Cellular, Molecular and Biomedical Sciences
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    Cellular, Molecular and Biomedical Sciences

    The University of Vermont
    The University of Vermont
    United States of America
    United States of America, Burlington
    University Rank:#1178
    Go to Official Website
    Duration4 year(s)
    Tuition Fee
    USD 1,720 / credit
    Next IntakeAugust 28, 2023

    Cellular, Molecular and Biomedical Sciences

    About

    Thank you for taking the time to look more closely into the offerings of the University of Vermont's Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Sciences (CMB) doctoral program.

    The CMB program has at its underpinnings didactic training in biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, data analysis, scientific communications, grant writing, and ethics, along with research rotations during the first year conducted in three laboratories. In subsequent years, CMB students devote most of their time to basic science, applied, or translational research conducted in the laboratory of their primary mentor, and are afforded ample opportunities to enroll in advanced elective courses catered especially to doctoral-level students in which both contemporary and classical primary literature constitute the teaching materials, and in-depth discussions are the norm. Areas of research being conducted by CMB faculty recruiting students includes allergy and autoimmunity, bacteriology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, cancer biology, cellular and organismal metabolism, fibrosis, genomics, cell motility, host defense and inflammation, parasitology, redox biology, regenerative medicine, toxicology, vaccine development, virology, and x-ray crystallography. Interdepartmental working groups in which CMB students and faculty participate include the Vermont Lung Center (VLC), Vermont Center for Immunology and Infectious Diseases (VCIID), Translational Global Infectious Diseases Research Center (TGIR), Cardiovascular Research Institute of Vermont (CVRI), Redox Biology and Pathology Program (RBP), and UVM Cancer Center.

    The CMB program attracts applicants from diverse undergraduate majors, and we seek to admit students with science coursework appropriate to the major (recent admitted student majors include Biochemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Chemistry, Genetics, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Physics, etc.,) and indicating preparation for the Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Sciences doctorate. An important complement to coursework preparation is research experience outside the classroom. Most of our admitted students have worked during summers or after graduating with their undergraduate degree in laboratory settings, have strong letters from research advisors, and have gained the experience to explain in the personal statement and during the interviews what they were doing, why they were doing it, how the experience shaped their need to pursue doctoral studies, and how the CMB Program and specific labs of CMB faculty complement their interests.

    Admitted students receive a competitive stipend, tuition waiver, and medical insurance. Stipend support comes from serving as a teaching assistant, primary mentor grants, departmental funds, NIH-supported institutional training grants (Immunology/Infectious Disease and Lung Biology T32s), or individual fellowships. The average time to graduation is 5.5 years, and our alumni have been admitted to prestigious postdoc positions, taken posts in industry, and obtained additional clinical training.

    I encourage you to explore our website, especially the Prospective Students Information tab in the menu, to learn more about our program and the application process (handled through UVM's Graduate College portal). If you have questions, reach out to me ([email protected]) or the CMB office ([email protected]). Our application deadline is December 1st, 2022, and we plan to conduct interviews on January 13 and 14, 2023.

    My best,




    Matt Poynter, PhD
    Director of the Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Sciences doctoral program

    Disciplines

    College of Arts and Sciences

    Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    Eligibility

    To be eligible for admission to any program, applicants must hold a U.S. baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution or an equivalent degree from an accredited/recognized foreign institution prior to the date of first graduate enrollment at The University of Vermont. Individual degree programs may have additional requirements as described in our Programs and Degrees page. A number of departments and programs provide opportunities for selected UVM undergraduates to participate in Accelerated Master's Programs (AMPs).

    Applicants are expected to be fluent in English; instruction at The University of Vermont is conducted in English. There is no intensive English as a Second Language program at the University, although limited instruction is available to enhance speaking fluency in English.

    Statement of Purpose

    In your Statement of Purpose, please outline your reasons for wishing to undertake graduate study, and comment on your career plans. Describe the strengths and weaknesses of your preparation for graduate study in your proposed field. If you are presently in a graduate program, please explain why you wish to apply to a new program. If there are gaps in your academic career, please address them.

    Letters of Recommendation

    UVM's Graduate College requires three letters of recommendation evaluating your academic work and potential for graduate study. References are submitted online and will be collected electronically by the Admissions Office. You do not need to wait to submit your application until the letters are in.

    On the application form where you list your recommenders (name, address, email, etc.), you will need to click “Submit Recommendation Request” for each recommender. When you do this, an email is generated automatically to each of your recommenders explaining that you are applying to the University of Vermont Graduate College and it includes a link to the recommendation form to be completed.

    If your recommender is having trouble with the online recommendation form, they can contact [email protected] for technical assistance, or email [email protected] for further guidance.

    Transcript

    Transcripts must be obtained from each of the post-secondary educational institutions you have attended and, if necessary, a notarized English translation of the transcripts. At this time, we accept electronic transcripts from the following services:

    • Direct from your institutions registrar's office
    • eScripts
    • National Student Clearinghouse
    • Parchment Exchange
    • A NACES or AICE approved third-party credential evaluation service which requires official transcripts for evaluation (for international students)

    Electronic transcripts can be sent to: [email protected].

    Official Paper transcripts can be sent to:

    The Graduate College Admissions Office
    The University of Vermont
    330 Waterman Building
    Burlington, Vermont 05405-0160

    “Official” transcripts are transcripts that are sent directly to The University of Vermont’s Graduate Admissions office by another institution – or as unopened documents from the student who received them from the institution.

    “Unofficial” transcripts are transcripts that have been opened by the student or printed from an institution’s student portal.
    With the exception of Public Health programs, we accept unofficial transcripts during the admissions review process; you can upload those directly to the application. Official transcripts are required of applicants who are admitted to the Graduate College. If you are currently completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to send an official transcript documenting completion of the degree prior to enrollment.

    We do not automatically receive UVM transcripts. If you have attended UVM you will need to log into your MYUVM portal and request that the Registrar send an official transcript to [email protected]. This service is free and easy to accomplish.

    English Requirements

    • IELTSMin 6.5
    • TOEFLMin 90

    Fee Information

    Application Fee 65

    How to Apply

    When to do it: Begin at least 3 months before you apply.

    To prepare, be sure to complete the following steps:

    • Take required tests
    • Request required transcripts
    • Identify and contact your recommenders (confirm their contact info)
    • Write your personal statement
    • Confirm and satisfy additional program requirements

    Cellular, Molecular and Biomedical Sciences

    The University of Vermont

    The University of Vermont

    United States of America

    United States of America, Burlington

    Go to Official Website