New school will combine current programs into one major, offering students ‘more options and fluidity’This fall, UVic’s Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology (BCMB) will become the School of Molecular Life Sciences (MLSC), combining their current two undergraduate programs in biochemistry and microbiology into one molecular life sciences major. The current master’s and PhD programs in Biochemistry and Microbiology will remain unchanged, and MLSC will retain BCMB’s honours, combined major, and co-op programs. MLSC majors can specialize in biochemistry or microbiology, where their transcripts will say either “Option in Biochemistry” or “Option in Microbiology.” Waugh’s own research combines microbiology with disciplines like molecular biology, immunology, biochemistry, and bioinformatics. Waugh, having finished her PhD in microbiology, will soon begin a post-doctoral fellowship at UBC’s Life Sciences Institute.