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GS21 1017: Foundations of Biomedical Research

GS21 1018: Foundations of Biomedical Research for Quantitative Students

Course Directors:

Wassim Chehab, PhD
[email protected]
BSRB S3.8435
Office Hours: Email Dr. Chehab to set up an appointment

Candelaria Gomez-Manzano, PhD
[email protected]
Office Hours: Email Dr. Gomez-Manzano to set up an appointment

Catherine Denicourt, PhD
[email protected]
Office Hours: Email Dr. Denicourt to set up an appointment

Biostatistics Module Instructor:

John Magnotti, PhD
[email protected]
Office Hours: Email Dr. Magnotti to set up an appointment

Michael Valladolid

[email protected]

Next Generation Sequencing Module Instructor:
Andrew Pountain, PhD
[email protected]
Office Hours: Email Dr. Pountain to set up an appointment

Regular Module TA (Weeks 1-7)

Renee Girard
[email protected]
Office Hours: Email Rene to set up an appointment

Regular Module TA (Weeks 8-14)
Anna Naglis
[email protected]
Office Hours: Email Anna to set up an appointment

Biostats Module TA (Weeks 1-14)
Thomas Mitchell
[email protected]
Office Hours: Email Thomas to set up an appointment

Next Generation Sequencing Module TA (Weeks 1-14)
Daria Reshetnikova
[email protected]

Office Hours: Email Daria to set up an appointment

Dates: August 25 - December 5, 2025

(No class on Labor Day and Thanksgiving Week)

When: Mondays (8:30 am - 10:15 am).  Except Sep 8, Sep 29, Oct 20, Nov 10, Dec 1  (8:30 am - 11:15 am)
Tuesdays, Wednesdays (8:30 am - 11:00 am)

Thursdays (8:30 am - 9:45 am) 

and Fridays (8:30 am - 11:30 am) [ Quiz is from 11:00 am - 11:30 am)

Where: The Regular and Applied Next Generation Sequencing Modules will be held in the Large Classroom at BSRB

The Biostats Module will be held Via Zoom. (Zoom link information is provided on the Canvas Core Course Website).

Grades: A-F (GS21 1017) or P/F (GS21 1018)

DATE  WEEK TOPIC TOPIC LEADER
Aug 25 - Aug 29 Week 1 How Did We Get Here: A Brief History of Biomedical Science Lorenz
Sept 2 - 5 Week 2 Genetics Kapoor
Sept 8 - 12 Week 3 DNA Structure, Chromatin, epigenetics, transcription Bartholomew
Sept 15- 19 Week 4 Cell Cycle, DNA Replication, DNA Damage and Repair Machinery Cole
Sept 22 - 26 Week 5 RNA and the Transcriptome Denicourt & Lee
Sept 29 - Oct 3 Week 6 Birth and Destruction of Proteins Denicourt
Oct 6 - 10 Week 7 Cell Biology Kim & Moore
Oct 13 - 17 Week 8 Cytoskeletal Dynamics and Cell Motility Eisenhoffer
Oct 20 - 24 Week 9 Extracellular and Intracellular Signaling Cunha
Oct 27 - Oct 31 Week 10 Developmental Biology Behringer & Miller
Nov 3 - 7 Week 11 Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Drug Resistance Lorenz
Nov 10 - 14 Week 12 Introduction to Quantitative Sciences Hart
Nov 17 - Nov 21 Week 13 Immune cells, functions and therapies Reuben
Nov 24 - Nov 28 Thanksgiving No core course classes this week N/A
Dec 1 - 5 Week 14 Neuroscience Venkatachalam

Core Course FAQs

  • My primary interests are in biostatistics (or another quantitative area of biology) can I take the core course Pass/Fail?

    If you are committed to a quantitative or computational degree track and will complete extensive coursework in these areas, you may register for GS21 1018 - Foundations of Biomedical Research for Quantitative Students. You must obtain permission from the Office of Academic Affairs. These students will attend all class sessions as those students enrolled in GS21 1017 but are NOT expected to participate in quizzes, breakout sessions, neither in the biostats or applied next generation sequencing modules. Students registering for the GS21 1018 will be graded Pass/Fail based only on class attendance.

