Biochemistry
Bachelor of Science Major
At the intersection of life and matter lie the fundamental processes that manifest the living systems and material world around us. The key to understanding the mysteries of what separates health from disease and ecological sustainability from destruction? Biochemistry.
It’s not enough to simply have the technical, scientific knowledge of a biochemist. We believe that critical thinking, teamwork, and ethics are essential requirements to be a scientist. It’s why our curriculum follows the recommendations of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, which stresses the importance of ethical decision-making, collaborative teamwork, and analytical thinking in addition to scientific knowledge. This philosophy prepares you to apply your degree at work or in graduate school, as a medical doctor or a researcher.
Biochemistry is the doorway to many scientific fields, including medical practice, chemical research, environmental protection, food safety, medical research, and diagnostics. Our alumni have gone on to become physicians, join research institutes, create vaccines, found distilleries, cure diseases, and more.
Why study Biochemistry at Warren Wilson?
- Community Centered: Our courses are hands-on, community-engaged, and project-based. You’ll generate the data community partners need to understand food nutrition, for example, or that our College Farm needs to gauge soil health.
- Integrated Scientific Community: The best research takes a group of scientists with diverse skills and viewpoints. Our faculty are talented Chemists and Biologists who enjoy working together to help you hone your skills and interests.
- Research for Good: In our 3-semester Natural Science Undergraduate Research Sequence (NSURS), you’ll design research that combines your interest with a community need, small-group advising and mentoring, and presentation
Every student will complete community-engaged coursework, an internship and original research as part of their major
A Sample of Our Partnerships
- Root Cause Farm
- Bounty & Soul
- The Dr. John Wilson Community Garden
- Highland Brewing
See how Biochemistry students put our education into action
Community Engaged Course
Start using chemistry for good in your first semesters at Warren Wilson. In General Chemistry I, we partner with local Root Cause Farm to gather information about nutrient content in their kale grown under different conditions. You’ll also conduct assays for antioxidant levels and for calcium to help our community partner make important management decisions, all while keeping a keen focus on food security.
Work
You can work on any crew as a student but many Biochemistry majors choose to be on crews such as:
- Chemistry Crew
- Biochemistry Research Assistant
- Genetics Crew
Research
All of these experiences culminate in your independent research through our Natural Science Undergraduate Research Sequence (NSURS), which you’ll present to faculty, staff, and your fellow students at our annual Research Festival.
Senior Capstone
For Reid Carpenter’s senior capstone, they researched alkali-tolerant bacterial species associated with small-scale indigo fermentation dye vats. The traditional Japanese practice of dyeing textiles with indigo requires bacterial reduction of indigo precursors under highly alkaline conditions, but the details of the fermentation processes are not well characterized. Reid identified and characterized bacteria involved in indigo reduction from fluids of fermentations prepared in the lab.
Popular Courses
Organic Chemistry I
You’ll examine the structure, function, and reactivity of carbon-based compounds—and, by extension, all carbon-based life. Activities include synthesis and purification of small molecules, solving the identity of unknowns, and “adopting” a molecule of your choice to learn about and present to the rest of the class.
Biochemistry I
In this course, you’ll explore the molecular logic of living things and the life processes encountered in medicine, microbiology, plant science, and animal science. You’ll gain a detailed understanding of the structure, chemistry, function, and metabolism of the major classes of biological macromolecules. You’ll also complete an extensive study of enzyme systems in bioenergetics and metabolism.
Physical Chemistry
You’ll explore the energy changes that occur during chemical reactions and physical processes. We will solve questions such as: Will a chemical process occur? How quickly will it happen? Additional projects look at applications in biochemical processes, energy storage, and energy efficiency.
Kim Borges, Ph.D.
Research Interests
- Aquatic microbiology and public health
- Biochemistry of environmental mycobacteria and mycobacteriophages
“Warren Wilson students are the most engaged and curious students I have ever had the privilege of teaching. I feel so fortunate to work with students who challenge me to learn and grow every day.”
Langdon J. Martin, Ph.D.
Research Interests
- Reduction of methane production in ruminant livestock
- Analysis of spent craft brewer’s yeast
- Analysis of natural products
“In the classroom, I have two jobs as a professor. My first job is to confuse you. My second job is to un-confuse you: because that’s how the learning happens!”
Yuemei Zhang, Ph.D.
Research Interests
- Renewable energy
- Magnetic materials for data storage and retrieve
- Computational Chemistry
“Warren Wilson students are curious and engaging. I am inspired by their questions and enthusiasm during class discussions. I love to teach them and learn with them.”
“My current education is a dynamic blend of two critical areas: unraveling the intricate biochemical and pathophysiological mechanisms of disease and translating that knowledge into effective patient care. The solid foundation in biochemistry that I built at Warren Wilson College has made diving deep into these complex processes not just manageable but genuinely fascinating. It’s empowering to connect biochemical pathways and disease mechanisms to real-world clinical outcomes, understanding how each molecular shift can profoundly impact a patient’s health and function.”
Paddington Mbumbgwa
(he/him)
Medical Student at Loma Linda University
Major, Minor, Concentration, Crews
- Biochemistry and Mathematics Double Major
- Crews: Chemistry and Genetics
“Throughout my graduate and postdoctoral training, I’ve never hesitated to ask questions during formal and informal lectures, an act encouraged at Wilson which facilitated my academic curiosity, learning, and helped me stand out to other students and professors. Not being afraid to ask questions has always served me well, and I’ve found that oftentimes others have the same question but are too afraid to speak up.”
Austen Brooks Casey
Postdoctoral Scholar at Stanford University School of Medicine
Major, Minor, Concentration, Crews
- Biochemistry Major
- Crew: Chemistry
“While chemistry can feel abstract, the school farm, hills, and forests provided me a great living classroom that helped connect scientific theory to real-life patterns and complexities. One stand-out moment was in Dr. Kim Borges’ biochemistry class, when we partnered with the campus farm to perform an Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) to test sheep for pregnancy. This hands-on experience really cemented my passion for science and highlighted the power of interdisciplinary learning.”
Qingshu Zhao
(he/him)
Chemistry Ph.D. student at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Major, Minor, Concentration, Crews
- Double Major in Biochemistry and Mathematics
- Crews: Chemistry and IT
Matt Ransom
(he/him)
Chair of the Department of Pharmacy at Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) Asheville, NC
Major, Minor, Concentration, Crews
- Chemistry Major
- English minor
- Crews: Landscaping, Chemistry
Where Our Biochemistry Graduates Go
- ETSU Bill Gatton School of Pharmacy
- UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine
- Loma Linda University School of Medicine
- Stanford University
- University of Minnesota
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- Brandeis University
- Genova Diagnostics
