Prerequisites
Successful students will have a broad and comprehensive background in Biology (or similar degree type) with a desire to understand the mechanism of how organisms function. Applicants must have a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Biology, or an allied sciences. Prospective students should apply for admission through the Biomedical Sciences (BIMS) Graduate Program.
Requirements for Ph.D. in Physiology
Course Requirements
In addition to the BIMS Core Course, there are 6 additional modules required. These include:
- Graduate Physiology (2 modules: Grad Physiology A and B),
- Pharmacology (2 modules: Intro to Pharmacology and Intro to Neuropharmacology),
- Either Biophysical Foundations of Molecular Physiology (1 module) or Extreme Physiology (1 module).
- At least one more graduate level module offered within the Department of Physiology is required - usually this is Vascular Physiology but any Physiology course can be substituted.
Qualifiers
The qualifier committee will have at least 2 members from the Department of Molecular Physiology, with a minimum of 3 tenure-track faculty. The Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) in Molecular Physiology will choose the committee members.
The student is required to write and defend, an extensive review of a topic that is not directly associated with their anticipated research. The review should be given to members of the committee 2 weeks before the oral defense.
Qualifiers will occur within 3 months of May of the second year into graduate studies at UVA.
Thesis Committee
A member of the Department of Molecular Physiology is required to be mentor for the student—this can be adjunct or by special permission. A co-mentor is also permitted with approval from the DGS. Another member of the department of Physiology is also required. A minimum of 4 thesis committee members are required, all tenure-track faculty.
The first thesis committee will occur within 9 months of completing the qualifiers, with regular meetings scheduled every 6 months.
Publications
At least one first author publication (non-review article) is required for consideration of the Ph.D. degree. The publication must be of high quality, and determined whether it is an important contribution to science by the thesis committee.
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