The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley will offer a new master degree program this fall. The Master of Science degree program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology will allow students to pursue an advanced degree that will prepare them for jobs in the biotechnology industry. This includes biomedical, pharmaceutical and agricultural biotechnology, as well as health and environmental sciences.

Dr. Parwinder Grewal is the UTRGV executive vice president for Research, Graduate Studies and New Program Development. He says the new MS is an exciting interdisciplinary graduate program.

“In addition to our current graduate programs in Biology and Chemistry, this new program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology will provide a more focused and more in depth laboratory training for students seeking to enter into medicine, health and biomedical professions, and academia,” he said.

The UTRGV College of Sciences will house the program. Faculty from the Biology and Chemistry departments will also be instrumental in the program.

University officials say the first year of the program will produce 10 majors. Growth is then projected at 10 annually thereafter.

Dr. Mohammed Farooqui, interim dean of the College of Sciences, said they expect graduate students in the new major to come from already existing chemistry, biology and health-related majors.

“The new program is highly versatile, leading to opportunities in a broad range of areas,” he said.