Professor
Ellen Sletten
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2026 - This class is hard and sometimes mind-numbing with a LOT of content to work through, much more than a typical undergraduate class (expect 50-100 slides per lecture, all with content you need to understand well). However, it is SO USEFUL, dare I say ESSENTIAL, for anyone who is looking toward a research career involving biology, biochemistry, or bioengineering. This course covers key chemical techniques and methodologies used throughout the research world to study, probe, and engineer biological systems. If you read any modern day papers investigating biological systems you will probably encounter at least one technology discussed in this course (and many of these concepts are not really discussed in other courses available to undergraduates at UCLA). Thus, this course is genuinely excellent for preparing you to perform high level research in a PhD, masters, in industry, whatever. The course itself involves 3 exams, and has required attendance (iClicker). The exams are difficult but you can make a substantial cheat sheet which is very helpful. Ellen Sletten is a great teacher, and although lectures can be dry, they are very informative and she is very clear in how she presents the material and what you should take away. I wouldn't say I had fun taking the class, but as a current PhD student I use this material every day and felt compelled to come back and leave this review to let everyone know how useful this class is. If you want to do bio-related research, TAKE IT!
Winter 2026 - This class is hard and sometimes mind-numbing with a LOT of content to work through, much more than a typical undergraduate class (expect 50-100 slides per lecture, all with content you need to understand well). However, it is SO USEFUL, dare I say ESSENTIAL, for anyone who is looking toward a research career involving biology, biochemistry, or bioengineering. This course covers key chemical techniques and methodologies used throughout the research world to study, probe, and engineer biological systems. If you read any modern day papers investigating biological systems you will probably encounter at least one technology discussed in this course (and many of these concepts are not really discussed in other courses available to undergraduates at UCLA). Thus, this course is genuinely excellent for preparing you to perform high level research in a PhD, masters, in industry, whatever. The course itself involves 3 exams, and has required attendance (iClicker). The exams are difficult but you can make a substantial cheat sheet which is very helpful. Ellen Sletten is a great teacher, and although lectures can be dry, they are very informative and she is very clear in how she presents the material and what you should take away. I wouldn't say I had fun taking the class, but as a current PhD student I use this material every day and felt compelled to come back and leave this review to let everyone know how useful this class is. If you want to do bio-related research, TAKE IT!
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