PHD EXP PHAR - Experimental Therapeutics and Pharmacology (PhD)

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School of Graduate Studies in Health Sciences (School) ACADEMIC_LEVEL_GRADUATE

Program Title

Experimental Therapeutics and Pharmacology (PhD)

Default Credentials

PhD - Doctor of Philosophy

Program Description

The field of pharmacology is very broad and offers many research directions and opportunities. Curiosity, drive, and dedication allow students to receive diverse training, yet focus on areas that are personalized to the individual's interests. The breadth of training of a PhD in Experimental Therapeutics and Pharmacology opens a wide range of career options and employment opportunities in academic, governmental and industrial organizations. That objective is achieved through a combination of formal course work, independent study and both faculty-directed and independent research. Students are exposed to fundamental principles of pharmacology as well as current concepts related to mechanisms of actions of an array of different classes of drugs and modern research techniques. The curriculum provides ample opportunities for students to improve their written and verbal communication skills and to develop skills in critical thinking, problem solving and experimental design. Research interests of the faculty are diverse and include the cardiovascular and renal systems, pregnancy, metabolic diseases, signal transduction, membrane transport, drug metabolism/biotransformation, protein-DNA interactions, DNA damage and repair, cancer chemotherapy, and drug development. Multidisciplinary approaches ranging from whole animal to genomic, transgenic, proteomics, and translational techniques and bioinformatics are used to investigate the genetic and molecular basis of human diseases.

Learning Outcomes

Identify gaps in current knowledge of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs and other chemical agents

Design, implement, and direct basic research aimed at alleviating knowledge gaps applicable to the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs and other chemical agents

Collaborate with colleagues in the basic and clinical sciences in translational research aimed at identification of novel therapeutic agents and improvement of clinical outcomes for the pharmacological treatment of disease

Relate pharmacological data to their colleagues in the basic and clinical sciences, as well as to leaders in the health care and regulatory communities

Participate in the training of basic and clinical scientists and health care providers in the areas of pharmacology and toxicology

To train individuals for a successful independent career in pharmacology, toxicology or a related biomedical science

Admission Requirements

The program accepts students for fall enrollment.

Applicants will be evaluated based on the following:

Baccalaureate degree in a relevant scientific discipline
Transcripts from all previous colleges and universities attended
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale
Three letters of recommendation
A personal statement

All application documents and the application fees must be received by the Office of Enrollment Management by June 1 for fall admission.

Prospective PhD students who wish to attend the Graduate School Spring Recruitment Day must have applications submitted by January 15.
Students wishing to be considered for a graduate stipend for the upcoming fall semester should apply for admission prior to April 1.

Degree Requirements

PROGRAM COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS: The Doctor of Philosophy degree is a research degree and is not conferred solely as a result of formal course work, no matter how superior and extensive. To receive the doctoral degree, the candidate must demonstrate evidence of proficiency and distinctive attainment in a special field, and a recognized ability for independent investigation as presented in a dissertation based upon original research.

QUALIFYING EXAMINATION AND ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY - The qualifying examination is given to graduate students in good academic standing upon completion of coursework and must be successfully completed for admission to candidacy for the doctor of philosophy degree.

DISSERTATION - The dissertation must show originality of thought and demonstrate the results of independent investigation. It should contribute to the advancement of knowledge, exhibit mastery of the subject literature, and be written with an acceptable degree of literary skill. The dissertation, written according to prescribed form, is prepared under the direction of the candidate's advisor and must be approved by the candidate's Dissertation Advisory Committee and the dean of the Graduate School. This approval must be obtained and all other requirements completed by the date given in the official academic calendar. Guidelines outlining the prescribed form for a student's written dissertation can be found on the SGSHS website (UMMC login required).

DISSERTATION DEFENSE - The dissertation defense is conducted by the candidate's Advisory Committee and consists of a public presentation and defense of the dissertation.

REQUIRED COURSEWORK - All students must pass ID 709 (Responsible Conduct in Research). In addition, all graduate students must successfully pass ID 714 (Professional Skills).

PUBLICATION REQUIREMENT - Students receiving the PhD degree are required to have the results of their research accepted for publication prior to awarding of the degree. This manuscript must meet the publication requirement, i.e., the student must be listed as the sole first author on at least one publication in a national or international peer-reviewed journal.

PLAN OF STUDY

Year 1 - Fall
CMB 704	Fundamental Biochemistry	6
PHARM 701	Seminar	1
PHARM 792	Research Rotation	1
PHYSIO 725	Fundamental Physiology	7
ID 740	Statistical Methods in Research I	3
		18
Year 1 - Spring
ID 709	Responsible Conduct in Research	1
PHARM 702	Recent Advances in Pharmacology & Toxicology	1
PHARM 724	Experimental Design and Methods	3
PHARM 726	Fundamental Pharmacology	6
PHARM 792	Research Rotation	1
		12
Year 2 - Summer
PHARM 702	Recent Advances in Pharmacology & Toxicology	1
PHARM 792	Research Rotation	1
		2
Year 2 - Fall
PHARM 701	Seminar	1
PHARM 723	Mechanisms of Drug Action	4
PHARM 792	Research Rotation	4
	Elective*	3
		12
Year 2 - Spring
PHARM 702	Recent Advances in Pharmacology & Toxicology	1
PHARM 723	Mechanisms of Drug Action	4
PHARM 792	Research Rotation	3
	Elective*	1+
		9+
Year 3+ - Summer
PHARM 798	Dissertation and Dissertation Research	1
PHARM 702	Recent Advances in Pharmacology	1
		2
Year 3+ - Fall
PHARM 798	Dissertation and Dissertation Research	1
PHARM 701	Seminar	1
		2
Year 3+ - Spring
ID 714	Professional Skills	1
PHARM 798	Dissertation and Dissertation Research	1
PHARM 702	Recent Advances in Pharmacology and Toxicology	1
		3
*Elective may be any 700 level course in any graduate program of interest to the student.

For more information about this program, contact:

Jan Williams, PhD
Email: jmwilliams5@umc.edu
Phone: (601) 984-1634