Yousif Shamoo

In this course, undergraduates who have previously excelled in a BIOS course will develop teaching skills by leading discussion sections or serving as writing mentors under the guidance of the course instructor. Repeatable for Credit.

Independent research in Rice BioSciences faculty laboratories (sections 2 and above) or other Texas Medical Center laboratories (section 1). Students must have secured a research position prior to applying for BIOS 310. Students spend at least 42 hours in the laboratory for each semester hour of credit (>9h/week for 3 credits). A minimum of 3 credit hours is needed to count toward the BS in Biosciences or to replace one required 300+ level elective lab course for the BA in Biosciences (cannot replace major concentration core labs). Requires a proposal abstract, weekly reports, and a research paper (fall/spring/summer) or a poster presentation (spring/summer for advanced students). Students wishing to perform their research in an off-campus lab must apply online (biosugresearch.rice.edu) at least 3 weeks prior to the start of classes and may not register for fewer than 3 credit hours. Students taking BIOS 310 in the full summer semester must be available to do full-time research for a minimum of 6 weeks or part-time equivalent which should equal to a total of 126 hours working in the lab. It is recommended that summer students spread their hours over 8-10 weeks. Recommended Prerequisite(s): Students are strongly advised to secure research advisors and register for the class well in advance of the start of classes. Recommended Prerequisite(s): Students are strongly advised to secure research advisors and register for the class well in advance of the start of classes. Repeatable for Credit.

BIOS 353 is a one-semester course that surveys a representative group of bacterial and viral infectious diseases and the medical countermeasures used to defeat them or in some cases just keep them in check. The course begins with a brief history of how infectious diseases have shaped human history and progresses to present day challenges including emerging pathogens both natural and man-made. We will do deep dives of several important pandemic diseases to understand their epidemiological contexts, pathogenesis and disease states. We will then examine how vaccines, antiviral and antimicrobial strategies work to protect human health at the molecular level. Importantly, we will then examine how molecular evolution provides adaptation to various biomedical interventions and why the fight against infectious diseases cannot be easily won. Prerequisite BIOS 301 (may be taken concurrently) Cross-list: BIOS 553.

The Biosciences Honors Research Program offers our seniors and advanced juniors the opportunity to perform a two-semester, individual research project in a research laboratory in Biosciences or an approved off-campus site and offers opportunities for students to develop their written and oral scientific communication skills. Students registering for BIOS 401 are expected to take BIOS 402 the following semester. Each semester, students are expected to average 15 hours per week in research (laboratory) and communication skills activities (scheduled through the companion seminar co-requisite). In BIOS 401, students will prepare regular progress reports, attend lab meetings, and write an end-of-semester short paper (at least 5 pages) on their work. Must register for co-requisite BIOS 411.

BIOS 353/553 is a one-semester course that surveys a representative group of bacterial and viral infectious diseases and the medical countermeasures used to defeat them or in some cases just keep them in check. The course begins with a brief history of how infectious diseases have shaped human history and progresses to present day challenges including emerging pathogens both natural and man-made. We will do deep dives of several important pandemic diseases to understand their epidemiological contexts, pathogenesis and disease states. We will then examine how vaccines, antiviral and antimicrobial strategies work to protect human health at the molecular level. Importantly, we will then examine how molecular evolution provides adaptation to various biomedical interventions and why the fight against infectious diseases cannot be easily won. Cross-list: BIOS 353.

Discussion of individual research or current topics in particular areas. Intended for students conducting research projects in the lab of the instructor. Repeatable for Credit.

Biochemistry & Cell Biology graduate research. Repeatable for Credit.

Graduate students will conduct independent research/thesis project under the direction of their advisor. Repeatable for Credit.