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Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

  • As our understanding of the molecular basis of life increases, the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology are rapidly expanding. Our program focuses on experiential learning and project-based lab work, meaning that a major in biochemistry and molecular biology (BCMB) at Lewis & Clark is all about “doing science.” Our interdisciplinary curriculum prepares students for careers in biochemical and biomedical research, biotechnology, and genetic engineering, and is ideal for those planning to go on to graduate programs in biochemistry, genetics, or cell/molecular biology as well as medical, dental, or veterinary schools. Students who choose this challenging program develop critical thinking skills, oral and written communication skills, and a deep understanding of many of science’s most fundamental questions.


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  • No one can give you a better sense of what it’s really like to study biochemistry and molecular biology at Lewis & Clark than our current students and recent alumni.

  • <div class="flexbox"><div class="student_profile_image item"><a href="/live/profiles/8968-jackson-thein"><img src="/live/image/gid/7/width/310/height/310/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2048,1367/71356_jacksonthein.rev.1519943154.jpg" alt=""/></a></div><div class="student_profile_content item"><h4><a href="/live/profiles/8968-jackson-thein">Jackson Thein</a></h4><div class="student_profile_details"><div class="student_profile_class">BA ’18</div><div class="student_profile_hometown"><strong>Hometown:</strong> Burns, Oregon</div><div class="student_profile_extracurriculars"><strong>Extracurriculars:</strong> Pamplin Society of Fellows, New Student Orientation Leader, Pioneer Success Institute Facilitator, Student Alumni Association, Student Health Advisory Board, Club Volleyball, Committee on Admissions and Financial Aid, Student Health Advisory Board, Student Academic Affairs Board (SAAB), Pre-Health Professionals Club, Biology and Chemistry Teacher’s Assistant, Pioneer Passport to Leadership, College Honor Board</div><div class="student_profile_overseas"><strong>Overseas program:</strong> Ecuador Summer 2016</div><div class="student_profile_quote"><em><p> Professors here truly care about students beyond academics, and it makes Lewis & Clark such a special place that feels like home.</p></em></div></div></div></div>
  • <div class="flexbox"><div class="student_profile_image item"><a href="/live/profiles/9440-asia-wooten"><img src="/live/image/gid/7/width/310/height/310/crop/1/src_region/0,0,800,534/72456_asiawooten.rev.1527699840.jpg" alt=""/></a></div><div class="student_profile_content item"><h4><a href="/live/profiles/9440-asia-wooten">Asia Wooten</a></h4><div class="student_profile_details"><div class="student_profile_class">BA ’20</div><div class="student_profile_hometown"><strong>Hometown:</strong> Eugene, Oregon</div><div class="student_profile_extracurriculars"><strong>Extracurriculars:</strong> Piano performance, Chamber music</div><div class="student_profile_quote"><em><p> Now that I’ve become well aware of how to use the resources that are available to me, my grades have really demonstrated my hard work.</p></em></div></div></div></div>
  • <div class="flexbox"><div class="student_profile_image item"><a href="/live/profiles/13058-max-frisbie"><img src="/live/image/gid/186/width/310/height/310/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2133,3200/84250_MaxFrisbie.rev.1592589887.jpg" alt=""/></a></div><div class="student_profile_content item"><h4><a href="/live/profiles/13058-max-frisbie">Max Frisbie</a></h4><div class="student_profile_details"><div class="student_profile_class">BA ’22</div><div class="student_profile_hometown"><strong>Hometown:</strong> Mahtomedi, Minnesota</div><div class="student_profile_extracurriculars"><strong>Extracurriculars:</strong> College Outdoors</div><div class="student_profile_overseas"><strong>Overseas program:</strong> Australia</div><div class="student_profile_quote"><em><p> I think of the liberal arts as a setting in which there is an excellent support system aiding you as perspectives are challenged and changed. It’s exciting, difficult, and rewarding.</p></em></div></div></div></div>
