doctoral program
The Doctoral Program
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doctoral program |
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The Doctoral Program |
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Selection of a Research Project and a Thesis Advisor |
Our major basic scientific challenge in cancer biology research is to determine the underlying biological basis for malignancy and the clinical challenge is to apply this basic research to improve treatment of human cancers. To meet these challenges our Graduate Program in Cancer Biology has a scope and approach which transcends traditional department/discipline structures, while still providing knowledge and training in many disciplines including biochemistry, pathology, molecular biology, therapeutics, immunology, pharmacology and chemistry. Ours therefore is an integrated inter-disciplinary graduate program. Our program’s goal is to develop within each student the approach to scientific thought and pursuit needed for original research as an independent cancer biology investigator.
The Ph.D. program consists of formal course work which provides a comprehensive education in the principles and research of cancer biology, as well as solid training in the core disciplines which serve modern-day cancer research. Hence, graduates gain a broad understanding of the fundamental principles underlying this diverse field with in-depth knowledge in their dissertation discipline. Active participation in research seminars and original research are two basic elements of this program. The major element is training in the research techniques which comprise a sophisticated underpinning for future advances in cancer biology. Students must complete a publishable research project under a faculty mentor and successfully defend the dissertation research.
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| Curriculum | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The program of each cancer biology student is tailored to their specific interests and research requirements. Previous educational experience is recognized so as to permit the student to progress as rapidly as possible. Since the program requires a broad understanding of cancer biology, a core curriculum is required.
Total credits above equal 34 credits
Also, a number of advanced cancer biology courses are provided from which the student will be required to choose 11 credit hours for a total of 45 coursework credits. A number of other courses are available to allow students to specialize with regard to a specific research discipline.
It is expected that most course work will be completed in the first and second years. A written comprehensive qualifying exam is required by the end of the first year, followed by an oral exam of the proposed dissertation research. The third and subsequent years will be primarily devoted to dissertation research. Forty-five credits of general research, including 30 credits of dissertation research, will complete the Graduate School requirements.
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| Selection of a Research Project and a Thesis Advisor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Graduate Program in Cancer Biology provides research opportunities in many areas of Cancer Biology including Experimental Therapeutics, Metastasis, Breast Cancer, Carcinogenesis, Molecular Biology of Cancer, Cancer Immunology, as well as selected topics within the traditional departments of Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Immunology and Medicine. Students complete up to three laboratory rotations in the first year (one in each semester) after which he/she will choose a research project and a mentor. At the end of the first year, the student must submit a Plan of Work. Following its acceptance, a permanent advisory committee is established. The progress of the student toward the goals of this program will be reviewed at frequent intervals and are required annually and the student advised accordingly. return
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| Research | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Independent pursuit of research leading to results of publishable caliber is the prime evidence demonstrating the completion of the requirements remaining after a student has completed the prescribed coursework and been admitted to Ph.D. candidacy. We offer a variety of research experiences in the broad field of Cancer Biology. Although some students will be committed to a specific research area before they enter the program, others will want an opportunity to investigate projects in some detail before making a commitment. Research rotations provide an in-depth exposure to research prior to selecting a dissertation project. Seminars given by the faculty allow the students to become familiar with ongoing research in the program. Since research is open-ended, the amount of time required for completion of a defensible dissertation cannot be predicted. Although the program is designed to require four to five years to complete, some variation in the length of the program for different students is to be expected. Four years is a minimum expectation for this program. Realistic goals should be set and the student and dissertation mentor will discuss progress relative to these goals at frequent intervals. The final examination is the defense of the dissertation conducted by the student's Dissertation Committee. The program has no other formal requirements for successful completion of the Ph.D.
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