Research
& Training Program in
Biomolecular Pharmacology
PhD
Curriculum
The
average tenure of PhD candidates in the Biomolecular Pharamcology training
program is five years. The major focus of the training program is the
development of expertise in basic research. The first year and a half
of the program entails emphasis on formal course work. In addition,
on matriculation students begin a sequence of four required laboratory
rotations. The laboratory rotations provide students with the opportunity
to investigate potential areas for dissertation research while enhancing
the breadth of their training.
During
the last three years in the program, the primary emphasis is on dissertation
research. Students are also required to complete advanced level course
work, report on their dissertation research and participate in activities
consistent with their development as future scientists. Details of these
activities are provided below. Students in the program receive essential
training in pharmacology with special emphasis on molecular pharmacology.
The goal of this program is to produce scientists who have an understanding
of, and first-hand experience with, the major questions and technologies
on the cutting edge of molecular pharmacology.
Since
the inception of this training program, most students have entered through
the Department of Pharmacology. Students are also accepted into the
program through the Departments of Physiology and Biophysics, Biomedical
Engineering and Molecular Medicine. Each of these PhD programs requires
64 credit hours for completion plus a qualifying examination and a successful
oral defense. Each of the programs has specific requirements, and individual
programs of study for the PhD degree are determined by each student
in consultation with a faculty advisor and the Program Graduate Education
Committee.
This
ensures that students entering the program from departments other than
Pharmacology satisfy the requirements of their respective departments.
Students complete the following core courses: General Biochemistry I
and II, Human Physiology, Molecular Neurobiology and Pharmacology, Laboratory
Techniques in Modern Pharmacology, Advanced General Pharmacology, Advanced
General Pharmacology, Advanced General Pharmacology, Current Topics
in Pharmacological Sciences, and three advanced electives. The training
plan has been approved by the participating departments as fulfilling
their requirements, without requiring an excessive course load. Students
spend summers engaged in research and are encouraged to begin rotations
during the month of July prior to the start of courses.
Course Requirements
The
Core -- 20 credits
GMS BI 755 General
Biochemistry (4
cr)
GMS BI 756 General
Biochemistry
(4 cr)
GMS PH 542 Human
Physiology
(4 cr)
or
ENG
BE 706 Quantitative
Physiology for Engineers (4
cr)
GMS PM 700 Molecular
Neurobiology and Pharmacology (4
cr)
GMS
PM 800 Advanced General Pharmacology (2
cr)
GMS
PM 810 Current Topics in Pharmacological Sciences
(2 cr)
Program
electives -- 4 credits minimum
GMS PM 720 General
Medical Pharmacology
(8 cr)
GMS PM
820 Behavioral Pharmacology
(2 cr)
GMS PM 830 Prinicples
of Pharmacokinetics (2
cr)
GMS PM 840 Neuroendocrine
Pharmacology (2
cr)
GMS PM 860 Electrophysiology and Pharmacology
of the Synapse
(2 cr)
GMS PM 880 Gene
Regulation and Pharmacology
(2 cr)
GMS BY 771 Biophysics
of Macromolecular Assemblies
(4 cr)
GMS BY 772 Nuclear
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Biology and Biochemistry (2
cr)
ENG BE 560 Biomolecular
Architecture
(4 cr)
ENG BE 561 DNA
and Protein Sequence Analysis
(4 cr)
ENG BE 565 Molecular
Biotechnology
(2 cr)
GMS BI 776 Gene
Targeting in Transgenic Mice (2
cr)
GMS BI 782 Molecular
Biology
(2 cr)
GMS BI 783 Structure
and Function of Proteins
(2 cr)
GMS PM 860 Electrophysiology
and Pharmacology of the Synapse
(2 cr)
GMS BI 789 Physical
Biochemistry
(2 cr)
GMS
BI 790 Receptors and Signal Transduction (2
cr)
GRS CH 644 Current
Topics in Medical Chemistry
(2 cr)
GMS MS 753 Cell
Biology
(4 cr)
GMS PH 843 Cellular
Physiology I
(4 cr)
GMS PH 844 Cellular Physiology II (4
cr)
GMS MS 703 Neuroscience
(4 cr)
GMS AN 709 Neural
Development and Plasticity
(2 cr)
CLA CN 510 Prinicples
and Methods of Cognitive and Neural Modeling
(4 cr)
Seminar
Courses (2 credits)
GMS
PM 810 Current
Topics in Pharmacological Sciences
(2 cr)
ENG
BE 790 Biomedical
Engineering Seminar
(no cr)
GMS
BY 871, 872 Biophysics
Seminar
(2 cr)
Laboratory
Rotations-4 credits
GMS
PM 710 Laboratory Techniques in Modern Pharmacology
( 2 cr; two semesters required in the first
year; this is a laboratory rotation course and students may elect
to complete additional laboratory rotations during the summer of the
first year)
Laboratory Rotations
During
the first year, predoctoral trainess register for two semesters of
GMS
PM 710 Laboratory Techniques in
Modern Pharmacology, in which they complete four laboratory rotations
of seven weeks each. Student choose rotation mentor from the particpating
faculty members of the Program, independent of department affliation.
