All students MUST register for a minimum of NINE (9) credit hour each semester to maintain full time status.
Courses by year:
First Year
Second Year
Third Year
Fourth Year
Fifth Year
Additional Course Requirements and Options
Selecting a Thesis Committee
Seminars, Journal Clubs, Research Discussion Groups
Department Graduate Committee
First Year
Students take courses within the Biomedical Research Training Program (BRTP) graduate curriculum. These courses provide a fundamental background in biochemistry, cell biology, physiology, neuroscience and immunology. These courses are taught by faculty from various campus departments. This unified year one syllabus provides students the opportunity to get to know their colleagues on campus.
Fall semester
Required
BRTP 821- Macromolecular Structure and Function (4 credit hrs)
BRTP 822- The Cell and Gene Regulation (3 credit hrs)
PHAR 896 - Research Other than Thesis (1 credit hr)
PHAR 950- Special Topics: Journal Club (1 credit hr)
PHAR 970- Seminar - (1 credit hr)
Spring Semester
Required
BRTP 824- Cell Signaling (3 credit hrs)
PHAR 820- Current Methods in Neuroscience (2 credit hrs)
PHAR 896 - Research Other than Thesis (1 credit hr)
PHAR 950- Special Topics: Journal Club (1 credit hr)
PHAR 970- Seminar - (1 credit hr)
Optional (students interested in optional courses should consult their advisor or the department's Chair of Graduate Studies)
BRTP 823 - (3 credit hrs)
P-SM 806 Biostatistics I
PEDS/GCBA 832 Fundamentals of Cell and Tissue Culture
Effective Presentations.
To view the syllabus for the above classes, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download it free from Adobe.
During the first and second semester, first year students must complete three laboratory rotations each lasting 8-10 weeks. Rotations must be completed by March 31. These rotations provide an introduction to research systems, techniques and approaches. Equally important these rotations help students in selecting an advisor for their dissertation research. The rotations are credit to PHAR 899.
Selecting a Thesis Committee
A Thesis Committee must be assembled and convened within three months of joining a laboratory (no later than June 30, first year, spring semester). Thereafter, meetings must be held every six months.
A committee should consist of five members; one must be outside the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience (PEN). Members are selected by the student in consultation with his/her mentor. Justification for selection of each member must be provided to the PEN Graduate Committee.
Prior to assembly a thesis committee, students need to consult the Chair of the PEN Graduate Program. Students will need to complete the Appointment of Supervisory Committee form.
One purpose of convening a thesis committee by June 30 is to assist students in selecting the course work for year two.
Second Year
Fall Semester:
Required
PHAR 901 - Receptors and Cell Signaling (3 credit hrs)
PHAR 950- Special Topics: Journal Club (1 credit hr)
PHAR 970- Seminar (1 credit hr); besides attending weekly seminars, a student must present a 10 minute seminar during the second year (fall or spring semester).
PHAR 999 - Dissertation Research (1-2 credit hrs)Optional
GCBA 922 - Neurobiology I (3 credit hrs)
PHAR 950A - Special Topics in Pharmacology (2 credit hrs)
Students interested in pharmacology should consider PHAR815- Medical Pharmacology I (5 credit hrs)
Students interested in neuroscience should consider PHAR922-Neurobiology I (3 credit hrs)Thesis Committee should meet during the fall semester, second year and every six months thereafter.
Spring Semester:
Required
PHAR 950- Special Topics: Journal Club (1 credit hr)
PHAR 970- Seminar (1 credit hr); besides attending weekly seminars, a student must present a 10 minute seminar during the second year (fall or spring semester).
PHAR 999 - Dissertation Research (1-2 credit hrs)Optional:
GCBA - Neurobiology II (3 credit hrs)
PAMM 857 Medical Immunology (2 credit hrs)
PHAR 816 - Medical Pharmacology II (5 credit hrs)
PHAR 930 - Neuroimmunology (3 credit hrs)
PHYS 920- Ion Channels and Disease (course offered every other year in the spring; check with course director on diseases being studied)
PHYS 924 - Advanced Neurophysiology
Thesis Committee may recommend additional courses to help a student with his/her project.
