He was my bio lab director and he was so so great!! His videos were informative, interesting, and he explains things so well. He was really understanding when I had issues because of the online setup too

Came into this class scared. But man, Dr. Mal revamped the entire course and it is now no longer the hardest the MCB class at UConn. It's his first time teaching so there's still things to get used to but overall, he did an awesome job so far! The quizzes weren't as hard as the previous students told me to be. Do the extra credit surveys!

Professor Malinoski made it so much more approachable. It is 10 quizzes over the course of the whole semester and lab. If you just sit and listen during lecture, and review the slides before, you will do well on the quizzes. His teaching style makes you actually learn biochem instead of it memorizing the information and forgetting soon after.

Really nothing to complain about to be honest. You can do really well if you put in the time. The 10 quizzes are actually really nice because having less material on the exams makes it a lot easier to study. Love that he posts lecture recordings and the textbook is a great resource. He also just seems like a really nice guy 10/10 would recommend!

revamped the whole MCB2000 curriculum. Offered extra credit for multiple quizzes. Was very clear about the material on them and wasn't going to record lectures until people asked him which is a big + for being a (new) professor. no surprises on the quizzes but you did have to know the material well. overall pretty nice guy

Great professor! I was super scared about the course because I heard all the bad things about it, however, he was the new professor and he is amazing. It's changed to 10 quizzes, with the two lowest dropped, and he offers extra credit! His lectures are great, and really actually help with the quizzes! Highly recommend taking it with him!

Honestly an awesome professor. Really passionate about biochemistry, and the 10-quiz structure is awesome, especially since he drops the two lowest. There is a textbook, but I didn't end up using it much, and instead just took detailed lecture notes. Biochemistry is still really content heavy, but Dr. Mal makes the class actually manageable.

Probably the best professor for biochem ever. He really tries to be engaging during lecture and wants all of his students to succeed. Biochem is notorious for being a hard class and he made the class so much easier than it has been in the past. Definitely will need to study hard for quizzes, biochem isnt easy.

Dr. Malinoski is a really caring, fair professor. The class is structured in a way that your two lowest quiz grades are dropped, and none of the quizzes are cumulative. His lectures include everything that you need to know for the quizzes. Biochem is very difficult and you will need to study a lot, but he is very accommodating and it is doable.

Dr. Malinoski is truly a caring professor compared to professors in years passed. Two lowest quizzes of 10 are dropped. No cumulative final. Lectures and textbook included everything on the quizzes. Attending class is a must as biochemistry is difficult!! Lab is alot of work, but doable. Make sure to dedicate your time and effort in this class.

Dr. Malinoski really changed this class for the better and cares about his students. I was very nervous coming into biochem, but he made it much more doable. It is still a hard subject, but he wants everyone to succeed. Make sure to attend all the lectures and study hard for the quizzes. Lab is a lot of work but an easy grade boost.

very difficult course! study for at least a couple hours a day to be prepared for the quizzes. drops 2 of the 10. they are lockdown, can take at home or in class. very understanding prof! lab sucks, do the lab reports early and get help from the TAs bc it boosts your grade. prepare for the lab quizzes by knowing all of the lab specifics early!

he was really nice and understanding. he made the class doable and easy to follow! liked his testing

Coming into biochem, I was terrified. But it ended up being one of my favorite classes. Dr. Mal made this class great, especially with the 10-quiz structure. He lectured extremely well, and never tried to trick you. Really enjoyed this class, and recommend taking it with him!

Professor Mal is the best professor I have had across my first four semesters at uconn. His lectures are incredibly interesting, and he makes a seriously effort to make all of his content apply strongly to the real world. The lecture component of the course was graded by 10 smaller quizzes, which made the course load much more manageable.

Professor Mal is a really fair professor who cares about his students success. Course graded based on 10 quizzes with one dropped quiz and extra credit was given boosting your grade massively. Lecture content was straightforward and not too much to memorize so very doable. Curved the class at the end. Sweet guy, take biochem with him!!!

Dr. Mal is single-handedly one of the best and most fair professors you will have at Uconn. You can tell by the way he teaches the material that he knows his stuff. Almost no complaints about this class generally. The only complaint is that this semester we did switch professors in the middle of the semester and that depleted my quiz average.

Biochem is a very difficult subject, but Dr. Mal makes it not too difficult. Your grade is based off of ten (very difficult) quizzes as opposed to exams, which I found great. This class is a war, but Dr. Mal's lectures and quizzes made it more manageable. Beware lab, though: lab report every week!

A notoriously difficult class made a bit easier thanks to Dr.Mal lectures and 11 quiz grading system. You can get 2.5% extra credit doing achieve quizzes and he drops 1 quiz. Lab is very content heavy; you'll be writing lab reports almost every week. However, lab is much easier than lecture, so its 25% contribution to your grade will be helpful.

One of the oddest professors I've encountered in STEM @ UConn, and I loved it. He's highly approachable and gives fantastic feedback. I worked with him during office hours to change my study strategy/habits. My grade went from a 65 quiz average to a 95 after two meetings. NOTE: He doesn't cover all material that's req for MCAT, so good luck!

