Getting Started
Tackling a new topic?
Try looking for a review article first. Review articles attempt to summarize the state of research on a scientific topic. While lengthy and not generally including the very latest research, review articles can be a great way to start to get a handle on a topic.
Don't overlook the literature cited at the end of the review: the bibliography contains a wealth of information about the key discoveries and main researchers in the field.
Key Resources
These databases are good places to start your Biochemistry research.
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National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)Parent site of the major National Library of Medicine (NLM) databases, including PubMed, GenBank, Nucleotide and Protein Sequences, Protein Structures, Complete Genomes, Taxonomy, PubChem, and others
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PubMed (NU customized) This link opens in a new windowA comprehensive source of journal literature in the life sciences and biomedicine from the National Library of Medicine. Includes selected full text from PubMed Central, and NCBI Bookshelf. PubMed is a free web resource, however this version contains links to Northeastern-subscribed journals that require a login.
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Reaxys (Elsevier) This link opens in a new windowReaxys is a chemistry database that provides information about chemical structures, reactions, and properties. It also lists journal articles, patents, and other publications related to them, as well as substance property and reaction data, synthesis options and experimental procedures.
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SciFinder-n (CAS) This link opens in a new windowSciFinder-n provides access to the worlds most comprehensive and reliable collection of scientific research information, including millions of records and up-to-date patent and chemical information curated and aggregated by a global network of expert scientists. Links to patents and Northeastern-subscribed materials.
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Scopus and Scopus AI This link opens in a new windowEnter a natural language query and receive results from the largest multidisciplinary abstract and citation database including graphical representations showing connections among keywords, pointers to influential papers, and suggested related queries to further your research.
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Web of Science, All Databases This link opens in a new windowUse this link for access to citation tracking and subject searching of scholarly literature. Data visualizations, alerts, and journal impact factors. Includes the Web of Science Core Collection. One of the largest curated databases of scholarly research, with citations in some subjects from 1900 to the present.
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ChemSpiderA free chemical structure database providing fast access to over 120 million structures, along with properties and associated information.
Interlibrary Loan
Can't find an article or book on our collections? Request it through Interlibrary Loan and we'll try to borrow it from another library on your behalf. Learn more about Interlibrary Loan.
- ILLiad log-in (Opens in new window)Need a book, book chapter, or article not available at Northeastern? Current US-based Northeastern faculty, staff, and students can request materials that aren't available at the Northeastern University Library through ILLiad, our interlibrary loan software.
Information Impermanence
As you search for information, save your sources, particularly datasets and government publications. Note the date you were last able to access a source in case it isn’t available later. Check the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine and other repositories for removed data sources or websites.
Citation managers can help you manage the information you save about your sources. You can reference and cite information that is no longer available where you found it. For these citations, include a last accessed date.
Having trouble finding data or a source? Talk with your subject librarian.