| General
Information
The Molecular Pathology graduate program
is an interdisciplinary program that has at its core the
fundamental study of the
molecular basis of disease. Faculty associated with this
program have academic appointments in several institutions
including: The University of Texas Medical School at Houston,
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The Brown Foundation Institute
of Molecular Medicine and The Texas Heart Institute. The
program is a component of the Graduate School of Biomedical
Sciences (GSBS) at the University Of Texas Health Science
Center at Houston. Diverse areas of research expertise
within the Program mean that students within the Program
have a wide array of options both in research and in the
course work available.
Through its active
interdisciplinary research environment,
the program provides an integrative approach to graduate
education that stresses medical applications of research
as well as the study of basic biologic processes. The
primary research focus of the program is on the study of
the molecular basis
of human disease and the faculty's
efforts are concentrated
in
four areas:
In addition to the
Graduate School curriculum, the Program in Molecular
Pathology provides an active seminar and journal
club program to
aid the research training of graduate students
and postdoctoral fellows.
Coursework
During the first two years of graduate education, trainees are exposed to a wide variety of courses in biomedical sciences. Students are also required to rotate through three research laboratories of participating faculty during their first year. This process allows the student to identify a research advisor whose research and scientific approach meshes with their interests and long term educational goals. During subsequent years the trainee takes more specialized courses and conducts dissertation research under the direction of this advisor. Research
All students are required to complete the prerequisites as defined by the GSBS. Individual course selection is dependent on the educational background and the academic goals of the student. It is recommended that during the first year the student concentrates on completing the GSBS core courses. At the end of the first year the student is expected to have identified a permanent laboratory in which to complete his/her dissertation research. The student is also expected to take the Ph.D. candidacy exam before completion of the second year of study. This exam requires that the student demonstrates a broad knowledge in biomedical research and an in-depth knowledge of the selected area of research concentration. Upon entry into candidacy the student then embarks upon research on an original research project. The student must write up this study in a formal dissertation and publicly defend it before being awarded the Ph.D. degree.
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