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Program Overview

Degree Offered:  Ph.D. (code 313)

Required standardized exam:  GRE general exam

Average scores of candidates admitted:  GRE 1138 (V+Q), GPA of 3.56

Prerequisites for admission:  A bachelors degree in science, including courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology and physics.

Additional admissions requirements:  Fluency in English is expected.  Interviews are encouraged.

Application deadline:  April 1st.  Students are only admitted for the fall semester.

Number of faculty:  About 73 from 13 departments

Number of students:  13

Program description:  This program combines the former Experimental Pathology program with other research programs in Brody School of Medicine clinical departments, the molecular and cellular programs of the Department of Biology and Neuroscience programs.  The program starts with a core curriculum of courses for all students, followed by a selection of courses in experimental biology, neuroscience, pathology and biomedical sciences depending on the student’s research interest and needs.  After the first semester each student chooses a concentration in either Biology, Biomedical Science or Neuroscience.  The Biology concentration includes opportunities for dissertation research in a wide variety of subjects including molecular taxonomy, entomology, fish histocompatability complex, eukaryotic cell molecular biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, coastal and marine ecology, fisheries science, radiation biology, experimental botany, and experimental zoology.  The Biomedical Science concentration has research opportunities in cancer research, eukaryotic cell signaling, platelet function, coagulation, immunology and molecular biology of insect venoms, transplantation immunology, reproductive endocrinology, adipocyte biology, regulation of development, potassium channels and muscle biochemistry.  Research opportunities are available in molecular mechanisms of bacterial virulence, quorum sensing in bacteria, interaction of human flora with the host, immunobiology of B and T cells and interaction of T cells with macrophages, and biology of herpesviruses, poxvirus and coronavirus.  It also prepares a student to transfer into another Brody School of Medicine Ph.D. program.  The Neuroscience concentration requires studies in both cellular-molecular and behavioral-integrative aspects of neuroscience; and offers research in many aspects from basic molecular mechanisms to experimental psychology.  Programs are also available in protein structure, protein-protein interactions, peptide chemistry,  theoretical chemistry of biomolecules and pharmaceutical chemistry.

Graduate assistantships:  Upon acceptance into the program, the student automatically becomes eligible for a fellowship depending upon fellowship availability.