  • Is Ethics included in the Core Course?
    • The GSBS Course Ethical Dimensions of Biomedical Science will directly follow the core course on Thursdays.
    • This is a stand-alone course and it is not integrated into the core course. You must register for it separately from the core course.
    • All first year students are expected to enroll in the Ethics course.
    • Other interested students/trainees may also enroll in the Ethics course.
  • How will students be evaluated?
    • The Core Course will have weekly quizzes related to the main module.
    • The students will have a biostats and another applied next generation sequencing graded assignments each week.
    • All students are expected to ask at least one question or make a substantive comment each week. This will be recorded by the TA.
    • Breakout session participation and assignments will also contribute to each student’s overall grade.
    • Final Grades will be based on:
      • Attendance/Participation 20%
      • Weekly Biostats homework 15%
      • Weekly Applied Next Generation Sequencing homework 15%
      • Weekly main module quizzes 50%
  • Course Learning Aids

    All students will be required to have a laptop for class.

  • Will students have an opportunity to evaluate the course?
    • Yes, students will have the opportunity to evaluate the course each week through a free-text link. They can share their views about specific week's content, instructors, and the overall course. 
    • Feedback will be reviewed by Course Directors, Core Course Faculty, and the GSBS Curriculum Committee to improve the course.
    • Student input is crucial for the course's success and refinement.
  • Who are the Course Directors?

    Course Directors:

    Dr. Wassim Chehab ([email protected]), Dr. CandelariaGomez-Manzano ([email protected]), and Dr. Catherine Denicourt ([email protected])

    • Will attend class sessions.
    • Will provide feedback to lecturers/instructors.
    • Will hold office hours to assist students.
    • Will identify and counsel students who are having difficulty in the class.
    • Will review weekly evaluations.
    • Will answer any questions students have about the Core Course.

  • Who is required to take the core course?

    Most first year PhD students are required to take the course. See Dr. Chehab in the Office of Academic Affairs if you have questions.

  • I am not a first year PhD student, can I take the core course?

    The course is also open to first year MS students. See Dr. Chehab in the Office of Academic Affairs if you have questions.

  • How is the course organized?

    The course is divided into 14 one-week units each covering a separate broad topic area (e.g., Cell Biology, Genetics).

    • Each week will be led by a Topic Leader (a GSBS faculty member) who has organized a team of expert faculty to participate in teaching.
    • Each week will consist of daily lectures and breakout sessions.
    • The lectures will be concept-driven, focused on the big questions in the field, cutting edge findings/approaches, case studies, and clinical applications.
    • The course will also include a weekly biostats module and an applied next generation sequencing module.
    • Students will also participate in five Being a Resilient Scientist series sessions, which are designed to foster personal and professional resilience, self-awareness, and strategies for success in scientific training and careers.
  • What are Breakout sessions?
    • Breakout sessions will consist of a variety of individual and team exercises and hands-on workshops that will complement the lectures and the week’s overall topic.
    • The breakout sessions are designed to develop skills that you will need to succeed as a scientist (critical thinking, hypothesis development and testing, presentation skills, and teamwork). These sessions will also expose students to powerful scientific methods and software tools.
    • In most breakout sessions, the class will be divided into small groups.
    • The sessions will take different forms, for example:
      • Hypothesis building - based on ideas from lecture or literature
      • Critical analysis of experimental design
      • Student presentations
      • Problem solving
      • Software workshops
    • The groups will be led by the students themselves with oversight from faculty, TAs, and course volunteers. The Course Directors and TAs will also be available to “float” between groups to facilitate discussions.
    • Students will be graded on individual participation and as teams where appropriate (presentations, projects, etc.).
  • Where can I find course materials?
    • All course material and assignments will be on Canvas. All enrolled students will be provided access to the Canvas Core Course. Please contact Dr. Chehab if you have problems accessing Canvas.
    • The Canvas site will provide the overall course syllabus, weekly schedules, and content.
  • Are Biostatistics and Bioinformatics included in the course?
    • The core course will include a biostats module and an applied next generation sequencing module.
    • The biostats module will be taught every Thursday by Dr. John Magnotti.
    • The applied next generation sequencing module will be taught every Tuesday by Dr. Andrew Pountain.
    • There will be a graded weekly take home assignment for both of these modules.