By the end of year two, a student should be working with his/her Thesis Committee to set topic/date/time for Comprehensive Exam. The Comprehensive Exam consists of two parts:
- Complete knowledge base (completed by end of year two)
- Research proposal (completed by end of first semester, year three)
The comprehensive exam research proposal should not be on the student's Ph.D. thesis unless the research is a new project the student is creating that is very different from the current research in the mentor's laboratory.
Required
CIP 814/PEN 814 - Scientific Writing
PHAR 950 - Special Topics: Journal Club (1 credit hr)
PHAR 970- Seminar (1 credit hr); besides attending weekly seminars, a student must present a 20 minute seminar during the second year.
PHAR 999 - Dissertation Research (7 credit hrs - could be reduced appropriately if student is signed up for other courses recommended by thesis committee)Apply to take complete Comprehensive Exam and upgrade to PhD candidacy. Exam must be completed or scheduled by the end of third academic year. To schedule exam with graduate studies, students need to complete Schedule Qualifying or Comprehensive Exam form.
Spring Semester
Required
CIP 814/PEN 814 - Scientific Writing
PHAR 950- Special Topics: Journal Club (1 credit hr)
PHAR 970- Seminar (1 credit hr); besides attending weekly seminars, a student must present a 20 minute seminar during the second year.
PHAR 999 - Dissertation Research (7 credit hrs - could be reduced appropriately if student is signed up for other courses)
Required
PHAR 950- Special Topics: Journal Club (1 credit hr)
PHAR 970- Seminar (1 credit hr); besides attending weekly seminars, a student must present a 40 minute seminar during the second year.
PHAR 999 - Dissertation Research (1 credit hr)
Spring Semester
Required
PHAR 950 - Special topics: Journal Club (1 credit hr)
PHAR 970- Seminar (1 credit hr); besides attending weekly seminars, a student must present a 40 minute seminar during the second year.
PHAR 999 - Dissertation Research
Required
PHAR 950 - Special Topics: Journal Club (1 credit hr)
PHAR 999 - Dissertation Research (1 credit hr)
Dissertation defense in lieu of seminar -PHAR 970 - Seminar
Spring Semester
Required
PHAR 950 - Special Topics: Journal Club (1 credit hr) - may be waived during semester of anticipated graduation
PHAR 999 - Dissertation Research
Dissertation defense in lieu of seminar -PHAR 970 - Seminar
Additional graduation requirements
- Students must complete at least nine graduate level courses with a minimum of three being at the 900 level that are graded (pass/fail courses not included).
- Ethical Conduct in Research
- One first author, original research paper accessible via PubMed.
Seminars, journal clubs, and research discussion groups
Graduate students attend the departmental seminars. Guest speakers from other departments and institutions are invited to present their research at our formal department seminars. In addition, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty present their research for input and discussion at a department seminar. Students should review the above requirements for seminar presentation.
Students participate in the department's journal club each year. Each student presents and critiques a paper from the recent research literature, with questions and discussion from their peers. The journal club focuses on a different topic each year, and students receive Special Topics in Pharmacology credit for their participation. Through these sessions, students develop skills in critical reading of the research literature, in analytical thinking and problem solving, in manuscript writing and data presentation, and in giving oral presentations of scientific research. In addition, students are exposed to a wide variety of new research techniques and experimental systems as well as keeping up with the latest advances in understanding topics related to pharmacology and neuroscience.
In addition, most laboratories have their own research meetings on a regular basis. Laboratories with shared interests may hold joint meetings, with a focus on planning day-to-day experiments and solving specific problems related to the ongoing research. Students are active participants in these sessions, together with faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and research technicians.
|
Keshore Bidasee, PhD, Chairman |
