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Affiliated Graduate Programs Requirements & Contacts


Carver College of Medicine & Graduate College

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology:

Director of Graduate Studies:  Ernesto Fuentes, PhD
Graduate Program Coordinator:  Sonya Housholder

The Biochemistry & Molecular Biology PhD provides research training in diverse areas of biochemistry, including molecular, cellular, developmental, computational, and structural biology. Investigations integrate in vitro and in vivo model system. PhD course requirements are flexible to accommodate students with a wide variety of research interests. This PhD program is one of the five basic sciences PhD programs in the CCOM.

MSTP students are required to complete an additional 12 hours of advanced graduate coursework, including courses in biophysical chemistry and biochemistry seminar. MSTP students complete their on-topic comprehensive exam at the end of their second semester in graduate school. MSTP students complete a one semester teaching assistantship.

Cancer Biology:

Director of Graduate Studies:  Adam Dupuy, PhD
Graduate Program Coordinator:  Alicia Denman

The Cancer Biology PhD (Biomedical Sciences Program subprogram) provides students with advanced knowledge in current concepts in molecular, cellular and genetic processes that contribute to the development and treatment of cancer. This interdisciplinary PhD program draws faculty from multiple U of Iowa colleges, with most faculty members from the CCOM.

MSTP students are required to complete an additional 14 hours of advanced graduate coursework, including graduate seminars in topics of cancer biology and crafting a scientific proposal. MSTP students complete their on-topic comprehensive exam at the end of the summer of their first year in graduate school.

Cell & Developmental Biology:

Director of Graduate Studies:  Tina Tootle, PhD
Graduate Program Coordinator:  Julie Collins

The Cell & Developmental Biology PhD (Biomedical Sciences Program subprogram) provides rigorous training in experimental cell and developmental biology. Research is focused on basic mechanisms of cellular organization and of developmental gene regulatory networks, and the relevance of these topics to health and disease. This subprogram is one of the five sponsored by a basic science department in the CCOM.

MSTP students are required to complete an additional 11 hours of advanced graduate coursework, including five critical thinking topical courses in Biochemistry, Genetics, Cell Biology, Development and Cell Physiology. MSTP students complete their on-topic comprehensive exam at the end of their second semester in graduate school. MSTP students complete a one semester teaching assistantship.

Experimental Pathology:

Director of Graduate Studies:  Thomas Waldschmidt, PhD

The Experimental Pathology PhD (Biomedical Sciences Program subprogram) is a new program that is currently only accepting "direct admits" at this time. This means all admitted students have already identified a faculty mentor and laboratory upon entering the subprogram. Accordingly, students in Experimental Pathology do not perform rotations, but begin developing a thesis project with their mentor at the onset of their PhD training. Consistent with our direct admission policy, Medical Science Training Program (MSTP or MD/PhD) students are welcome to join the Experimental Pathology PhD subprogram.

MSTP students are required to complete approximately 18 hours (exact number to be determined) of advanced graduate coursework.  In addition to common foundational courses, Experimental Pathology students take courses focused on pathology of disease (Pathogenesis of Major Human Diseases), higher level statistics (Practical Data Science and Bioinformatics or Introduction to Biostatistics), professional development (Pathology Seminar) and electives in the area of their thesis research.  MSTP students will complete an off-topic comprehensive exam in the form of a grant proposal during the first (fall) semester of the second year in graduate school.

Free Radical & Radiation Biology (FRRB):

Director of Graduate Studies:  Douglas Spitz, PhD
Graduate Program Coordinator:  Laura Hefley

The Free Radical & Radiation Biology PhD (Biomedical Sciences Program subprogram) provides rigorous training in the rapidly emerging fields of free radical biology, redox biology, and cancer biology. This subprogram is the only PhD program sponsored by a clinical department at the U of Iowa.

MSTP students are required to complete an additional 21 hours of graduate and advanced graduate coursework, including courses in Radiation Biology, Redox Biology and Medicine, and Molecular and Cell Biology of Cancer, along with graduate seminars in current topics in FRRB. MSTP students complete a qualifying exam and an on-topic comprehensive exam. Both are usually completed by the end of the summer of the first year in graduate school.

