Research Overview
Susan Lee
One of the main deciding factors in my decision to attend U of R was the flexibility of the program. U of R is one of the few programs that allow a PhD in any field, that is willing to design a personalized curriculum, and allows for cross-departmental dissertation projects.
Research is integrated into every year of the MD/PhD program, but the PhD thesis is the keystone. Thesis research can be conducted in any of the funded labs in the School of Medicine and Dentistry and the College.
In the School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD), graduate education is organized into degree programs. Faculty in these programs come from many different departments of both the School of Medicine and Dentistry and the College. In addition to traditional biomedical sciences, degrees are also offered in Biomedical Engineering, Epidemiology, Health Services Research, Statistics, and Translational Biomedical Sciences. These programs provide students with outstanding, rigorous training and the opportunity to work with highly recognized leaders in these unique fields.
Current Ph.D. Programs in the SMD
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biophysics & Structural Biology
- Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology
- Epidemiology
- Genetics, Genomics & Development
- Health Services Research and Policy
- Immunology, Microbiology&& Virology
- Neuroscience
- Neurobiology & Anatomy
- Pathways of Human Disease
- Statistics
- Toxicology
- Translational Biomedical Science
A set of core courses in the biomedical sciences provides a broad, interdisciplinary foundation that spans a number of these degree programs.
The close geographic and thematic relationships between the SMD and the College afford trainees a unique opportunity to pursue fundamental studies and apply them to problems relevant to human health and disease. In the College, graduate education is organized by departments
College Departments Participating in the MD/PhD Program
Students interested in pursuing MD/PhD training in other departments of the college should contact the MD/PhD program office.
Graduate Curricula
Specific guidelines for MD/PhD training have been developed and can be found in the MD/PhD handbook. Components common to all guidelines include granting MSTP students 30 hours of credit toward coursework accomplished in the Double Helix Curriculum, core and advanced graduate courses specific to each program, and required participation in graduate student seminar series, journal clubs, departmental/program seminar series, and training in the Responsible Conduct of Science. Teaching requirements within most graduate programs are waived for MD/PhD students, though students may elect to participate, and outstanding opportunities for teaching exist in most programs. Participation in all graduate student activities and required steps for obtaining the PhD degree, including qualifying examinations, ensures that our students have a full PhD experience with regular opportunities for presentation of their work and evaluation of their progress.
