations and deficits in current clinical interventions.
Cell Host &
Microbe, 15(5): 587-99. PMID: 24832453
 van Opijnen, T. and Camilli, A. (2013). Transposon insertion sequencing: a new tool for systems-level analysis of microorganisms.
Nature Reviews Microbiology, 11(7): 435-42. PMID:
23712350
Professor
Ph.D., McGill University
RESEARCh INTERESTS
Central nervous system macrophages, neuroAIDS,
AIDS pathogenesis, monocyte/macrophage biology
SElECTED PUBlICATIONS
 Fitch, K.V.; Srinivasa, S.; Abbara, S.; Burdo, T.h.; Williams,
K.C.; Eneh, P.; lo, J.; Grinspoon, S.K. (2013). Noncalcified coronary atherosclerotic plaque and immune activation in hIVinfected women.
Journal of Infectious Diseases, 208(11): 1737-46.
 Burdo, T.h.; lackner, A.; Williams, K.C. (2013). Monocyte/ macrophages and their role in hIV neuropathogenesis.
Immunological Reviews, 254(1): 102-13.
 Burdo, T.h.; Weiffenbach, A.; Woods, S.P.; letendre, S; Ellis,
R.J.; Williams, K.C. (2013). Elevated sCD163 is a marker of neuro-cognitive impairment in hIV infection.
AIDS, 27(9):
1387-95.
Virus Infections and Cell Transport
Cancer/Metabolic Disease
Advanced Lab in Cell Imaging
Biology of the Nucleus
Advanced Genetics
Graduate Biochemistry
Literature for Neurological Diseases
Topics in Biomechanics
Antibiotics and Resistance
Viruses and Evolutionary Theory
Recombinant DNA Technology
Immunity and Infectious Disease
Viruses, Genes and Evolution
Literature for Neurological Diseases
Genomics and Personalized Medicine
DNA Viruses and Cancer
Graduate Molecular Biology
Advanced Cell Biology
Scientific Proposal Writing
Cytoskeleton and Disease
Synthetic Biology
Environmental Disruptors of Development
Biomolecules
Cancer/Metabolic Disease
Advanced Lab in Cell Imaging
Topics in Microbial Pathogenesis
Moroianu
Seyfried
Judson
Annunziato
Cam
Folker
Kirschner
Kenaley van Opijnen
Johnson/Henzy
Hoffman
Williams
Johnson
Kirschner
Connolly/Chiles
Moroianu
Annunziato
Lowery
Meyer
Folker
Meyer
Hake
Clote
Seyfried
Judson
Gubbels
Megan Farrell, “Deciphering the
Role of Kinetochores and Microtubules during Interphase and
Mitosis in Toxoplasma Gondii”
Brian Thomas Nowlin, “An Investigation of Changes in Monocyte
Gene Expression and CNS
Macrophage Recruitment Associated with the Development of
SIV Encephalitis”
Adam Jenkins, “Analysis of
Anopheline Mosquito
Behavior and Identification of Vector Control Targets in the Post-Genomic Era”
Chase Miller, “Towards a Web-
Based , Big Data , Genomics
Ecosystem”
Kathleen Moorhouse, “Investigations in Early Polarity in the Sea
Urchin Embryo”
Veniamin Slavitskiy, “Studies of the Nuclear Localization Signal and Pathway of E2 Protein of
High Risk HPV 16”
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T he oldest and largest of the University’s eight schools and colleges, the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences offers graduate programs in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, leading to the degrees of Doctor of
Philosophy, Master of Arts and Master of Science.
In addition, numerous dual-degree options are offered in cooperation with the Carroll School of
Management, the Boston College law School, the lynch School of Education and the Graduate
School of Social Work.
With approximately 1,000 students and 400 fulltime faculty, the Graduate School is small enough to know you as a person, but large enough to serve you and prepare you for a rewarding life and satisfying career.
Our department, in higgins hall, is well-equipped for modern molecular, genomic and proteomic research, biochemistry, imaging and bioinformatics.
Departmental genomics and proteomics infrastructure includes two new Illumina sequencers capable of sequencing over half a billion DNA molecules per day,
DNA/RNA and protein quantification instruments, several qRT-PCR systems, 2D gel proteomic analysis, a multi-color analytical FACS and FACS cell sorter. Additionally, we possess state-of-the-art cell culture and animal facilities, a liquid handling robot, a Microplate fluorescence reader with robotic stacker, a 3-D printer, various imaging capabilities, including a Typhoon FlA9500 laser scanner, and protein purification systems, including hPlC, FPlC and preparative isoelectric focusing.
Our imaging facilities include a leica confocal microscope, a Phillips transmission electron microscope, departmental and individual laboratory Zeiss and Nikon fluorescence and Nomarski compound microscopes,
Molecular Dynamics phosphoimager and densitometer workstations and X-ray diffraction capability. Our digital graphics and image processing facility includes numerous Macintosh workstations with multiprocessor
CPU configurations, coupled with high-resolution scanners. A large-format poster printer and dye sublimation printers support preparation of high-quality posters and print communications.
The departmental bioinformatics computing platform consists of a 132 CPU-core cluster. It is available free of charge to faculty, graduate students and other researchers. Additionally, faculty, students and staff have access to the University central computing cluster, and individual laboratories may have their own dedicated computing systems.
BOSTON AREA CONSORTIUM
The Boston Area Consortium allows graduate students to cross-register for courses at Boston University,
Brandeis University and Tufts University.
BOSTON COLLEGE LIBRARIES
The University is home to eight libraries, containing
2.87 million volumes; more than 700 manuscript collections, including music, photos, art and artifacts;
440,000 e-books; and more than 600 electronic databases. O’Neill library, Boston College’s main library, offers subject-specialist librarians to help with research, to set up alerts to publications in areas of interest and to answer any research- and library-related questions.
THE BOSTON LIBRARy CONSORTIUM
The Boston library Consortium allows Boston College students access to millions of volumes and other services at 19 area institutions in addition to the worldclass resources available through the Boston College library System.

