Courses

New Course Spring 2026: MICRBIO 4800 – Advances in Microbial Biotechnology

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Offered in Spring 2026.
Schedule: Tues & Thurs, 12:45pm – 2:05pm
Instructor: Dr. Kou-San Ju
Prereq: MicrBio 4100; or BioChem 4511 or 5613; or PHR 3200.

Interested in biotechnology, applied microbiology, or drug discovery?

This lecture course will cover topics in applied microbial biotechnology, biocatalysis, and chemical biology. The origins of modern biotechnology, impact of microbial chemicals, and significant developments in biotechnology will be discussed.

Learn about:

  • Recombinant DNA technologies
  • Metabolic engineering & synthetic biology
  • Applied genomics
  • Applications of vaccines & antibodies
  • Industrial enzymes & biocatalysis
  • Natural product discovery & engineering
  • Advances in chemical biology

If you have questions about the course, please email Dr. Ju at ju.109@osu.edu.

Course Spotlight: Chem 5240 – Introduction to Protein Modeling

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Man protein modeling on computer

Offered in Spring 2026.
Schedule: MWF, 1:50pm – 2:45pm
Instructor: Dr. Richard Spinney
Prereqs: CHEM 2510 (Organic Chemistry I)

Students will have an opportunity to explore the theories and methods of molecular modeling and computational chemistry in CHEM 5240: Introduction to Protein Modeling.

The course allows students to get hands-on experience with computational chemistry software, using molecular mechanics, and modeling dynamic systems (molecular dynamics) as applied to large biological molecules such as proteins. The course focuses on the application of modern modeling techniques, rather than the mathematical formulation, used to solve current problems in biochemistry and pharmacology. The course runs like a workshop with extensive computer time using modern protein modeling software.

Course Spotlight: CHEM 5430 – Carbohydrate Chemistry

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Offered in Spring 2026.
Schedule: Tues & Thurs, 9:35am – 10:55am
Instructor: Dr. Christopher Callam
Prereqs: CHEM 2520 or 2620 or 2920

Course Objective:

The main objective of this course is to help students gain a better understanding of glycoscience. Participants will develop a working knowledge of the synthesis, conformation, and biological importance of carbohydrates and oligosaccharides. The course focuses on concepts and skills that advance understanding of organic chemistry when applied to carbohydrates and organic molecules. It is designed to support the development of scientific problem-solving skills and the application of organic and biochemistry principles to new situations.

Course Topics:

  • Weeks 1-3: Structure and Conformation
  • Weeks 3-6: Reactions of Carbohydrates, Protecting Group Strategies and Functional Group Interconversions
  • Weeks 6-8: Reactions at the Anomeric Center
  • Weeks 8-10: Chemical Glycoside Synthesis
  • Week 11: Spectroscopy of Carbohydrates
  • Weeks 12-14: Modern Applications, Biosynthesis Methods, Enzymatic Synthesis Methods, Biological and Chemical Applications

Evaluation and Grading:

2 midterm exams, take-home quizzes, literature reviews, and a synthesis project.

Course Spotlight: PHILOS 2650 – Intro to Philosophy of Science

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Offered in Spring 2025
Instructor: Jason DeWitt
Tues/Thurs, 9:35am–10:55am
GE: Number, Nature, Mind Theme
3 credit hours

Are you interested in science and how it works? Many foundational questions about science are addressed in philosophy. This course is an introduction to such questions and the attempts scientists and philosophers have made at answering them. What is science, and how does it differ from pseudoscience and other non-scientific forms of enquiry? How can scientists know about what they have not observed? Do the unobservable things posited by our best scientific theories really exist? How should we understand scientific explanation? Can all of science be reduced to just the laws of physics? What even is a law of physics? These are just some of the questions about the nature of science that will be covered in this course.

Time-Sensitive Opportunity for Students Interested in Health and Medicine

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The Ohio State Battelle Center has an urgent opportunity for students who want to pursue a career in health and medicine. PUBAFRS 5620: Rapid Innovation for Public Impact has openings for a couple of its teams this semester (Autumn 2023). The course will provide opportunities for students to network in these fields, grow professional skills, and add to their resume.

The Battelle Center has seen students get hired as a result of their performance in this class for both internships and full-time employment!

Undergraduate students have used this course to earn capstone credit in various departments.

The organizations and challenges are:

  1. Ohio National Guard – An opportunity to help with the holistic health of guard members including mental, physical, and nutritional by creating a holistic health web portal to give guard members access to the information and resources they need.
  2. Nationwide Children’s Hospital – The medical field has found difficulty recruiting new employees, especially in the pediatric anesthesiology field. Students will learn why this recruiting gap is happening and how to combat it.

