Field(s) of Specialization
- Chemical Biotechnology
- Gene Biotechnology
Faculty and Administration
Dean
Peter Berg
Faculty of Mathematics and Science
Associate Dean
Melanie Pilkington
Faculty of Mathematics and Science
Core Faculty
Professors
Jeffrey Atkinson (Chemistry), Michael J. Bidochka (Biological Sciences),Travis Dudding (Chemistry), Deborah Inglis (Biological Sciences), Ping Liang (Biological Sciences), Hongbin (Tony) Yan (Chemistry)
Associate Professors
Charles Després (Biological Sciences), Costa Metallinos (Chemistry), Amir Mofidi (Engineering), Aleksandar Necakov (Biological Sciences), Paul Zelisko (Chemistry)
Assistant Professors
Alonso de Cordova (Biological Sciences), Dustin Duncan (Chemistry), Yifeng Li (Computer Science), Vaughn Mangal (Chemistry), Divya Kaur Matta (Chemistry), Ian Patterson (Biological Sciences), James Willwerth (Biological Sciences)
Participating Graduate Faculty
Professors
Fiona F. Hunter (Biological Sciences), A. Joffre Mercier (Biological Sciences), Art van der Est (Chemistry)
Professors Emeriti
Robert L. Carlone (Biological Sciences), Alan Castle (Biological Sciences), Vincenzo De Luca (Biological Sciences)
Graduate Program Director
Jeff Stuart
jstuart@brocku.ca
Director, Centre for Biotechnology
Travis Dudding
tdudding@brocku.ca
Graduate Administrative Coordinator
Elena Genkin
905-688-5550, extension 3115
Mackenzie Chown D473
fmsgradoffice@brocku.ca
Program Description
The graduate programs offered by the Centre for Biotechnology encompass the broad fields of chemical and gene biotechnology. These fields are interdisciplinary in nature and collaboration between participating faculty and departments is encouraged. Chemical Biotechnology involves the use of the tools and techniques of chemistry to understand and manipulate biological processes. Gene biotechnology involves the use of DNA technology, bioinformatics and microbiological techniques to study biological phenomena. Graduates of these programs work in such areas as pharmaceuticals and related human health activities, food science and nutritional biochemistry, environment, energy, as well as biotechnological related issues of finance and policy.
Research Fields
The following research fields are currently represented:
Chemical Biotechnology
Chemical Biotechnology involves the use of the tools and techniques of chemistry to understand and manipulate biological processes. The emphasis in the description of a new field such as Chemical Biotechnology, and its distinction from the existing discipline of biochemistry, lies in the utilization of the core skills and knowledge of chemistry (from synthetic, analytical and physical approaches) to address phenomena of biological interest.
The chemical biotechnologist has the capability to choose a biological problem, the chemical skills to tackle it, and an appreciation that chemistry impacts upon the biology as biology directs the chemistry in an interactive manner. This would, for example, describe an organic chemist who chooses a target molecule for synthesis because it represents a novel structure for a biologically important goal such as enzyme inhibition or receptor binding. The research is then guided by an iterative procedure of bioassay and structure activity relationships, efforts that require knowledge of the biological systems involved, including metabolism, enzyme/protein structure and function, in addition to cellular and molecular biology.
Research areas in the Chemical Biotechnology field include:
Molecular design, synthesis and fermentation technology
Theoretical, computational, synthetic and applied approaches to the design and biosynthesis of molecules used to investigate and/or modify biological systems.
- Biocatalysis: the use of whole cells and/or enzymes to effect chemical transformations. Small molecule catalysis: the design of small molecule chiral catalysts with enzyme like activities, synthetic enzymes.
- Design of key molecules/intermediates for the manipulation of biosynthesis, metabolism or signal transduction. This would include pharmacophore discovery, drug design and delivery, investigation into molecular modes of action.
Structure and dynamics of macromolecules
Physical and theoretical approaches to understanding structure and function of macromolecules with biotechnological applications.