B oston College is located on the edge of one of the world’s most vibrant cities. Just six miles from downtown Boston—an exciting and dynamic place to live and learn—Boston College is an easy car or “T” ride away from a booming center for trade, finance, research and education.
home to some of New England’s most prestigious cultural landmarks, including the
Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart
Gardner Museum, Boston Symphony hall and the Freedom Trail, Boston provides a rich environment for those passionate about art, music and history. For sports fans, Boston hosts a number of the country’s greatest sports teams: the Celtics, Patriots, Bruins and, of course, Fenway Park’s beloved Red Sox. Found within a short drive from Boston are some of
New England’s best recreational sites, from the excellent skiing in New hampshire to the pristine beaches of Cape Cod.
Boston also offers a wide range of family-friendly attractions, including the Children’s Museum,
New England Aquarium, Franklin Park Zoo and the Museum of Science. There are roughly
50 universities located in the Boston area, and the large student population adds to the city’s intellectually rich and diverse community. Events, lectures and reading groups hosted by worldrenowned scholars abound on area campuses, providing abundant opportunities to meet and network with other graduate students and faculty throughout the Boston area.
Boston College is a Jesuit university with more than
14,000 students, 758 full-time faculty and more than
165,000 active alumni. Since its founding in 1863, the
University has known extraordinary growth and change.
From its beginnings as a small Jesuit college intended to provide higher education for Boston’s largely immigrant Catholic population, Boston College has grown into a national institution of higher learning that is consistently ranked among the top universities in the nation: Boston College is ranked 31st among national universities by U.S. News & World Report.
Today, Boston College attracts scholars from all 50 states and over 80 countries, and confers more than 4,000 degrees annually in more than 50 fields through its eight schools and colleges. Its faculty members are committed to both teaching and research and have set new marks for research grants in each of the last 10 years. The
University is committed to academic excellence. As part of its most recent strategic plan, Boston College is in the process of adding 100 new faculty positions, expanding faculty and graduate research, increasing student financial aid and widening opportunities in key undergraduate and graduate programs.
The University is comprised of the following colleges and schools: Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences,
Carroll School of Management, Connell School of
Nursing, lynch School of Education, Woods College of Advancing Studies, Boston College law School,
Graduate School of Social Work and School of Theology and Ministry.
HOUSING
While on-campus housing is not available for graduate students, most choose to live in nearby apartments.
The Office of Residential life maintains an extensive database with available rental listings, roommates and helpful local real estate agents. The best time to look for fall semester housing is June through the end of August.
For spring semester housing, the best time to look is late November through the beginning of the second semester. Additionally, some graduate students may live on campus as resident assistants. Interested students should contact the Office of Residential life.
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JOHN COURTNEy MURRAy, S.J., GRADUATE
STUDENT CENTER
One of only a handful of graduate student centers around the country, the Murray Graduate Student Center is dedicated to the support and enrichment of graduate student life at Boston College. Its primary purpose is to build a sense of community among the entire graduate student population and cultivate a sense of belonging to the University as a whole. Its amenities include study rooms, a computer lab, two smart televisions, kitchen, deck and patio space, complimentary coffee and tea, and more. Throughout the year, the center hosts programs organized by the Office of Graduate Student life and graduate student groups. The Murray Graduate Student
Center also maintains an active job board (available electronically), listing academic and non-academic opportunities for employment both on and off campus.
MCMULLEN MUSEUM OF ART
Serving as a dynamic educational resource for the national and international community, the McMullen
Museum of Art showcases interdisciplinary exhibitions that ask innovative questions and break new ground in the display and scholarship of the works on view. The
McMullen regularly offers exhibition-related programs, including musical and theatrical performances, films, gallery talks, symposia, lectures, readings and receptions that draw students, faculty, alumni and friends together for stimulating dialogue. located on the main campus, the McMullen Museum is free to all visitors.
CONNORS FAMILy LEARNING CENTER
Working closely with the Graduate School, the Connors
Family learning Center sponsors seminars, workshops and discussions for graduate teaching assistants and teaching fellows on strategies for improving teaching effectiveness and student learning. Each fall, the learning
Center and the Graduate School hold a one-and-a-half day “Fall Teaching Orientation” workshop designed to help students prepare for teaching. The center also hosts ongoing seminars on college teaching, higher learning and academic life; assists graduate students in developing teaching portfolios; and provides class visits and teaching consultations, upon request. Through these and other activities, the Connors Family learning Center plays an important role in enhancing the quality of academic life at Boston College.
FLyNN RECREATION COMPLEx
The 144,000-square-foot Flynn Recreation Complex houses a running track; tennis, basketball, volleyball, squash and racquetball courts; an aquatics center with pool and dive well; saunas and more. Its 10,000-squarefoot Fitness Center offers over 100 pieces of cardio equipment, a full complement of strength training equipment and free weights, an air-conditioned spin studio and three air-conditioned group fitness studios.
During the academic year, BC Rec holds more than 80 group fitness classes per week in a variety of disciplines, including Zumba, spin, yoga, strength training, Pilates and more.
BOSTON COLLEGE CAREER CENTER
The Boston College Career Center works with graduate students at each step of their career development.
Services include self-assessment, career counseling, various career development workshops, resume and cover letter critiques, and practice interviews. In addition to extensive workshop offerings, Career Center staff members are available throughout the year for one-on-one advising about any aspect of the career path. The Career
Resource library offers a wealth of resources, including books, periodicals and online databases.

