Exploring the World of Biochemistry with UCLA Extension Courses
Biochemistry, the study of the chemical processes within and relating to living organisms, is a cornerstone of understanding life at the molecular level. UCLA Extension offers a range of biochemistry courses designed to cater to diverse needs, from pre-medical and pre-health students seeking a strong foundation to individuals pursuing career changes or aiming to enhance their knowledge in the sciences. These courses, often part of a rigorous post-baccalaureate certificate program, provide a pathway to mastering the intricacies of biomolecules and their roles in biological systems. The earned credits are often transferable to UC and Cal State campuses, as well as other universities nationwide, although some limitations may apply.
Introductory Biochemistry: Unveiling Life's Building Blocks
The introductory biochemistry course at UCLA Extension provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles governing the chemistry of life. Geared towards pre-medical and pre-health students, this course delves into the structure, function, and interactions of the four major classes of biomolecules: proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. Students discover how organisms harness energy from food and unravel the mysteries of DNA, exploring how genetic information powers every living cell.
This course is designed to boost your academic foundation, whether you are pursuing a career change, applying to a health/professional program, or simply enhancing your knowledge in the sciences. The earned credits in this rigorous post-baccalaureate certificate program are transferable to UC and Cal State campuses, as well as other universities nationwide (some limitations may apply).
Advanced Biochemistry: Delving Deeper into Metabolic Pathways and Molecular Mechanisms
Building upon the foundational knowledge gained in the introductory course, the advanced biochemistry course explores more complex topics such as nucleotide metabolism, DNA replication and repair, transcription machinery, regulation of transcription, RNA structure and processing, and protein synthesis and processing. This course is a continuation of the biochemistry series and is geared towards pre-medical and pre-health students. It provides a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern cellular processes and their regulation.
Another advanced course discusses the metabolism of carbohydrates, fatty acids, amino acids and lipids. Additionally, the course covers photosynthetic metabolism and assimilation of inorganic nutrients.
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Online Asynchronous Format: Learning on Your Schedule
A significant advantage of the UCLA Extension biochemistry courses is their online asynchronous format. This allows students to dive deep into the fascinating world of biochemistry from anywhere, on their own schedule. There are no set meeting times, offering flexibility for students with busy schedules. However, students follow a weekly schedule and there are deadlines to meet in terms of course requirements. This format combines the convenience of online learning with the structure needed for effective knowledge acquisition.
Expert Instruction: Learning from Experienced Biochemists
UCLA Extension biochemistry courses are designed and taught by experienced biochemists with diverse backgrounds and expertise. These instructors bring a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience to the classroom, providing students with valuable insights into the field. Some of the instructors include:
Dr. Alexandra Moyzis: Completed her undergraduate studies at Scripps College and earned her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of California, San Diego in 2020. Her doctoral research explored the role of mitochondrial proteins in the heart. She went on to conduct postdoctoral studies at the Salk Institute, where she continued to investigate mitochondria, focusing on their role in cancer immunology. Alexandra is passionate about teaching and mentoring students and enjoys engaging in discussions about biology.
Dr. Agape Awad: Received her Ph.D. and completed her Postdoctoral Fellowship work at the University of California, Los Angeles, in the field of Biochemistry, Molecular, and Structural Biology, with a research emphasis in medicine. Subsequently, Dr. Awad transitioned into the medical device industry in Cardiovascular Medical Technology at Edwards Lifesciences, the global leader in medical innovations for structural heart disease, as well as critical care, and surgical monitoring. Dr. Awad served as a Senior Scientist in the Quality division, working in biocompatibility and FDA-compliance for cardiology medical devices.
Dr. Kathryn Mengerink: Earned her PhD in marine biology from UC San Diego, where she studied the molecular mechanisms of fertilization in sea urchins. She graduated summa cum laude from Texas A&M University with a BS in Zoology. After her PhD, Dr. Mengerink obtained her JD from UC Berkeley with a specialization in environmental law. Throughout her career, Dr. Mengerink has worked at the interface of science, law and policy. Today Dr. Mengerink serves as a consultant, supporting science, law, and policy, as well as capacity-building and training. She is member of the Science Advisory Board for Citizens of the Sea, in support of the use of eDNA and other technologies by seafarers to generate ocean data and support ocean health through citizen science. From 2016 to 2025, she served as Executive Director of the Waitt Institute, leading a team of ocean experts in developing and implementing blue prosperity programs, including marine spatial planning, sustainable fisheries, and blue economy projects. From 2005 to 2016, she led the Environmental Law Institute’s Ocean Program where she developed and oversaw projects integrating law, policy and science, to improve environmental systems and decision-making. During this time, Dr. Mengerink also served as a lecturer at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and an advisor to its Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation.
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Dr. Mihai D.: He received his BSc in Chemistry from California Institute of Technology in 1989 and MA in Organic Chemistry from Harvard University in 1996. After spending a number of years in expanding his drug discovery expertise at Biogen, ARIAD Pharmaceuticals (currently Takeda Oncology), Tanabe Research Labs, Arena Pharmaceuticals and Ambit Biosciences, he spent almost 15 years at Novartis (GNF) in San Diego helping to bring to preclinical stage a number of projects for treatment of diabetes, cancer, auto-immune diseases, and cystic fibrosis. in developing technology platforms that could speed up and expand the drug-discovery process, including efforts to modulate the activity of biological targets that have been proven difficult to address. Mihai is a co-author of over 25 patents and 20 peer-reviewed articles.