Genetics:

Director of Graduate Studies:  Daniel Eberl, PhD
Graduate Program Administrator:  Robert DuBay

The Genetics PhD program offers broad training in genetics with research opportunities in areas including computational genetics, developmental Genetics, gene expression, human genetics, molecular and biochemical genetics and evolutionary genetics. This interdisciplinary PhD program includes faculty members from departments in the CCOM, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering.

MSTP students are required to complete an additional 9 hours of advanced graduate coursework, identified through consultation with their thesis advisor, as well as the seminars of Special Topics in Genetics. MSTP students complete their on-topic comprehensive exam at the end of their second semester in graduate school. MSTP students complete a one semester teaching assistantship.

Human Toxicology:

Director of Graduate Studies:  Gabriele Ludewig, PhD
Graduate Program Administrator:  David Purdy

The Human Toxicology PhD program offers training in the adverse effects of chemical, physical or biological agents on living organisms and the ecosystem.  This interdisciplinary PhD program includes faculty members from five colleges including Public Health, Medicine, Pharmacology, Liberal Arts & Sciences, & Engineering).

MSTP students are required to complete an additional 11 hours of advanced graduate coursework, identified through consultation with their thesis advisor, as well as the seminar Toxicology Research Seminar throughout.  MSTP students complete their on-topic comprehensive exam at the end of their second semester in graduate school.

Immunology:

Director of Graduate Studies:  Kevin Legge, PhD
Graduate Program Administrator:
  Robert DuBay

The Immunology PhD provides research training in all areas of immunobiology including innate and adaptive immunity, inherited and acquired inflammatory disorders, tumor immunology, and the host response to infection with viral, bacterial and parasitic pathogens. This interdisciplinary subprogram brings together faculty from five basic science and clinical CCOM departments.

MSTP students are required to complete an additional 15 hours of advanced graduate coursework, including advanced class of graduate immunology and human disease, graduate immunology, advanced topics in immunology, and immunology seminars. MSTP students complete their off-topic comprehensive exam at the end of their second semester in graduate school. MSTP students complete a one semester teaching assistantship.

Microbiology:

Director of Graduate Studies:  Tim Yahr, PhD
Departmental Administrator:  Angie Robertson

The Microbiology PhD provides research training in bioinformatics, cellular microbiology, molecular virology and immunology, bacterial biochemistry and physiology, bioremediation, bacterial and viral pathogenesis, and molecular parasitology.  This subprogram is one of the five sponsored by a basic science department in the CCOM.

MSTP students are required to complete an additional 12 hours of graded advanced graduate coursework, determined in consultation with the thesis advisor. MSTP students complete their comprehensive exam in the their fourth semester in graduate school. MSTP students complete a two semester teaching assistantship.

Molecular Medicine:

Director of Graduate Studies:  Matthew Potthoff, PhD
Graduate Program Administrator:  Maggie Grell-Davis

The Molecular Medicine PhD (Biomedical Sciences Program subprogram) provides cross-disciplinary training in molecular and cellular biomedical research. This interdisciplinary subprogram brings together faculty members from five basic science CCOM departments and two departments in College of Liberal Arts and Science (CLAS, Biology and Chemistry), twelve clinical departments in the CCOM and the Dows Institute for Dental Research.

MSTP students are required to complete an additional 6 hours of advanced graduate coursework determined in consultation with the thesis advisor, as well as seminar in Molecular Medicine each semester. MSTP students complete their on-topic comprehensive exam at the end of summer of their first year in graduate school. MSTP students complete a one semester teaching assistantship.

Molecular Physiology & Biophysics:

Director of Graduate Studies:  Mark Stamnes, PhD
Graduate Program Coordinator:  Carrie Stasch

The Molecular Physiology and Biophysics PhD (Biomedical Sciences Program subprogram) offers opportunities for research training in cellular, molecular, and physical mechanisms of physiological processes.  This subprogram is one of the five sponsored by a basic science department in the CCOM.