The application deadline for fall admission is January 2.
Please visit bc.edu/gsas for detailed information on how to apply.
 Application Form: Submitted online, via the GSAS website.

Application Fee: $75, non-refundable.
 Abstract of Courses A concise overview of background
Form: and related courses completed in an intended field or proposed area of study.

Official Transcripts: Demonstrating coursework completed/degree conferral from all post-secondary institutions attended.

GRE General Test: Official score report required for all applicants.


GRE Subject Test:
Three Letters of
Recommendation:
Official score report recommended for all applicants.
From professors or supervisors.
It is highly advisable that at least one letter be from an academic source.

Statement of Purpose: A brief (1-2 page) discussion of an applicant’s preparation, motivation and goals for their proposed course of study.
 Proof of English
Proficiency:
( International only )
Official TOEFL/IELTS score reports accepted.
DEPARTMENT FUNDING
Full funding is available for qualified Ph.D. students.
Students function as either teaching assistants or research assistants and receive a stipend in exchange for their services. In addition, they receive a full-tuition scholarship for all coursework relative to their program of study.
FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID
Graduate students can apply for federal financial aid using the FAFSA. The loans that may be available to graduate students are the Federal Direct Unsubsidized
Stafford loan and Perkins loan, based on eligibility.
If additional funds are needed, student may apply for a
Grad Plus loan. For more information, see the Graduate
Financial Aid website at bc.edu/gradaid or contact the Graduate Financial Aid Office at 617-552-3300 or
800-294-0294.
OFFICE OF SPONSORED PROGRAMS
The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) assists both faculty and graduate students in finding sources of external funding for their projects and provides advice in the development of proposals. OSP maintains a reference library of publications from both the public and private sectors listing funding sources for sponsored projects.
In the recent past, graduate students have received research support from prominent agencies, corporations and organizations such as the Fulbright Commission, the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Science
Foundation, the American Political Science Association, the American Chemical Society and the American
Association of University Women.
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