Graduate Program Pedro J. Salas M.D., Ph.D. Graduate Program Director

What is a graduate program? Graduate programs are self-governing groups of faculty members that:  Are recognized by the Graduate School (Dean Terri abceScandura Ph.D.)  Determine course work  Determine requisites for graduation  Appoint Ph.D. committees  Supervise student progress  Administer students’ stipends  Arbitrate in student conflicts  Issue the Ph.D. degree. Graduate Program Director Steering Committee Graduate program administrator At the end of the first year you will have to choose a mentor and a graduate program

Cell Biology Pharmacology Miami Project Medicine Surgery Urology Neurology Ophthalmology A multidepartmental graduate program What is the MCDB graduate program? Pedro Salas, M.D., Ph.D Nevis Fregien, Ph.D. Teresa Zimmers, Ph.D. Mike Xu, Ph.D. Steering committee Microbiology

What is the MCDB graduate program? Cell Biology underlies most modern biomedical research: neurons, cancer cells, any tissue, or organ you want to study is a Cell Biology issue. Developmental Biology is Cell Biology of embryonic cells. Cancer cell phenotypes resemble embryonic cells. In vitro organogenesis mimics developmental processes. Molecular Biology The central tenet of our program is to provide the students with the most updated in-depth training of basic science that can be broadly applied in most current biomedical research.

What is the MCDB graduate program? We get funded: ~26 NIH RO1 grants, in addition to other grants. 1.2 RO1’s/faculty, (approximately 5.2 million $/year direct costs) We rank in the top 30% of 109 Cell Biology programs nationwide for faculty productivity (Academic Analytics, 2009) We publish More importantly, MCDB graduate students get funded and publish.

What are the MCDB graduate program course requirements? Core Curriculum: MDB651 Advanced Molecular Cell Biology. The course is designed to cover knowledge beyond the text books and to enable the students to design and criticize experimental approaches in Cell Biology acceptable for current peer-review criteria. MDB652 Current Topics in Mammalian Development. Emphasis is placed in developmental mechanisms, stem cells and organogenesis. MDB 653 Histology. Course focuses on practical interpretation of sections and tissue function. Biostatistics Workshop A IBS620 Scientific Writing I MDB665 Tumor Biology OR ANY OTHER COURSE covering Cell/Developmental Biology of Disease. MDB601 Seminar/Journal Club. Ongoing activities on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to discuss leading-edge research with a VERY critical perspective. Students’ own dissertation work is also discussed. National / International meeting attendance and presentations Spring PIBS modules Fall 2 nd year

What is the MCDB graduate program qualifier exam requirement? Standard for all programs: Writing of a TRUE grant (fellowship) proposal by November of the Fall semester (second year). Must identify funding agency and the corresponding requisites. The proposal is reviewed by faculty committee The proposal is defended by student Proposal amended according to faculty input and submitted

What is the MCDB graduate program dissertation proposal requirement? It is also standard for all programs: Students must assemble a Thesis committee by the end of the second year Committee comprises the mentor, two MCDB faculty members, one external, non-MCDB faculty The program thrives to have all the proposals approved by the end of the second year. This, in addition to close monitoring of student’s progress allows MCDB to have an average time to completion of the PhD degree in 5.5 years, which is identical to the national average.

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