Dr. Andre C. Maranhão: Ph.D. is a biochemist with training and research experience in synthetic biology, protein engineering, and directed evolution. He completed his doctoral and postdoctoral training in biochemistry with a focus on engineering biological systems, including the design and evolution of enzymes, transcriptional activators, and translation machinery. His research has emphasized the development and optimization of biomolecular tools through both rational design and selection-based approaches. In addition to academic research, he brings industry and applied research experience in biotechnology, contributing to protein development, assay design, and translational research efforts across collaborative settings. Dr. Maranhão holds a Ph.D.
Dr. Katrina Yamazaki: Received her Ph.D. in Molecular Pathology from UCSD, where she used x-ray imaging and biochemical techniques to study the mechanisms by which abnormal wall motion leads to an upregulation of inflammation in the heart. Following graduate studies, Dr. Yamazaki was awarded the Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA) Fellowship, which provided a mentored postdoctoral research experience in the field of mitochondrial biology at UCSD, as well as an opportunity to develop as an instructor through pedagogical training workshops and a mentored teaching assignment at San Diego State University.
AJ Walters: Is a bioengineer working at the nexus of synthetic biology, cell engineering, immunology, and cell therapy. In his science facing roles, he researches ways to make cell therapies more effective and accessible for deployment in regenerative medicine across a wide range of disorders. He completed a PhD in Bioengineering, jointly advised at Rice University and UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School. This gives him a unique perspective on the applications of scientific disciplines, and he hopes to bring the therapies he has helped develop to patients by starting a company. As an educator, AJ has a decade of experience teaching and mentoring others in the sciences. He spearheaded an initiative at Utah State University where he studied as a Biological Engineering undergraduate that provided exposure to principles of biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and bioengineering to 8th graders in a summer camp/classroom setting. Now in its 8th year, this initiative has inspired hundreds of youth to explore STEM.
Dr. Jake LeVieux: Is a biochemist with an enzymology, assay development, and multi-omics background. He earned his PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, studying the structure and mechanism of bacterial enzymes that degrade toxic components of crude oil. He then began working in the biotech industry at Element Biosciences, where he co-invented and developed DNA sequencing chemistry. He currently works at Element on a spatial biology platform as a Senior Scientist.
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Dr. Natalie Nady: Is currently working as a scientist at Takeda where she is responsible for target identification and validation in order to initiate a novel drug discovery program. She obtained her education from the University of Toronto and Stanford University.
Dr. Ace Santiago: Obtained his Ph.D. in Chemistry and Chemical Biology from Cornell University and a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biochemistry and Microbiology from Harvard Medical School. Dr. Santiago taught Biochemistry and General Chemistry courses during his graduate studies at Cornell. He has specialized skills in protein sciences, molecular biology, microbiology, fluorescence microscopy, genomics, and computing. His notable discoveries include 1) how transcription factor unbinding can be regulated, 2) how metal ion transporters assemble in living cells, and 3) the identification of the first protein regulator of a serine-threonine kinase in a bacterial pathogen, which gave insights into cell wall biosynthesis and antimicrobial resistance in gram-positive bacteria. Previously, Dr. Santiago worked as a Biochemist and Molecular Biologist at Siemens Healthineers and 10x Genomics, respectively, where he helped create state-of-the-art technologies for clinical diagnostic or genomics discovery applications.
Dr. Brett Barbaro: Ph,D, is a fellow at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, where he is currently working on integrating proteomics and cryo electron microscopy approaches in atomic-resolution computer models of biological systems. He has over 15 years of laboratory experience, and has published numerous articles and several book chapters. He majored in biochemistry at Harvard University, and received his Ph.D.
Dr. Kirthi Reddy: Received her Ph.D. from Stanford University, where she studied effects of chromatin modification on…
Beyond Biochemistry: Expanding Your Scientific Horizons
UCLA Extension offers a wide array of science courses beyond biochemistry, catering to diverse interests and career goals. These courses complement the biochemistry curriculum and provide a well-rounded scientific education. Here are a few examples:
- Neuroscience: This course introduces the exciting field of neuroscience.
- Biomedical Sciences: Delve into the interdisciplinary world of biomedical sciences, where the development of treatments, technologies, and innovations for public health takes center stage.
- Chemistry: A range of chemistry courses are available, including physical and general chemistry, organic chemistry, and accompanying laboratory courses. These courses provide the foundational knowledge in chemistry necessary for understanding biochemistry.
- Calculus: The calculus series covers differential and integral calculus, providing the mathematical tools needed for quantitative analysis in science.
- Wildlife Biology: This course explores the principles of wildlife biology and the methods used to study it.
- Economics: This online course covers the different applications of differential and integral calculus to characteristic problems in the public and private economic sectors.
- Clinical Medicine: This course teaches the essentials of clinical medicine including patient care, human organ systems, common disorders, and medical terminology.
- Pediatric Medicine: This course highlights key principles of pediatric medicine and its subspecialties, including relevant public health issues in maternal and child health.
- Statistics: Introductory and advanced statistics courses emphasize practical application of statistical analysis.
- Medical Terminology: This course covers principles of medical terminologies through word roots, abbreviations, and related anatomy and body systems.
- Animal Behavior: This course introduces methods and techniques of studying animal behavior.
- Physics: This is the third course in the pre-medical physics sequence.
- Bacterial Pathogens: Join us for an engaging Zoom session where we explore major bacterial pathogens, their sources, and the antibiotics commonly used to combat them.
- Dinosaur Paleontology: We've all seen dinosaur skeletons and other fossil organisms in museums, but don’t know much beyond their size.
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