Graduate Biomedical Sciences Programs at The University of Alabama at Birmingham

Graduate Biomedical UAB overview UAB Graduate Biomedical Sciences Training Model:  Multiple interdisciplinary 1 st year feeder programs recruit and admit students  Student affiliates with specific interdisciplinary feeder program upon accepting program admission offer  Completes program core and elective course requirements in first year  Performs lab rotations with program faculty and identifies advisor in first year  Joins department in which advisor holds primary or secondary JHS appointment (only JHS departments in SOM are currently credentialed by state to award PhD degrees)  Completes departmental degree requirements  Receives departmental degree

Graduate Biomedical UAB overview Graduate Biomedical UAB Interdisciplinary Feeder Programs: Admissions and 1st year curriculum  Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) (40*) Primary JHS departments** – Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Neurobiology  Integrative Biomedical Sciences (IBS) (23) Primary JHS departments – Pathology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Environmental Health Sciences  Neuroscience (7)Genetics (6) Faculty of 17 departmentsPrimary JHS department – Genetics 1 o & 2 o appt  Toxicology (4)Biochemistry/Molecular Genetics (5) Faculty of 9 departments Primary JHS department – BMG 1 o & 2 o appt  MD/PhD (7)Nutrition Sciences (3) Faculty of 13 departments Faculty of 5 departments * Number of students affiliated with program or department ** Individual faculty members may participate in more than one feeder program

Graduate Biomedical UAB overview Graduate Biomedical UAB Departmental Programs: Advanced training/degree granting  Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics(40*)  Cell Biology (81)  Genetics (10)  Microbiology (75)  Neurobiology (38)  Nutrition Science (3)  Pathology (42)  Pharmacology & Toxicology (35)  Physiology (33) * Number of students affiliated with program or department

Graduate Biomedical UAB overview Graduate Biomedical UAB Graduate Student Enrollment and Demographics  440 total PhD students (JHS plus Nutrition Science)  52% male, 48% female  65% US (16.5% US minority), 35% international  Average time to degree yr  Perform research supporting ~$90M annual NIH direct costs  Represent 63% of total research trainee workforce First year class  925 applications (42% US, 58% international)  98 entering students (69% US [19% US minority], 31% international)  Mean GRE V+Q, 1232; mean GPA, 3.5 Graduate Faculty  ~220 total graduate faculty in biomedical sciences (62% JHS 1 o appt, 38% clinical/other 1 o appt)  Faculty may participate in more than one graduate program

Graduate Biomedical UAB graduate program structure Graduate Biomedical UAB First Year Curriculum (via interdisciplinary feeder programs): Core courses  Parallel core curricula sponsored by CMB and IBS programs, each shared with additional feeder programs Elective courses  Parallel sets of multiple elective course offerings in modular format, sponsored by CMB and IBS programs  Elective modules recently coordinated to allow choice of electives from either program elective course set Lab rotations and advisor selection  Schedules of faculty research presentations sponsored by each feeder program  Programs oversee selection of 3 program-specific lab rotations  Advisor selection from program faculty typically in May of first year Continuing years (via departmental programs)  Department-specific advanced graduate curricula, qualifying exams and thesis defense overseen by departmental director and committees * faculty may participate in multiple feeder programs as teaching faculty and rotation advisors

Graduate Biomedical UAB graduate program structure Graduate Biomedical UAB Sample Feeder Program 1 st Year Curriculum

Graduate Biomedical UAB graduate program structure Graduate Biomedical UAB Typical Interdisciplinary Feeder Program Structure  Steering Committee  Participating Department Chairs, departmental Graduate Program Directors, Feeder Program Director  Responsible for policies, budget, program faculty selection/review  Curriculum Committee  Recruitment/Admissions Committee  Program Graduate Faculty  Must have 1 o or 2 o appointment in PhD degree-granting department  Sponsored by JHS Department Chair with support letter and Faculty Applicant’s CV  Must also apply to Graduate School for UAB Graduate Faculty status; see  Reviewed every 3 years for research, teaching and training credentials and may be placed on inactive status

Graduate Biomedical UAB graduate program structure Graduate Biomedical UAB Graduate Student Funding Costs and Sources: Student Costs, 2006 Stipend$23,000 (Fall 2006) Tuition $6,800 Fees/Health $2,181 $31,981 First Year Students Feeder Program provides support ( supported by 1 st year Graduate $23,590 allocated by Graduate School) Continuing Students Support Sources R01 or other faculty advisor research support (70% tuition returned to funding source) NRSA (T32) and other training grants (22 grants; 81 predoc, 59 postdoc slots) NRSA (F30/F31) and other fellowships (23 awards, FY2005) Graduate School Special Population Fellowships (GAANN, CMFSDP)

Graduate Biomedical UAB graduate initiatives Graduate Biomedical UAB Other Training Opportunities Summer Research Programs  Summer in Biomedical Science (SIBS, affiliated with IBS program)  Physiology Summer Research Program  Summer Program in Neurobiology (SPIN) (NSF funded)  Program for Research Experience in Pathology (PREP)  Genetics Summer Research Program  Medical Student Summer Research Program (NIH T35) UAB Undergraduate Science & Technology Honors Program  Initiated Fall 2005, students receive UAB Graduate School admission and 2 years’ funding on successful program completion and UG degree New PhD Training Pathways  PhD - MBA Program (initiated AY05-06)  HHMI Med into Grad Initiative (translational research, 1 of 13 awarded nationally)  Pathway for Advanced Research Training in Science (PARTS) Residency/PhD Program (Pathology dept, in development) Office of Postdoctoral Education  Advertises open postdoc positions, oversees funding levels, benefits, policies, career development activities, etc

Graduate Biomedical UAB graduate initiatives Graduate Biomedical UAB Graduate Initiatives & Resources School of Medicine Research Strategic Plan 2006  Graduate Education and Clinical Research Training Initiatives (funding, new interdisciplinary programs, etc)  Office of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Shelby Bldg, anticipated Spring 2006  GBS website and other recruitment initiatives Graduate School  New Graduate School Dean (Bryan Noe, PhD)  New UAB recruitment funding awards available to all graduate programs (Spring 2006)  Graduate School Office service upgrades  Graduate School website redesign, other communications initiatives  Professional Development Programs  Graduate Student Research Days (March 2-3, 2006, Hill University Center)  UAB Industry Roundtable

Graduate Biomedical UAB graduate resources Graduate Biomedical UAB Graduate and Other Training Resources School of Medicine  Graduate Programs in the Biomedical Sciences  Medical Student Summer Research Program Graduate School  Graduate School Office  Dean, Bryan Noe, PhD,  Associate Dean, Life Sciences, Susan Rich, PhD, ,  Graduate Programs  Graduate Faculty Application,  Minority Fellowship Programs, Wanda Jordan, ,  Summer Undergraduate Research Programs Office of Postdoctoral Education , UAB Science & Technology Honors Program