MSTP students are required to complete 3 hours of graded advanced graduate coursework, and graduate seminars throughout training. MSTP students complete their on-topic comprehensive exam by June 30 of their first year in graduate school.

Neuroscience:

Director of Graduate Studies:  Daniel Tranel, PhD
Associate Director of Graduate Studies:  Michael Dailey, PhD
Graduate Program Administrator: Maggie Grell-Davis

The Neuroscience PhD program provides a congenial and collaborative environment for investigating the structure and function of the nervous system and its role in determining behavior. This interdisciplinary PhD program includes faculty members from departments in the CCOM and CLAS.

MSTP students are required to complete an additional 10 hours of advanced graduate coursework, including Fundamental Neurobiology, Principles of Neuropsychology, and Neuroscience seminar. MSTP students complete their on-topic comprehensive exam at the end the summer of their first year graduate school. MSTP students complete a one semester teaching assistantship.

Pharmacology:

Director of Graduate Studies (current but outgoing):  Fred Quelle, PhD
Incoming Director of Graduate Studies:  Rory Fisher, PhD
Graduate Program Administrator:  Lisa Ringen

The Pharmacology Program PhD (Biomedical Sciences Program subprogram) emphasizes laboratory research opportunities in molecular and cell biology, human physiology and pharmacological sciences. This subprogram is one of the five sponsored by a basic science department in the CCOM

MSTP students are required to complete an additional 12 hours of advanced graduate coursework, including topic courses in Growth Factor Receptor Signaling, Principles of Pharmacology, Ion Channels, Neurotransmitters, and Advanced Problem Solving in Pharmacological Sciences. MSTP students complete their off-topic comprehensive exam at the end of the summer of their first year in graduate school.


College of Engineering

Biomedical Engineering (Roy J. Carver Department of):

Director of Graduate Studies:  Edward Sander, PhD
Graduate Program Coordinator:  Josh Lobb

The Biomedical Engineering PhD Program fosters development in established biomedical engineering disciplines, and embraces newly emerging applications of engineering approaches to problems of broad interest in the life sciences.

MSTP students are required to complete an additional 15 hours of advanced graduate coursework, including Mathematical Methods. MSTP students complete a qualifying exam at the end of their first year of graduate school and an on-topic comprehensive exam completed the semester before graduation.

Chemical & Biochemical Engineering:

Director of Graduate Studies:  C. Allan Guymon, PhD
Graduate Program Coordinator:  Sara Hartman

The Chemical and Biochemical Engineering PhD Program provides training in principles of engineering science and use those principles in contemporary applications related to energy, the environment, biotechnology, and materials.

MSTP students are required to complete an additional 12 hours of advanced graduate coursework, including electives that are identified in consultation with the thesis advisor. MSTP students complete a qualifying exam at the end of their first year of graduate school and an on-topic comprehensive exam completed the semester before graduation. MSTP students complete two semesters of a teaching assistantship.


College of Public Health

Biostatistics:

Director of Graduate Studies:  Jacob Oleson, PhD
Graduate Program Administrator:  Terry Kirk

The Biostatistics Graduate Program provides training for development of biostatisticians who can apply biostatistical and epidemiology methodology for the design and analysis of public health and biomedical research investigations.

MSTP students are required to complete an additional 33 hours of graduate coursework, including the Theory of Biostatistics, Survival Data Analysis, Longitudinal Data Analysis, Analysis of Categorical Data and Linear Models. MSTP students complete a qualifying exam at the end of their first year in graduate training and a comprehensive exam at the time of completion of coursework.

Epidemiology:

Director of Graduate Studies:  Ryan Carnahan, PhD
Graduate Program Coordinator:  Megan Riley

The Epidemiology Graduate Program is designed to develop researchers who are well-grounded in quantitative and analytical techniques, design and conduct of epidemiologic studies, demographic methods, and the management of large data sets. 

MSTP students are required to complete an additional 26 hours of graduate coursework, including the Essentials of Public Health, Epidemiology, Statistical Methods and Introduction to Data Management. MSTP students complete a qualifying exam and a comprehensive exam at the time of completion of coursework.

Last update 12/21/2022