  • <div class="flexbox"><div class="student_profile_image item"><a href="/live/profiles/9522-simran-handa"><img src="/live/image/gid/7/width/310/height/310/crop/1/src_region/0,0,800,534/72907_simranhanda.rev.1529096628.jpg" alt=""/></a></div><div class="student_profile_content item"><h4><a href="/live/profiles/9522-simran-handa">Simran Handa</a></h4><div class="student_profile_details"><div class="student_profile_class">BA ’19</div><div class="student_profile_hometown"><strong>Hometown:</strong> Mukilteo, Washington</div><div class="student_profile_extracurriculars"><strong>Extracurriculars:</strong> Research in Hermann Lab, LEAP Mentor with Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement (IME), Pre-Health Professions Club president, Gender Minorities in STEM president, Asian Student Union co-president, Writing Center peer tutor, SAAB tutor, lab TA for Biology, Student Alumni Association ambassador, Student Health Center assistant</div><div class="student_profile_quote"><em><p> At a liberal arts college, we have a great opportunity to take classes across many different departments and draw interdisciplinary connections; seize this chance while you can!</p></em></div></div></div></div>
  • <div class="flexbox"><div class="student_profile_image item"><a href="/live/profiles/8313-mako-gedi"><img src="/live/image/gid/7/width/310/height/310/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2048,1367/68040_makogedi.rev.1504911117.jpg" alt=""/></a></div><div class="student_profile_content item"><h4><a href="/live/profiles/8313-mako-gedi">Mako Gedi</a></h4><div class="student_profile_details"><div class="student_profile_class">BA ’17</div><div class="student_profile_hometown"><strong>Hometown:</strong> Portland, Oregon</div><div class="student_profile_extracurriculars"><strong>Extracurriculars:</strong> Neuroscience Research, Community Engagement and Leadership in Science (CELS) Program Mentor</div><div class="student_profile_quote"><em><p> Lewis & Clark has molded me into an independent thinker, ready to ask the right questions at every turn.</p></em></div></div></div></div>
  • <div class="flexbox"><div class="student_profile_image item"><a href="/live/profiles/8322-hannah-spears"><img src="/live/image/gid/7/width/310/height/310/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2048,1367/68059_hannahspears.rev.1505150806.jpg" alt=""/></a></div><div class="student_profile_content item"><h4><a href="/live/profiles/8322-hannah-spears">Hannah Spears</a></h4><div class="student_profile_details"><div class="student_profile_class">BA ’18</div><div class="student_profile_hometown"><strong>Hometown:</strong> Boulder, Colorado</div><div class="student_profile_extracurriculars"><strong>Extracurriculars:</strong> Choir, Student Leadership and Service, Pre-Health Professionals Club</div><div class="student_profile_quote"><em><p> Structural Biochemistry taught me that developing analytical thinking skills is more important than memorization.</p></em></div></div></div></div>
  • <div class="flexbox"><div class="student_profile_image item"><a href="/live/profiles/13069-luca-sax"><img src="/live/image/gid/186/width/310/height/310/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3162,3162/84268_LucaSax.rev.1593015345.jpg" alt=""/></a></div><div class="student_profile_content item"><h4><a href="/live/profiles/13069-luca-sax">Luca Sax</a></h4><div class="student_profile_details"><div class="student_profile_class">BA ’22</div><div class="student_profile_hometown"><strong>Hometown:</strong> Munich, Germany</div><div class="student_profile_extracurriculars"><strong>Extracurriculars:</strong> Lead organizer for the Queer Student Union, president of the Gender Minorities in STEM club, Student Alumni Association ambassador</div><div class="student_profile_overseas"><strong>Overseas program:</strong> Ecuador</div><div class="student_profile_quote"><em><p> For anyone who is looking to get involved with research on campus, don’t be shy! The professors are wonderful and enjoy working with students.</p></em></div></div></div></div>