Dr. Mal was amazing! This class is supposed to be hard but honestly, he made it way easier to understand. The 10 quizzes were A LOT but kept me engaging in the material and was 100% better than taking denser exams. His lectures are recorded but going (and then rewatching parts) really helped me understand the material. Take it with him if you can!

Dr. Mal is an incredible professor and his lectures are such a valuable resource to understanding biochemistry fundamentals in an approachable way. He makes connections and explains things in such a way that biochemistry is not so much easy, but interesting and easier to grasp.

Dr. Mal currently is grading based on 5 exams, lab section, worksheets, and participation. If you show up to class and the extra help sessions (recitation sessions), you should pass. Study like 10 hours before an exam as well and you should get an A.

Dr. Mal makes the material very easy to digest. Be sure to go to lecture and get those free participation points. The exams are exactly what he teaches in slides, so be sure to pay attention.

MCB 2000 is a very complex class that requires a lot of outside time spent studying and understanding the material. However Dr Mal makes it extremely digestable and simplifies even the most difficult of concepts. Tests were difficult but doable if you studied. Would take him again in every class.

For a difficult class, he made it much more concise and easier to comprehend. I definitely think studying a week in advance will help you so much. Currently, his exams are only like 25ish questions so you really have to ace it. Use all the resources he provides, not just the lectures and you will be satisfied with your grade after.

What a wonderful professor. He breaks down challenging concepts very well and in a way that makes you want to learn the content. The lecture component is 6 bi-weekly exams (10% a piece) and worksheets. Keep up in the lab (ran by Dr. Guilani) as it's a lot of busy work with lab reports due every week, and your grade depends heavily on your TA.

Great lectures that allowed students to grasp concepts that would otherwise be too difficult. We had an exam every other week which was wild, but you'll be fine if you stay diligent with the content. He also liked to ask trick questions that I initially didn't care for, but eventually got used to as the course progressed. Very caring professor!

Dr. Mal was my favorite! Never thought I'd be able to succeed in biochem but he made the topics so easy to digest and lectures very interesting. He is truly caring and his exams are fair. I found myself studying a week in advance in order to do well. Content gets dense so stay on top of things. Labs are a lot of work but TA makes or breaks it.

Although the content of the course is very tough in general, Dr. Mal made biochemistry very approachable and less intimidating. You definitely have to study well to ear good grades on the exams, but he offers bonus questions and the Worksheets are an easy grade booster. The lab is very demanding and time-consuming, however, it wasn't the worst.

Dr. Mal is honestly a nice professor. I took his class during the summer (which I recommend but 2.5 hr lectures). He breaks down concepts into manageable pieces. He gives bonus questions on Worksheets and Exams and curves when necessary. He gives "trick" questions in the sense that you have to read options as some of them look identical carefully.

I think people are harsh on Mal, most of his exams in my opinion are based of understanding his slides and what he says in class. You need a good understanding of the material, but I've done well on exams not even looking at the textbook-just watching lecture videos over, studying, and attending class. worksheets and participation help your grade

Dr. Mal is one of the best, if not the best, professors I have had. He is not only very organized, but he is very easy to follow in lectures because he is engaging and has a passion for the subject. His course objectives are clear and there are many opportunities to succeed on exams and participation points. He respects his students and is awesome!

Biochemistry is tough, but Dr. Mal makes it understandable. After studying for the MCAT, I realized that I didn't even open the biochem book thanks to this class. He has many exams, so avoid taking it with Orgo 1 or 2 (Orgo lab is fine). Be ready for long study hours and use Anki. His focus on integrity prepares you for real-world exams.

Dr. Mal's course was tough, but his teaching made it way more digestible. He reminds me of a very smart Winnie the Pooh: wise and kind. The TAs were a mixed bag - some were a bit condescending, but others were super friendly and ready to help! Despite how hard it was, Dr. Mal's lectures and support made the class way better. Highly recommend!

this class felt ridiculous, having 6 exams (one every other week) was so draining. despite mal being a great lecturer, this class required so much work outside of class to meet the caliber of questions on the exams. this class was interesting but its level of difficulty made it impossible for me to dedicate time to and enjoy my other courses.

Mal is a very good professor, there is just a lot of work that comes with the class. You have to always be studying because there is an exam every 2 weeks, and lab reports are long. He explains things very well in class and posts lecture videos. If you keep on top of your stuff you will do well. I wouldn't take this with many other hard classes.

Malinoski is the definition of a mid professor. I mean the lectures are recorded but he has codes for participation so you kinda have to go. Only 6 exams each worth 10% but the final can replace the 2 lowest ones. Exams are really hard but they are similar to the practice ones he gives out. Just study the slides and rewatch the recordings.

Great professors. Attend lectures and you will be good. Lot to memorize though, but if you do tests are fine.