- Structural characterization by mass spectrometry, NMR, EPR, specialized RAMAN, IR and optical spectroscopic techniques.
- Spectroscopic and theoretical investigations of macromolecular dynamics. Steady state and time resolved NMR, EPR, and optical absorption and emission spectroscopy. Focus on protein and lipid dynamics, protein and lipid interactions, protein conformational changes associated with enzymatic activity, active site dynamics, redox active enzymes and mechanisms of electron transport. Photoactive enzymes and mechanisms of photochemistry. Computer-based molecular modeling techniques applied to biological molecules.
Gene Biotechnology
Gene biotechnology involves the use of DNA technology, bioinformatics and microbiological techniques to study biological phenomena. Molecular biologists, biochemists, chemists and microbiologists increasingly employ such tools to understand the basic concepts in molecular biology. The power of gene biotechnology lies in the ability of a researcher to isolate, manipulate, study, modify and reintroduce genes into organisms. Such modification is deliberate and can answer specific questions that were impossible to address only a few years ago.
Research Areas in the Gene Biotechnology field include:
Regulation of gene expression
The characterization and manipulation of genes and factors that influence gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
Genetic Engineering
Isolation, analysis, modification and re-introduction of genes into organisms with emphasis on gene expression, protein modification, and protein secretion.
Facilities
The Centre for Biotechnology uses research laboratories in the Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, and the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (Inniskillin Hall). The major equipment holdings include:
- In Biological Sciences: Greenhouse, cold rooms, incubators, centrifuges, radiation facilities and all routine equipment necessary for biochemical research and gene manipulation.
- In Chemistry: Three high field NMR spectrometers with solid probe facility, electron spin resonance, mass spectrometers with EI, FAB, electrospray, APCI, and CI ionization and GC and LC inlets, ICP analysis equipment, routine UV, IR, GC, HPLC facilities, incubator and sterile environment facilities.
- In Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute: Cold rooms, centrifuges, standard molecular biology equipment for purification, analysis and use of proteins and nucleic acids; and fermentation equipment up to the pilot plant level.
All Brock students are entitled to computer accounts at no charge. These provide for internet and E-mail access, storage space on a central Unix server, and access to the Library, its catalogue and various on-line library services and databases. Students also have access to all campus wide PC and Mac labs, and the software installed on their servers, including word processing, spread sheets, data base, graphics, statistics etc. In addition to the central resources, there are typically one or more networked PCs or Macs in each research lab and in the central instrumentation service labs. Local and networked printers are available. Most major instrumentation is also networked, permitting the movement of experimental data from lab to office. Students may also access a dedicated computer lab that provides powerful molecular modelling/semi-empirical/ab-initio software and other important scientific software.
Admission Requirements
Successful completion of an appropriate Master’s degree in Biotechnology, Biophysics, Chemistry or the Biological Sciences (composed of but not limited to Biochemistry, Biology, Genetics or Microbiology).
- Students who have successfully completed a minimum of one year in the Brock MSc Biotechnology program may apply to be transferred to the PhD program. In this event, registration in BTEC 5F90 will continue as registration in BTEC 7F99 .
- Students with exceptional research potential and unquestionably superior academic standing who hold an Honours BSc or equivalent may be admitted into the PhD program. Research potential is gauged by (i) strong undergraduate research experiences, (ii) publications, (iii) graduate scholarships, (iv) examples of the applicants scientific writing.
- Students transferring from the MSc to the PhD will normally be expected to have attained an 80% average, have completed their first seminar in BTEC 5P95 , and have achieved significant research progress as determined by their supervisory committee.
- Students entering the PhD program already possessing an MSc will have demonstrated research potential and will normally be expected to have attained an 80% average in their Master’s coursework.
- For students who are required to provide proof of English Language Proficiency, for a full listing of accepted English Language Proficiency tests, please see the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs English Language Proficiency webpage.
- The Graduate Admissions Committee will review all applications and recommend admission for a limited number of suitable candidates.
- Part-time study is not available.
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