Graduate programs for biochemistry or medicinal chemistry?

Graduate School
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<p>I’m beginning my graduate school search for programs in biochemistry or medicinal chemistry. Specifically, I would like to research cellular mechanisms for drug discovery. I am also fascinated with natural products research. Ideally, I would like to go straight from a bachelor’s degree into a Ph.D. program.</p>

<p>What are some graduate programs that range from respectable to elite that could fulfill my needs? I am not concerned with location.</p>

<p>Are there any international graduate programs that are respectable in biochemistry or medicinal chemistry? I realize that I may have to get a masters degree before entering a Ph.D. program overseas, depending on the country.</p>

<p>Thank you for any assistance!</p>

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<p>Natural products research? You mean pharmacognosy. Most large pharmacology programs will have at least a PI or two doing something in this area. You definitely want to do this work here if you can. Alternatively, if you want to be involved in the clinical side of natural products, there are a number of Naturopathic Doctor (ND) programs, including one in Arizona. Also, nutritional sciences programs will probably have some natural products research.</p>

<p>You might want to get everything in motion quickly if you hope to be in a program in fall, as most of the deadlines are Dec 1 or Dec 15. Best of luck.</p>

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<p>Luckily, I’m not looking into any graduate programs for this upcoming fall. I plan on going to graduate school in fall 2010.</p>

<p>I don’t really know what pharmacognosy is, but I meant natural products research in this sense: put a sea sponge in a blender, extract with a solvents, separate and purify, and run an analysis to see what molecules you get out of it. Then, test the molecules for a variety of purposes (anti-cancer agents, etc). </p>

<p>The interactions between cells and foreign molecules (toxins, medicines, etc.) is fascinating on a molecular level.</p>

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<p>[Pharmacognosy</a> - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacognosy]Pharmacognosy”>Pharmacognosy - Wikipedia)
You’re describing pharmacognosy</p>

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<p>Oh, I guess I am. Thanks. I’ve never heard that term before, actually.</p>

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<p>Have you taken a look at the U.S. News & World Report rankings? It might give you a place to start your research.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/487319-us-news-2009-rankings.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/487319-us-news-2009-rankings.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Good for you for starting early.</p>