  • <div class="flexbox"><div class="student_profile_image item"><a href="/live/profiles/9854-puthyda-keath"><img src="/live/image/gid/186/width/310/height/310/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2400/74167_Puthyda_Keath_.rev.1535497041.jpg" alt=""/></a></div><div class="student_profile_content item"><h4><a href="/live/profiles/9854-puthyda-keath">Puthyda Keath</a></h4><div class="student_profile_details"><div class="student_profile_class">BA ’19</div><div class="student_profile_hometown"><strong>Hometown:</strong> Banteay Meanchey, Cambodia</div><div class="student_profile_extracurriculars"><strong>Extracurriculars:</strong></div><div class="student_profile_quote"><em><p> Without the tremendous support from the L&C community, I would not be able to get such incredible hands-on experience in a professional working environment.</p></em></div></div></div></div>
  • <div class="flexbox"><div class="student_profile_image item"><a href="/live/profiles/13073-mollee-chenoweth"><img src="/live/image/gid/186/width/310/height/310/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2372,1472/84273_MolleeChenoweth.rev.1593032872.png" alt=""/></a></div><div class="student_profile_content item"><h4><a href="/live/profiles/13073-mollee-chenoweth">Mollee Chenoweth</a></h4><div class="student_profile_details"><div class="student_profile_class">BA ’22</div><div class="student_profile_hometown"><strong>Hometown:</strong> Highlands Ranch, Colorado</div><div class="student_profile_extracurriculars"><strong>Extracurriculars:</strong> Varsity Volleyball</div><div class="student_profile_quote"><em><p> All my professors have played an important role in my education, not just academically but also by offering direction and support for life outside academics.</p></em></div></div></div></div>
  • <div class="flexbox"><div class="student_profile_image item"><a href="/live/profiles/9091-talia-lichtenberg"><img src="/live/image/gid/7/width/310/height/310/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2048,1367/71527_talialichtenberg.rev.1521565355.jpg" alt=""/></a></div><div class="student_profile_content item"><h4><a href="/live/profiles/9091-talia-lichtenberg">Talia Lichtenberg</a></h4><div class="student_profile_details"><div class="student_profile_class">BA ’20</div><div class="student_profile_hometown"><strong>Hometown:</strong> West Linn, Oregon</div><div class="student_profile_extracurriculars"><strong>Extracurriculars:</strong></div><div class="student_profile_quote"><em><p> I work with a great team of students who all care about making sure that we provide a sense of community.</p></em></div></div></div></div>
  • <div class="flexbox"><div class="student_profile_image item"><a href="/live/profiles/10677-david-nhek"><img src="/live/image/gid/186/width/310/height/310/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2136/78758_CAS-0419-SPP-Nhek-005.rev.1559686953.jpg" alt=""/></a></div><div class="student_profile_content item"><h4><a href="/live/profiles/10677-david-nhek">David Nhek</a></h4><div class="student_profile_details"><div class="student_profile_class">BA ’22</div><div class="student_profile_hometown"><strong>Hometown:</strong> Columbia, Missouri</div><div class="student_profile_extracurriculars"><strong>Extracurriculars:</strong> ASU, Health Professions Club</div><div class="student_profile_quote"><em><p> The skills that I will obtain from a liberal arts education will not only apply to my specific work area but also give me a deeper understanding of the world.</p></em></div></div></div></div>
  • <div class="flexbox"><div class="student_profile_image item"><a href="/live/profiles/9521-holly-hale"><img src="/live/image/gid/7/width/310/height/310/crop/1/src_region/0,0,800,534/72906_hollyhale.rev.1529095134.jpg" alt=""/></a></div><div class="student_profile_content item"><h4><a href="/live/profiles/9521-holly-hale">Holly Hale</a></h4><div class="student_profile_details"><div class="student_profile_class">BA ’19</div><div class="student_profile_hometown"><strong>Hometown:</strong> Stevensville, Montana</div><div class="student_profile_extracurriculars"><strong>Extracurriculars:</strong> Softball, research in Greg Hermann’s lab</div><div class="student_profile_overseas"><strong>Overseas program:</strong> London, England</div><div class="student_profile_quote"><em><p> Although we may not have a specific premed program, biochemistry and molecular biology is perfect because it satisfies most of the requirements medical schools are looking for.</p></em></div></div></div></div>
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