Education
Graduate Courses @ University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
“Molecular Dynamics” (BCB 750 / BCBP 750)
The course is designed to introduce the most important concepts, methods, and software programs used in Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. Topics include, but are not limited to, computational models, force fields, simulation algorithms, enhanced sampling, protein folding, ligand binding, protein-protein/nucleic acid interactions, drug design, QM/MM, photobiology, and machine learning. The goal is to help the students to rapidly learn MD as a powerful computational technique and use it to solve relevant problems in their own research.
Dr. Miao teaches “Introduction to Molecular Dynamics”, “Enhanced Sampling”, “Deep Learning for simulations and analysis”, “Molecular dynamics examples and drug design” and “Programming in molecular dynamics” in the BCB 750 / BCBP 750 course.
“Introduction to Molecular Pharmacology” (PHCO 701)
This is a graduate-level first year course outlining the basics of molecular pharmacology, including molecular biology, bioinformatics, drug/receptor interactions, receptor and ion channels, regulation of second messengers, drug metabolism and system pharmacology.
The objectives of this course are to provide graduate students in biomedical research programs familiarity with the molecular principles of pharmacology involved in the design and action of drugs. Students will increase critical thinking skills in the context of the specific topics listed in the syllabus, which includes molecular biology underlying drug development, key druggable pathways and the interactions between drugs and human body. By the end of this course students should be familiar with molecular principles of drug development including knowledge of gene expression pathways related to drugs, key druggable targets and the interaction between drugs and their receptors. Students should have working knowledge sufficient to apply those principles to new research topics and to propose appropriate strategies to solve relevant research questions.
Dr. Miao teaches “Molecular Dynamics and Drug Discovery” in the PHCO 701 course.
“Seminar in Recent Advances in Pharmacology” (PHCO 730, Spring 2024)
This course has been designed to help cultivate a variety of essential skills required to become successful in your scientific career. It is in part a journal club and a writing class. It is designed to provide preparation for the doctoral oral exam. This preparation includes learning to evaluate research designs and pharmacology literature.
Undergraduate Courses @ University of Kansas
“Introduction to Biochemistry” (BIOL 600)
This course is designed to offer the essentials of the chemistry of the constituents of living organisms and the changes these constituents undergo (during life processes) in the human body and other living forms. Dr. Miao teaches Protein Structures, Techniques & Methods in Biochemistry, Enzymes, Enzyme Kinetics, Enzyme Inhibitors, Carbohydrates, Lipids, Signal Transduction, Glycolysis, Introduction to Metabolism, etc.
Graduate Courses @ University of Kansas
“Computational Biology Core Course I” (BINF 701/BIOL 952)
BINF 701/ BIOL952 is the Computational Biology core course developed at the KU Center for Computational Biology. The course is designed to introduce the most important and basic concepts, methods, and tools used in computational biology and molecular modeling. Topics include (but are not limited to) biophysics, bioinformatics databases, sequence and structure alignment, protein structure prediction, protein folding, protein-protein interaction, computer aided drug design, and machine learning. Emphasis will be put on the understanding and utilization of these concepts and algorithms. BIOL952 students will not be required to complete programming assignments. We also discuss in detail the application of these algorithms to interesting problems in evolution, macromolecular self-assembly, and drug design. Hands-on laboratory sessions will introduce students to the practical use of databases and structural modeling software. The objective is to help the students to rapidly reach the frontier of computational biology and be able to use the computational tools to solve problems in their own research.
Dr. Miao teaches “Molecular Dynamics” and “Computer-Aided Drug Design” in the BINF701 / BIOL 952 course.
“Computational Biology Core Course II” (BINF 702)
BINF 702 is the second Computational Biology core course developed at the KU Center for Computational Biology. The course is designed to introduce the most important and basic concepts, methods, and tools used in computational biology and molecular modeling. Topics include (but are not limited to) biophysics, bioinformatics databases, sequence and structure alignment, protein structure prediction, protein folding, protein-protein interaction, computer aided drug design, and machine learning. Emphasis will be put on the understanding and utilization of these concepts and algorithms. We also discuss in detail the application of these algorithms to interesting problems in macromolecular self-assembly and dynamical systems biology. The objective is to help the students to rapidly reach the frontier of computational biology and be able to use the computational tools to solve problems in their own research.
Dr. Miao teaches “Advanced Molecular Dynamics” and “Computer-Aided Drug Design” in the BINF702 course.
“Chemistry of Drug Action-I” (MDCM 710)
This course provides an overview of physiological mechanisms and disease processes as well as the basic principles of contemporary drug design. Modulation of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion; drug-like properties; conformational constraint; structure-based drug design; library generation; HTS hit optimization, prodrugs; bioisosteres; Kcat inhibitors; active site directed reversible and irreversible inhibitors; quantitative SAR; molecular dissection; rigid analogs; pharmacophores; etc., will be treated. Dr. Miao teaches “Introduction to Molecular Modeling” in the MDCM 710 course.