Dr. Malinoski runs a tight ship, but in a good way. The exams are hard, and you have to study the lecture slides and do the practice questions, but it pays off. The lectures are fast-paced, but never boring. His passion for biochemistry is obvious. Don't expect an easy A, but if you want to actually understand metabolism, take this class.

I've never worked so hard for an B+ in my life lol. Thought I could just memorize the pathways and be fine. Nope. His tests make you apply stuff and think. Once I figured that out, I started doing better. Just wish I'd figured it out sooner. Don't skip the practice problems and go to help hours.

Dr. Malinoski's biochem course is one of the best pre-med classes I've taken. He connects molecular mechanisms to real clinical examples, which helped me retain the material and apply it in other courses. Weekly help sessions are super helpful. Definitely take him if you plan to go into healthcare.

I don't get it. The class isn't that hard. Study and you'll be fine.

I finished with a B, which wasn't what I was aiming for, but honestly, I don't regret taking this class. Mal actually cares if you get it, not just if you can memorize stuff. There were definitely times I felt lost, but his office hours helped a lot. Exams are tough, but he's upfront about what matters.

If you're someone who appreciates structure, clarity, and a professor who respects your time, take this class. Dr. Mal is incredibly organized. The lectures flow logically and follow the book pretty well in case you do get lost. Exams are tough but fair.

As far as course feel goes, it reads like a 1.5 or 2 semester course jammed into one semester. Exam structure is a little finicky (this year it was 5 exams and one final) with extra credit given liberally. Your lab course will provide a decent cushion (although lab can be its own thorn in the side). Great lecturer, scary class. Mal the GOAT

People crashing out over here because Biochem is hard :/

Probably the best lecturer I've ever had at UConn. Slides are very well organized, records lectures. Graded off 3 exams and lab (which is a massive headache in itself) so review way ahead of time! Tests are very fair and doable if you stay on top of the content. Love Dr. Mal.

While I can acknowledge that the class is heavy, Mal is not only an amazing, organized lecturer, he is also super kind and approachable (absolutely love him!). If you keep up with the content (do NOT cram) and do the practice problems, you will succeed (some are literally put on exam)! Ngl Lab takes hours which is horrible pray for a good TA.

People are really mad a professor stopped cheating? In biochem? If you're pre-med or whatever and cheating in this class, I hope you never become a doctor. I'm glad Mal actually enforces rules. He's organized and gives tons of practice problems, and I feel way more prepared for the MCAT because of it.

I'd rate Mal's class a 6/7 in difficulty. It's hard, but at least he's organized and his homework actually matches the exams. You do have to put in a lot of time, but I've learned more here than in most of my other classes.

Very clear and organized instructor. The lecture grade is based on three exams, with no additional graded assignments. The lab takes a lot of time but it counts for 25 percent of the overall grade, which helps.

Genuinely one of the best lecturers I've had at UCONN, if not the best. Biochem can suck but he breaks it down in a way that makes difficult topics easy to understand. If the other reviews weren't warning enough: lab is BRUTAL. Expect to sink hours of work into each lab report, and don't expect your lab to substantially boost your overall grade

I did pretty badly on the first exam and honestly rolled my eyes whenever he talked about active learning. Once I finally tried the practice questions, the lectures started making way more sense. My grades went up fast after that, and by the end I actually felt like I had a solid handle on the material.

Mal is easily the best lecturer I've ever had. I was really scared going into this class but he made the difficult content much easier to understand. The people who are complaining about him looking out for cheating tells you everything you need to know about them. The lab is horrific and brutal, but Dr. Mal doesn't control that at all

Surprise, biochem is a hard class! Mal was an excellent prof who made biochem accessible to anyone who was willing to put in the work and learn. The only reason why the rating is a 4 is because of the lab. Ive never had a lab with as much work as this one. You WILL be working hard if you want a decent grade in this class. Mal is great though.

He gives out a lot of practice problems which, if you really study after memorizing the content, are really similar to the exams. Incredible lecturer and provides cool examples. Content isn't easy which is given but he really listens to advice and is a nice guy

This class tends to get a bad rep just because it has a LOT of material. That being said, Dr.Mal is a great prof who explains things very well. He provides tons of practice problems that are very similar to exams, and he provides review and office hours to those who need. If you put the time in, you can absolutely do well in this course

Not too bad, just need to keep up with the material. Review and answer the practice problems and you're all set for the exams. Practice exams were pretty similar to the exams too, maybe a bit easier, so watch out for that.

Dr. Mal is amazing! He takes semi-difficult material and makes it simple. Practice problems MIRROR the exams! Memorize the slides/what he says in lecture/understand practice problems and you WILL do well. Lab is a lot of work, go to lab office hours, they help A LOT. This class isn't challenging; just a timesuck. Mal is the GOAT 11/10.

Beware he changes his course from semester to semester

Dr. Mal is the best. He sets up help sessions and is clearly interested in helping students learn. The class was graded on 3 exams and lab, plus the final which either replaced a lower exam grade or gave you extra credit. Exams are very challenging but he gives practice exams and practice problems to help you. One of my favorite classes.