Overall Structure A major component of the training program for PhD candidates is basic research. The average tenure of PhD candidates is five years. Although the emphasis is on didactic coursework for the first year, students in the Biomolecular Pharmacology Training Program are expected to do four laboratory rotations during the first year. The laboratory rotations provide students with the opportunity to investigate potential areas for their dissertation research, while enhancing the breadth of their training. During the last three years in the program, the major emphasis is on dissertation research. Students are also required to complete advanced level coursework, report on their dissertation research, and participate in activities consistent with their development as future scientists. Details of these activities are provided below. Graduates from the program will have received essential training in pharmacology with special emphasis on molecular pharmacology. The training program builds on current graduate programs in pharmacology, biophysics, biomedical engineering, biochemistry, pathology, anatomy, and microbiology.

Students may be accepted into the program through any of the Medical School basic science departments or through the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Each of these PhD programs requires 64 credit hours for completion plus a qualifying examination, a dissertation, and a successful oral defense. Each of the programs has specific requirements, and individual programs of study for the PhD degree are determined by each student in consultation with a faculty advisor and the Program Graduate Education Committee. Students complete the following core courses: GMS BI 751 Biochemistry, GMS PM 700 Molecular Neurobiology and Pharmacology, GMS PM 710 Laboratory Techniques in Modern Pharmacology, GMS PM 800 Advanced General Pharmacology, GMS PM 810 Current Topics in Pharmacological Sciences, and 6 credits of advanced electives. The training plan has been approved by the participating departments as fulfilling their requirements. Students spend summers engaged in full-time research.

Course Requirements

Core Courses (18 credits)
GMS PM 700 Molecular Neurobiology and Pharmacology (4 cr)
GMS PM 710 Laboratory Techniques in Modern Pharmacology (2 cr) (Two semesters required in the first year; students may elect to complete additional laboratory rotations during the summer of the first year.)

GMS BI 751 Biochemistry (6 cr)
GMS PM 800 Advanced General Pharmacology (2 cr)
GMS PM 810 Current Topics in Pharmacological Sciences (2 cr)

Laboratory Rotations During the first year, predoctoral trainees complete four laboratory rotations of seven weeks each. This provides exposure to a variety of experimental approaches to the study of pharmacology. Trainees are encouraged to select rotations in laboratories that approach problems from different perspectives, in keeping with the fundamental goal of providing them with a broad and more complete understanding of research strategies that have been developed to address questions of pharmacological importance. Each student submits a paper summarizing his or her research experience, which should not exceed twenty pages of double-spaced text, including bibliography. The paper is written in journal format, including abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion sections. Data should be summarized in figures and tables. The faculty reviews papers and provides evaluations to students.

Mark Alexander PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology

David Atkinson PhD, Professor of Biophysics

Michael J. Baum PhD, Professor of Biology

Mark W. Bitensky MD, Research Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Norman D. Boyd PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology

Charles R. Cantor PhD, Professor of Biomedical Engineering (Professor of Pharmacology)

Miyoung Chun PhD, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry

Richard A. Cohen MD, Professor of Medicine (Professor of Physiology)

Charles De Lisi PhD, Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering

Douglas V. Faller MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine

David H. Farb PhD, Professor and Chairman, Department of Pharmacology

Richard Fine PhD, Professor of Biochemistry

Terrell T. Gibbs PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology

James A. Hamilton PhD, Professor of Biophysics

Tohru Ikuta MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology

Kevin A. Jarrell PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology

Conan Kornetsky PhD, Professor of Pharmacology and Psychiatry

Susan E. Leeman PhD, Professor of Pharmacology

Simon Levy PhD, Associate Professor of Physiology

Joseph Loscalzo MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine (Professor of Biochemistry)

Isabelle M. Mintz PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology

John R. Murphy PhD, Professor of Medicine

Enrico Nasi PhD, Associate Professor of Physiology

Susan P. Perrine MD, Professor of Pediatrics

R. Christopher Pierce PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology

Paul F. Pilch PhD, Professor of Biochemistry

Katya Ravid DSc, PhD, Associate Professor of Biochemistry (Professor of Medicine)

Douglas Rosene PhD, Associate Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology

Shelley J. Russek PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology

G. Graham Shipley PhD, Professor of Biophysics

Elizabeth R. Simons PhD, Professor of Biochemistry

Cassandra L. Smith PhD, Professor of Biomedical Engineering (Professor of Pharmacology)

Temple F. Smith PhD, Professor of Biomedical Engineering (Professor of Pharmacology)

Kosta Steliou PhD, Professor of Chemistry (Professor of Pharmacology)

Ladislav Volicer MD, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology

Carol T. Walsh PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology

David J. Waxman PhD, Professor of Biology

John A. White PhD, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Jim Z. Xiao PhD, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry