The discipline-based doctoral programs in Biochemistry, Cellular & Structural Biology, Microbiology & Immunology, Pharmacology, and Physiology have evolved into the Integrated Multidisciplinary Graduate Program (IMGP). The IMGP reflects contemporary, interdisciplinary advanced education and scientific research based on fundamental principles in the biomedical sciences. Prospective students apply to the IMGP rather than to the former individual, discipline-based doctoral programs.
The IMGP is currently composed of nine multidisciplinary tracks, which address the most significant training areas in biomedicine. These thematic tracks have been aligned with the major research foci of the faculty in the institution. The nine tracks are:
Biology of Aging
Cancer Biology
Cell & Molecular
Biology
Genetics, Genomics, & Development
Microbiology & Immunology
Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry
Molecular, Cellular & Integrative
Physiology
Neuroscience
Pharmacology
Curricula
Students are enrolled “undifferentiated” into the IMGP, that is, without admission into a specific track. All entering students take an interdisciplinary core course in Fundamentals of Biomedical Sciences and participate in laboratory rotations in the first semester. Students may choose to do rotations and their eventual dissertation research in laboratories of over 200 faculty members. In the second semester students select a specific track and a dissertation supervising professor for further training through course work and research. Also, in the second semester, students will enroll in track-specific courses and electives and in Ethics in Research. The curriculum is interdisciplinary in nature such that students in a particular track may take courses in other tracks. In the second year, students continue taking track-specific electives and journal clubs, participating in seminars, and engaging in research. Major milestones are the advancement to PhD candidacy exam and formal approval of a dissertation supervising committee. Students register for a minimum of 9 semester credit hours in the Fall and Spring semesters and 6 semester credit hours in the Summer term.
Admission Requirements.
Applicants are required to have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree. Applicants should have received credit for courses taken in:
| Biology* | 2 yrs as required for science majors |
| Chemistry* |
1 yr general chemistry and organic chemistry |
| Physics |
1 yr |
| Mathematics |
Minimum of 1 semester of calculus |
* courses should include laboratory experience
All applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
and all international applicants must take the Test of English
as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The GRE must be taken within
the last 5 years and the TOEFL within the last 2 years. The
minimum required scores for the TOEFL are 560 for the paper
test, 220 for the computer test, and 68 for the internet
test.
Apply Online
To apply for the IMGP, click here. Application priority deadline is January 15, with a final application deadline of March 15. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early and submit complete applications with all supporting materials to receive priority review. There is NO application fee. For more information, click here.
Applications are reviewed by an Admissions Committee composed of faculty members representing all ten tracks in the IMGP. Highly qualified applicants are invited for interviews beginning early in the Spring semester.
Stipend
Effective in the fall, 2011 semester all IMGP students will be appointed as graduate research assistants. IMGP students will receive a stipend of $26,000 for the 2011-2012 academic year. Resident tuition, fees and basic student health insurance will be paid on their behalf. This plan will also apply to doctoral students in the basic science programs in Biochemistry, Cellular & Structural Biology, Microbiology & Immunology, Pharmacology, and Physiology who were admitted before 2008 as well as to all new and current doctoral students in the Molecular Medicine graduate program.