This rotation experience provides exposure to a variety of experimental
approaches to the study of pharmacology. Trainees are encouraged to
select rotations in laboratories that approach problems from different
perspectives, in keeping with the fundamental goal of providing them
a broad and more complete understanding of research strategies that
have been developed to address questions of pharmacological importance.
Rotations are designed to be a teaching instrument and students are
encouraged to obtain publication quality data. Each student submits
a paper written in the style of a research manuscript after each rotation
that summarizes his or her research experience. At the end of each semester,
there is an additional course meeting at which students will deliver
presentations of their rotations experiences. Students receive a grade
of Pass or Fail in GMS PM 710 based upon their performance in research
rotations and the grading of their written reports. The
GMS PM 710 course
manager (Dr. Russek) reviews papers, provides evaluations to students,
and maintains feedback to the faculty.
Seminars
The Biomolecular
Pharmacology seminar program has been expanded through support provided
by institutional sources, the endowed Sterling Drug Visiting Professorship,
and in 1991 by an award from the Burroughs Wellcome Foundation. All
students are required to attend pharmacology seminars. In addition,
students register for at least one semster of Current Topics in Pharmacological
Sciences. In this course, the guest lecturer attends student presentations
of research paper(s) related to the lecturer's research. This course
has proved to be highly successful in providing students with essential
background to the seminar speaker's work and thereby preparing the students
to participate actively in the department seminar. Trainess will also
be given a list of seminars in all participating departments and encouraged
to attend those seminars relating to their area of research.
Qualifying
Examination
At
the end of the second year, Each student takes a qualifying examination
offered by his/her department of entry, which includes both written
and oral components. For students entering through the Department of
Pharmacology, the qualifying examination is adminstered by a committe
of five faculty members selected by the student in consultation with
his/her advisor. The composition of the Qualifying Examination Committee
is reviewed and approved by the Program Director and emphasis is placed
upon representation of faculty from other participating departments.
The written component of the examination includes five essay questions,
one from each examining faculty member, designed to test the student's
knowledge of pharmacology and related disciplines. After passing the
written examination, the student undergoes an oral examination by his/her
Qualifying Examination Committee designed to test the student's ability
to integrate information and reason experimentally.
Monitoring
of Student Progress
Prior
to selection of a research mentor, student progress is monitored by
the Program Director, who serves as First-year Advisor for entering
students, and by Course Manager of the laboratory rotations course.
The Program Graduate Education Committee reviews the progress of each
Program student after the completion of each semster. In the Fall of
the third year, a Dissertation Advisory Committee is constitured for
each student, which continues to meet every six months (or more frequently
if necessary) through the remainder of the student's graduate studies.
After each meeting, the Dissertation Advisory Committee submits a written
report on the student's progress to the Program Director. At the end
of the third yer, each student presents a Progress Report on his/her
research to the Department of Pharmacology. Upon completion of the thesis,
the pre-defense meeting of the Dissertation Defense Committee (which
will normally be the Dissertation Advisory Committee plus one or more
outside members) will verify that the student is prepared to proceed
to the thesis defense. At the thesis defense, the student presents his
work in a Departmental Seminar, then meets with is Thesis Committee
to defend his/her thesis.
Group
Meeting Presentations
Each
faculty member meets regularly with trainess to discuss ongoing projects
int he context of the research literature. At these meetings trainees
give informal presentations of their current research and discuss results
of recent papers from tthe literature. This forum also gives trainess
the opportunity to discuss with faculty issues related to the training,
as well as suggestions for improvement in the program.
Presentation
of Research Findings
Trainees
are expected to present their research findings at national research
meetings. Although graduate students tend to prefer the poster mode
of presentation at meetings, all trainees are encouraged to give at
least one slide presentation at a national meeting. They are also encouraged
to present research findings at regional and local meetings, such as
Boston Area Neuroscience Group and the New England Pharmacologists meetings.