If you are interested, reach out to Ethan Rivera at rivera.154@osu.edu ASAP for permission to add the course.

Course Spotlight: MOLGEN 4581S – BioEYES Hands-On STEM Learning

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Offered in Autumn 2023
Instructor: Dr. Sharon Amacher, trained BioEYES educator
1 credit hour

Project BioEYES is a K-12 science education program which provides classroom-based learning opportunities through the use of live zebrafish. The program is designed to foster enthusiasm for science by giving students opportunities to explore science through watching life develop firsthand.

In partnership with the Department of Molecular Genetics and Project BioEYES, MolGen 4581S gives Ohio State undergrads an opportunity to share their passion for STEM with 4th and 5th graders in Columbus schools.

Besides two class gatherings, one at the beginning and one at the end of the course, the class does not meet regularly on campus. Instead, enrolled students will choose 4 elementary school visits throughout the semester that work with their schedule.

Transportation is provided.

Additional information is available in the MOLGEN 4581S syllabus and the Frequently Asked Questions document.

OSU Clinical Trials Sciences Certificate

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The biopharmaceutical and healthcare research industries are growing at a rapid pace, yet there is a critical shortage of clinical research professionals to manage the human subjects research activities required to move new therapies through development and to patients.

The Clinical Trials Sciences certificate prepares students who have an interest in human subjects’ research regulations, study conduct, management, data coordinating and leadership with a broad foundation of knowledge and skills needed to pursue careers in clinical research.

Jobs in clinical trials study management include: clinical research assistant, clinical research coordinators, data managers, regulatory affairs officers and more.

The Clinical Trials Sciences certificate program consists of four courses with a total of 13 undergraduate credit hours, offered completely online and is designed to be able to be completed in as little as three semesters. At the completion of the program, you’ll earn an academic certificate from The Ohio State University.

Upon completion of this certificate, students will be prepared to:

  • Systematically apply understanding of regulations, bioethics, design and launch of clinical trials of investigational products.
  • Apply data and project management to support quality improvement and monitor clinical trials activities.

This certificate is available to Ohio State students seeking a bachelor’s degree in health-related sciences (including Chemistry and Biochemistry).

This program admits students every semester. There is an application deadline for each semester.

Course Spotlight: Chem 5440 – Computational Chemistry

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Offered in Autumn 2023.
Mon, Wed, & Fri: 1:50pm – 2:45pm
Dr. Richard Spinney

Chemistry 5440 is an introduction to computational chemistry, a broad set of techniques designed to accurately model small molecules, their chemical and physical properties and interactions with other molecules. Students will examine the theory behind these techniques, such as:

  • Molecular Mechanics
  • Hartree-Fock
  • Density Functional
  • Advanced correlation theories

The course focuses on the practical application of these theories. Students will solve common problems in chemistry, so minimal math is required.

CHEM 5440 is very hands on and students will gain extensive experience using modern computational software such as Spartan and Gaussian.

Prerequisites: CHEM 2520, 2620, or 2920H (Organic Chemistry II)

DOE & ACS Nuclear Chemistry UG Summer Schools 2023

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The US Department of Energy (DOE) and Division of Nuclear & Technology of the American Chemical Society (ACS) are sponsoring two intensive six-week Summer Schools in Nuclear & Radiochemistry for undergraduates. Funding is provided by the US Department of Energy.

The students receive an all-expense paid opportunity to complete a 6-week summer course (June 12, 2023 – July 21, 2023) in Nuclear Chemistry and Radiochemistry in either California at San Jose State University or New York at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Students also earn hours (tuition paid) of undergraduate chemistry credit through either San Jose State University or Stony Brook University (The State University of New York). Selected students also receive a stipend of $4,000 for the 6-week program.

Candidates should be undergraduates with an interest in nuclear science who are presently in their sophomore or junior year of study at a US college or university. They should have completed at least two years of chemistry, one year of physics, and one year of calculus.

Applications are due by February 15, 2023.

Course Spotlight: Chemistry 2990 – Introduction to Chemical Research

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Offered in Spring 2023.
Monday 3:00pm-3:55pm
Dr. Nicole Karn
1 credit hour

Chem 2990: Introduction to Chemical Research is a seminar course focusing on the development of professional skills, conducting literature searches, writing research papers, and exploring careers and research options.

  • Improve research skills
  • Hone writing skills
  • Meet chemistry faculty

Prereq: CHEM 1220, 1620, or 1920H, and English 1110