A Ph.D. in the Biomedical Sciences at West Virginia University offers the student the unique opportunity to explore multiple disciplines and areas of research in the biomedical sciences but to also fast track into a dissertation laboratory and a graduate program within one semester. Earning the Ph.D. will be through one of the 7 degree granting programs in the Biomedical Sciences: Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Cancer Cell Biology, Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Pathophysiology, Rehabilitation, and Performance, Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Neuroscience, and Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences. These programs share a common admission's process and a common core curriculum in the first semester. Students will rotate through 3 laboratories during the fall semester with the potential to select a dissertation adviser by the end of the semester.
Doctoral study in these graduate programs allows the development of research and critical thinking skills as well as preparation in career development to prepare the student for entry into a myriad of careers in research, teaching, industry, government, and other positions that require specialized training at the graduate level.
All students will:
- start with an orientation that will prepare him/her to successfully transition into graduate studies, and to interact with an orientation adviser, faculty investigators, and current students;
- have the opportunity to match with a faculty mentor, or thesis or dissertation adviser through laboratory rotations during the first semester;
- have formal training in scientific writing;
- have the opportunity to participate in seminar series, workshops, experiential learning, and career-development sessions.
The Masters of Sciences (M.S.) in the Biomedical Sciences is designed to allow a pathway to graduation for students who have completed the requirements for a M.S. degree, and are not continuing their Ph.D. studies. Students in this program would have been initially admitted through the Ph.D. program.
Biomedical Sciences
This program is designed to assist in the selection of a career path, albeit industry, teaching, or a professional program, and/or for the transition to a biomedical Ph.D. program. The first-year curriculum imparts a fundamental understanding of the functional components of a cell and the basis for regulation of cellular processes and organ systems. After selecting a mentor, students take additional courses that align with their research interests.
Students will:
- Integrate molecular, cellular, and integrative systems concepts
- Critically interpret the current scientific literature
- Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Demonstrate technical skills in conducting scientific experimentation
- Design and interpret experiments to test molecular, cellular, and integrative systems mechanisms
- Articulate, verbally and in writing, their understanding of concepts during scientific discussions
- Discuss relevant scientific ethical issues presented as case studies
- Engage with fellow students and faculty and demonstrate teamwork
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in one of 7 biomedical Ph.D. programs
Students in the first semester of year one in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Programs take a common core curriculum that covers topics important to all biomedical sciences graduate programs. In addition, they begin training in the responsible conduct of research, and they conduct three short lab experiences to assist in the selection of a faculty mentor for dissertation research. The intended outcomes the first year in graduate school are to match with a faculty investigator who will guide the student to completion of dissertation research, and to successfully transfer into one of the Ph.D. degree-granting biomedical sciences programs.
By the end of the first year students will:
- Integrate molecular, cellular, and integrative systems concepts
- Identify the relevant scientific literature for their proposed area of research
- Conduct and optimize select laboratory procedures
- Develop an oral presentation on a topic that is new to them
- Discuss relevant scientific ethical issues presented as case studies
- Apply responsible research practices to the conduct of their experiments
- Engage with fellow students and faculty and demonstrate teamwork
The individual PhD programs have additional learning outcomes specific to the advanced skills required of a PhD and the specific discipline of that program and the student's research.