These are yearly meetings at which there are, in addition to plenary
speakers, both oral and poster presentations. The Pharmacology Department
supports these activities by providing a $300 travel allowance to students
who are first author on an abstract at a national meeting, and $100
for presenting authors to attend the New England Pharmacological Meeting.
Students selected for appointment to the training grant utilize the
travel funds to help support attendance at regional and national meetings.
Trainees
also participate in the interdisclipinary forums at the Medical School
for presentation and discussion of research, including the monthly Graduate
Student Forum. A major innovation in 1995 was the establishment of the
Henry I. Russek Student Achivement Day and Awards Program, organized
by Shelley Russek, PhD , Assistant Professor of Pharmacology. One student
from each basic science department and degree-granting program is selected
to receive a $2, 000 award that acknowedges their dedication and research
accomplishments. Prior to the awards' ceremony each award winner presents
their results in a slide format. Each year about 100 PhD and MD/PhD
students have participated in the day by presenting posters and supporting
their fellow students. All students in the training program participate
in this event.
Students
also are encouraged to participate int he Boston University Graduate
Research Day, a university wide poster presentation that is open to
all graduate students. It is held annually at the George Sherman Union
on the Charles River Campus. Several awards are given to students based
on their abstracts and poster presentations. In the last five years
students form the Biomolecular Pharmacology Program have an outstanding
record of achievement at this meeting. Since 1996, five PhD students
in pharmacology received awards at this event. Most remarkable is that
in each of 1997, 1998, and 1999 the highest honor, the University's
President Award, was earned by a Pharmacology PhD candidate.
Students
may also compete for Division of Graduate Medical Sciences Research
Awards. These grants provide a meritorious award for the student as
well as funds for the laboratory to support the student's research project.
There are two $5,000 awards, with a $500 student prize, and five $2000
awards, with a $250 student prize.
The interdisciplinary
spirit that is the basis of the NIGMS Biomolecular Pharmacology Training
Program is accentuated by monthly meetings, "Program Socials",
that encourage interactions among students, faculty, and research personnel
from the Charles River and Medical campuses. Brief informal presentations
by a faculty member and students highlight the innivative research in
their laboratory and lead to lively discussions that stimulate future
collaborations.
Qualifications, Criteria and Procedures for Selections of Trainees
Individuals
with baccalaureate degress who meet the requirements of the particpating
departments are considered for acceptance into the predoctoral program.
training grant support is only allocated to applications who are U.S.
citizens or permanent residents.
The
Program Graduate Education Committee recommends to the Program Director
the students to be supported by the raining grant. Students are eligible
for funding for the first two years of their Ph.D. training. Candidates
include students accepted to PhD programs in Pharmacology, Physiology
and Biophysics, Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Medicine, and MD/PhD
students enrolled at Boston University. The latter are eligible to receive
a stipend only during their PhDtraining period, which is normally between
the second and third years of medical training.
Students
are nominated by participating in departmental admissions' committees
by May 1. These nominations occur prior to matriculation for students
entering the PhD program and during the second year of medical training
for the students in the MD/PhD program. Nominations are also sought
from the participating faculty for students who are in their first year
of study and have identified a mentor for the second year. The following
criteria are used to prioritize nominees and select students for training
grant support:
(1) Highest
priority is assigned to students who identify pharmacology as their
major field of interest by having applied and been accepted into graduate
training through the Biomolecular Pharmacology Program. Students who
enter through Physiology and Biophysics, Biomedical Engineering and
Molecular Medicine and who exhibit a strong interest in pharmacology
are eligible. Minority applications are idnetified and given careful
consideration.
(2) The
caliber and interests of the candidate is an important consideration.
Highest priority is assigned to students with the strongest academic
record, including grade point average, standardized test scores, letters
of recommendation, previous research experience, a promising interview,
interest in study of pharmacology at the molecular or integrative level,
and desire to capitalize on the resources of the interdisciplinary components
of the program.
For
students who identify a preferred faculty advisor, which is most likely
to occur with MD/PhD candidates who will have completed one laboratory
rotations prior to nomination, the availability of resources is a factor.
Special attention is devoted to equitable distribution of students supported
by the training grant among the eligible participating faculty.
At
the end of the student's first year of PhDstudy, the Program Graduate
Education Committee makes a recommendation whether to support in the
second year, based on the student's performance in the first year, the
strength of the student's research project a commitment to pharmacological
studies, and the availability of resources for the student's support.
Students
supported by the training grant in their initial years of PhD study
are expected to satisfy the requirements of the program and will be
identified as trainees in Biomolecular Pharmacology throughout the duration
of their graduate training regardless of sources of suppoer in terminal
years.
