During their first year, students complete core courses that provide a broad foundation in key concepts of pharmacology and physiology as well as training in fundamental concepts in biochemistry and molecular biology. In addition, they participate in a course on ethics and professionalism along with all other first-year students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Students attend a journal club in their research area of choice in which current and historically important papers are presented and discussed. They also attend biweekly seminars in which they present their research. Naturally, these seminars increase in sophistication as the student progresses. At each juncture, the student is provided with constructive feedback to improve presentation skills.
In addition to these academic activities, students complete two or three semester-long research rotations with faculty of their choosing during the first year. These rotations give students experience in diverse areas of research and facilitate the selection of a laboratory in which to perform dissertation research. Rotations typically involve short projects, but it is not uncommon for the work performed during laboratory rotations to contribute to future publications.
During their second year, students take a statistics course and select elective courses from several topic areas. In the laboratory, students continue to develop the project that will become their Ph.D. dissertation.
At the end of the second year, students in good academic standing who have completed all course requirements complete the final step in advancing to Ph.D. Candidacy: the dissertation proposal defense. This component consists of composing a written proposal for the dissertation work to be performed, which is presented to a dissertation committee selected by the student and advisor. This written document is prepared in the format of a predoctoral grant application. Relatively soon thereafter, the student undergoes an oral defense of the proposal, in which the dissertation committee evaluates the student's understanding of the project's rationale and experimental design and hypotheses regarding the outcomes of the research. A successful defense is accompanied by constructive feedback from the committee in which the research plan is typically fine-tuned with the aid of the dissertation committee. Students who successfully defend their proposal advance to Ph.D. candidacy and devote most of their subsequent time to conducting the research described in their proposal.
A Ph.D. in Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology (IPP) is ideal for careers that require a strong foundation in these disciplines including academic research and teaching institutions, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, professional schools (medical, dental and veterinary, pharmacy, nursing, physical and occupational therapy and physician's assistant programs), and government regulatory agencies (e.g., EPA, FDA, CDC). The program is designed to train students in a broad range of research areas and methodologies, from molecular to human studies. Students undertake innovative research projects in a highly collegial and collaborative environment that features state-of-the-art equipment and resources. Areas of research focus among the IPP faculty include drug and alcohol abuse, cardiovascular physiology and hypertension, regenerative medicine, neuro- and behavioral pharmacology, cancer therapeutics and disorders of aging including Alzheimer's disease. The high rate of success of IPP Ph.D. students in obtaining extramural funding and in publishing their research in prominent journals prepares them to join a new generation of scientific leaders.
Concentration
The IPP concentration can enhance the academic preparation of students seeking to apply to medical school, students in non-biological (e.g. physical) sciences who plan to seek employment in the pharmaceutical or biotech industries, or students in a variety of biomedical programs who are planning careers in the innovation or science support structures of academic and commercial organizations. Students attain this concentration by taking Principles of Pharmacology, Systems Physiology and Pharmacology, and other course electives offered by the IPP program.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
A PhD in Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology is ideal for careers that require a strong foundation in these disciplines including academic research and teaching institutions, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, professional schools (medical, dental and veterinary, pharmacy, nursing, physical and occupational therapy and physician’s assistant programs), and government regulatory agencies (e.g., EPA, FDA, CDC). The program is designed to train students in a broad range of research areas and methodologies, from molecular to human studies. Students undertake innovative research projects in a highly collegial and collaborative environment that features state-of-the art equipment and resources. Areas of research focus among the IPP faculty include drug and alcohol abuse, cardiovascular physiology and hypertension, regenerative medicine, neuro- and behavioral pharmacology, and cancer therapeutics. The high rate of success of IPP PhD students in obtaining extramural funding and in publishing their research in prominent journals prepares them well to join a new generation of scientific leaders.
August
- MCB 700 – Analytical Techniques (1 credit): A 2 week course in biochemical techniques including overviews of statistics, data analysis, cell culture, microscopy, protein purification, immunological techniques, analyzing DNA, studying gene expression, high throughput technologies, bioinformatics
- Scientific Integrity and the Responsible Conduct of Research (required by the Graduate School): A one week course covers various topics including scientific integrity and the responsible conduct of research.
- Students interview various IPP faculty members conducting research of interest to the student, to identify a laboratory for rotation 1.
Fall Semester
- IPP 715 – Physiological techniques (2 credits): A 4 week course introducing the techniques used to assess physiological parameters by a combination of lectures and demonstrations.
- IPP 701 – Principles of Pharmacology (3 credits): The first required course for IPP students introduces the basic principles of physiology and pharmacology and the cellular, ADME principles (administration, distribution, metabolism, elimination), pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics (receptors and signal transduction).
- MCB 701 – Biochemistry/cell/molecular biology (6 credits): The basic course in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology composed of 5 blocks of material:
- Block 1 – Protein structure, enzyme kinetics, membrane structure
- Block 2 – Lipid, carbohydrate and purine/pyrimidine synthesis, TCA cycle/electron transport
- Block 3 – DNA replication/repair, genetics
- Block 4 – Gene regulation, RNA processing, bioinformatics and genomics
- Block 5 – Protein transport, sorting, cytoskeleton, cell signaling
- IPP 703 – Seminar (1 credit): Students attend seminars by upper-class IPP students and provide a written critique of a journal article of their choice.
- IPP 705 – Journal Club (1 credit): Students participate in a journal club of their choice as well as attend a required number of seminars by faculty/outside speakers.
- IPP 797 – Research (1 credit): During laboratory rotation 1, students work in the laboratory of a faculty member of their choice, to begin to identify a laboratory in which to complete their dissertation research.
- GRAD 714 – Scientific Professionalism: Scientific Integrity (1 credit): Students attend a discussion course on Friday afternoons, once per month, to discuss topics related to scientific professionalism and integrity.
Spring Semester
- IPP 702 – Systems Physiology and Pharmacology (6 credits): The second required course for IPP students is composed of five blocks of physiology and pharmacology including neurophysiology & neuropharmacology (Block 1), cardiovascular physiology & physiology (Block 2), pulmonary & renal systems (Block 3), endocrine physiology & pharmacology (Block 4) and gastrointestinal & regenerative physiology (Block 5).
- IPP 703 – Seminar (1 credit): Students attend seminars by upper-class IPP students and present a short seminar describing their research.
- IPP 705 – Journal Club (1 credit): Students participate in a journal club of their choice as well as attend a required number of seminars by faculty/outside speakers.
- IPP 797 – Research (1 or 2 credits): During laboratory rotation(s) 2 (and 3), students work in the laboratory of a faculty member of their choice, to continue to identify a laboratory in which to complete their dissertation research.
- GRAD 714 – Scientific Professionalism: Scientific Integrity (1 credit): Students attend a discussion course on Friday afternoons, once per month, to discuss topics related to scientific professionalism and integrity.
The Graduate School Bulletin includes further information about courses and degree requirements.