LECTURE COURSES

Since my arrival at Boston University, I have taught two large lecture courses: CH373 (Principles of Biochemistry), CH101 (General Chemistry I). I was involved in book selection and accompanying curriculum revision for both of these courses.

CH373

Course Description:

This course provides an introduction to biochemistry, focusing on structure and function, including protein structure, enzyme mechanisms, kinetics and allostery; nucleic acids structure and function, lipids and carbohydrates; bioenergetics of glycolysis and oxidative energy metabolism; lipid and nitrogen metabolism. It is an interdisciplinary course that will require you to master a new language to describe certain familiar and not so familiar concepts from multiple disciplines.

Course Learning Goals:

At the end of the course the students will be able to:

Demonstrate fundamental understanding and working knowledge in the following areas identified by the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Macromolecular structure determines function and regulation.
Energy is required by and transformed in biological systems.
Information storage and flow are dynamic and interactive.
The role that evolution and homeostasis play in the shaping the form and function of all biological molecules and organisms.

Find and evaluate molecular level information about specific biological systems or problems that involve structure function relationship.
Communicate biochemical information visually orally and in writing.

CH101

Course Description:

This course provides an introduction to chemistry for science majors and minors who require a two-semester general chemistry course. It focuses on atoms and molecules and molecular connectivity, stoichiometry and introduction to reactions in aqueous solutions, covers infrared and mass spectrometry. Additional topics include quantum aspects of light and matter, bonding in diatomic and polyatomic molecules, as well as thermochemistry.

What we will cover:

We have designed the course as an introduction to general chemistry that integrates laboratory explorations with the development of the analytical tools necessary to understand and guide those explorations. Some particular aspects that we will emphasize are:

mathematics as a tool for the exposition and manipulation of chemical concepts
the connection between microscopic models of matter and its macroscopic properties
the connections between applications from pure and applied research and from technology to chemistry

Our goal is to share with you and involve you in our excitement for the wonder of science, to challenge you to excel, to give you a sense of empowerment about science, and to encourage you to continue study in science—and hopefully chemistry. We intend to focus especially on what are the core ideas of chemistry.

Laboratory Courses