2026 Pre-College Summer Course｜UC Santa Barbara ｜Biochemistry｜Biochemistry of Life: Bridging Biology and Chemistry for Future Scientists |

• Learn the biochemistry behind digestion, energy, and metabolism.

• Interdisciplinary focus on the interface of biology and chemistry.

• Covers biological molecules, enzymes, metabolism, and energy transformation.

• Explore career opportunities in science, medicine, and biotechnology.

• Ideal for aspiring scientists and future college students.

• Expert instruction from a renowned research scholar at a top 30 world university.

• A collaborative learning experience with just 6-12 classmates for personalized attention.

• A 40-hour intensive, high-quality course packed with valuable content.

• A 15-day professional learning journey designed to challenge and inspire.

Introductions

• Introduction to Biochemistry, Careers in Science, Medicine, Biotechnology

• Brief introduction to basic biology

• Introduction to Chemistry

Bioorganic Molecules

• Carbohydrates

• Amino Acids, Peptides, Proteins

• Nucleic Acids

• Lipids

Enzymes and Catalysis

Metabolic Processes

• Glycolysis

• Metabolism of fatty acids, beta-oxidation

• Tricarbocylic Acid Cycle

Discover the fascinating interface of biology and chemistry through this immersive introduction to biochemistry. In this 3-week course, you’ll explore how nature employs organic chemistry to sustain life, delving into the chemical reactions within cells, the metabolism of food, and the processes that convert food molecules into energy.

—— You will achieve ——

❝ Understand the core principles of biochemistry, including enzymes, metabolism, and energy transformation, to excel in future college-level courses. ❞

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❝ Analyze biochemical processes, interpret experimental data, and apply interdisciplinary knowledge to solve complex scientific problems. ❞

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❝ Learn how biochemistry explains everyday phenomena like food digestion and energy production, preparing you for careers in science, medicine, or biotechnology. ❞

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❝ Get ahead in your academic journey by mastering concepts that are foundational for university studies and gaining insights into research opportunities. ❞

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❝ Explore how biochemistry bridges biology and chemistry, equipping you with skills to understand and contribute to cutting-edge scientific advancements. ❞

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❝ Receive a course completion certificate upon successful completion of the course. ❞ 

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❝ Opportunity to obtain a personalized recommendation letter from the professor. ❞

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— About Professor Armen Zakarian —

Prof. Armen Zakarian

- University of California, Santa Barbara -

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Prof. Zakarian is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), specializing in synthetic organic chemistry. He received his Doctoral Degree in Chemistry with a focus on natural products synthesis. Prof. Zakarian's research explores the development of new methodologies for asymmetric synthesis, catalysis in chemical synthesis, and the total synthesis of complex natural products. His innovative work also applies chemistry to address key biological problems, earning him numerous publications and research awards that highlight his significant contributions to the field.

| Academic Achievements |

Awards and Honors:

• Recipient of the Amgen Young Investigator Award

• Eli Lilly Grantee Award

• National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award

  As part of his NSF CAREER Award, Professor Zakarian has initiated various educational programs designed to increase awareness of the benefits of chemical research to society.

| Research Contributions |

• Development of synthetic methodologies for asymmetric synthesis

• Application of catalysis to complex synthetic challenges

• Total synthesis of natural products

• Investigating chemical approaches to biological problems

• Achieved scalable synthesis of marine toxins in the cyclic imine group, facilitating the elucidation of their toxicity mechanisms in collaboration with French researchers

• Contributed to the development of new methodologies based on enolate chemistry

  
  

—— Course Schedule ——

2026/07/01~07/17

7/1 - 4 ( Wed ~ Sat ) 9 AM - 12 PM

7/6 - 11( Mon ~ Sat ) 9 AM - 12 PM

7/13 - 17 ( Mon ~ Fri ) 9AM - 11 AM