|
Doctor
of Philosophy--Specific Program Requirements (Hegis Code 0408)
The Ph.D. program
in Experimental Pathology focuses on the comprehensive study of the
causes and pathogenic mechanisms involved in human disease. Its
educational program is designed to foster analytical problem-solving
within the wide range of the basic medical sciences. Training in
departmental research laboratories complements this approach and
provides a vigorous multidisciplinary milieu for a research career
in the biomedical sciences.
The hallmark of the doctoral program leading to the Ph.D. in
Experimental Pathology is development of laboratory research skills
that prepare the student for a career in basic biomedical research
on human disease. A wide range of departmental research laboratories
(including the College’s Brander Cancer Research Institute) making
use of state-of-the-art molecular genetic, immunologic, and flow
cytometric methodologies is available for the student’s dissertation
research. Special areas of research interest include examination of
the underlying mechanisms involved in biochemical toxicology, cancer
cell biology, cell-cycle regulation and apoptosis, cell dysfunction
after neurologic trauma, chemical carcinogenesis, free-radical
pathobiology, hypersensitivity and chronic inflammation, molecular
genetics of human hypertension, Lyme disease, tuberculosis, and
tissue engineering. Departmental faculty are also active
collaborators in a number of national and international research
programs.
Students participate in laboratory research each semester, acquiring
skills and experience for developing a program of supervised
independent research for the doctoral dissertation. Journal Club
(PATH–8010) is taken each semester by all Ph.D. students in
residence in pathology. Students also register for appropriate
research activity each semester in residence – viz., research
rotation (BMS-9110 or PATH-9110), pre-dissertation research training
(PATH-9200), or doctoral dissertation research (PATH-9900). |
|
Entry through the Integrated Ph.D. Program
| Required Courses |
| General
Biochemistry I & II (BIOC-1010*, -1020) |
8 credits |
|
Biochemistry of Gene Expression (BIOC-1250) |
4
credits |
| CELL
1360 (136) Cell Biology |
3
credits |
|
Fundamentals of Cell Physiology (PHYS-1011*) |
1
credits |
| PATH
1410 (441) General Pathology |
6 credits |
| PATH
1090 (409) Systemic Pathology |
3
credits |
|
Responsible Conduct of Research (BMS-2020*) |
2
credits |
| Life in
Biomedical Research (BMS-3510*, -3520*) |
4
credits |
| Statistics
for Basic Medical Sciences (BMS-1200*) |
2
credits |
|
*required as part of the Integrated Ph.D.
Program core curriculum.
TOTAL
|
33
credits |
|
Students must also
complete three different research rotations (BMS-9110) during
the integrated first year.
Entry with
advanced standing
| Required Courses |
| CELL
1360 (136) Cell Biology |
3
credits |
| General
Biochemistry I & II (BIOC-1010*, -1020) |
8 credits |
|
Biochemistry of Gene Expression (BIOC-1250) |
4
credits |
| PATH
1410 (441) General Pathology |
6 credits |
| PATH
1090 (409) Systemic Pathology |
3 or 8
credits |
| BMS
1200 (900) Introduction to Biostatistics or Statistics
for Basic Medical Sciences (BMS–1300) |
2 or 3
credits |
|
Responsible Conduct of Research (BMS-2020*) |
2
credits |
|
Electives (didactic credits only) |
0 - 5
credits |
|
TOTAL
|
33
credits |
|
During their first
year, students undertake at least two research rotations
(PATH-9110) in different laboratories in order to gain an
appreciation of different areas and strategies of investigation
and to determine a suitable dissertation advisor. The number of
rotations may be reduced based on the student’s prior laboratory
experience.
Qualifying
Examination
All candidates for
the Ph.D. degree are required to pass a comprehensive Ph.D.
qualifying examination administered by the program faculty at
the end of the second year of study. Students entering with
advanced standing and MD/PhD students may take the examination
at an earlier point in their study if they are ready.
Candidacy
The student is
eligible to enter doctoral candidacy after successful completion
of the Qualifying Examination, the accumulation of at least 29
didactic credits including all required courses, and the
recommendation of the program faculty. |
|
M.D./Ph.D.
Candidates
|
Cell Biology (CELL-1360) |
3
credits |
|
Biochemistry of Gene Expression (BIOC-1250) |
4
credits |
|
Responsible Conduct of Research (BMS-2020) |
2
credits |
|
Total |
9
credits |
During
their first year in residence in the experimental pathology
program, students undertake at least two research rotations
(PATH-9110) in different laboratories in order to gain an
appreciation of different areas and strategies of investigation
and to determine a suitable dissertation advisor. The number of
rotations may be reduced based on the student’s prior laboratory
experience.
Qualifying
Examination
All
candidates for the Ph.D. degree are required to pass a
comprehensive Ph.D. qualifying examination administered by the
program faculty at the end of the second year of study. Students
entering with advanced standing and MD/PhD students may take the
examination at an earlier point in their study if they are
ready.
Candidacy
The student
is eligible to enter doctoral candidacy after successful
completion of the Qualifying Examination, the accumulation of at
least 29 didactic credits including all required courses, and
the recommendation of the program faculty. |
