Graduate Bulletin
Biomedical Neuroscience, Ph.D.
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall: April 15 (U.S.) / December 15 (international)
The Department of Neuroscience has a rolling admissions policy, which means that completed applications are reviewed throughout the year. Since seats in the program are limited, applicants are therefore advised to apply early.
APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.
Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 3
From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members familiar with the applicant's academic and research competence.
Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:
A foundation in the Biological Sciences is required. Coursework in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Neurobiology is considered relevant.
Master's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:
Not required.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:
All applicants must present credentials that are the equivalent of the appropriate baccalaureate degree at Temple University.
Statement of Goals:
The Statement of Goals should be approximately 500-1,000 words in length and should include the following elements: your interest in Temple's program; your research goals; your future career goals; and your academic and research achievements.
Standardized Test Scores:
The GRE is required. Scores greater than 600 on the verbal and quantitative sections are typical of applicants. In place of GRE scores, MCAT scores may be submitted for consideration.
Minimum TOEFL score needed to be accepted: 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based, or 79 internet-based.
Transfer Credit:
Graduate credit that is comparable to coursework at Temple University may be transferred from other graduate or professional programs (e.g., M.D., V.M.D.) The maximum number of credits that can be transferred and applied to the Ph.D. is 26.
Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 44-46, not inclusive of variable research credit (3-6 s.h.), preliminary examination credit (1 s.h.), and post-candidacy dissertation credit (6 s.h.)
Required Courses:
The Biomedical Neuroscience graduate program is integrated into the "Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences,” as described at http://www.temple.edu/medicine/education/grad_programs.htm. The program requires Ph.D. and M.S. students in all programs to take two interdisciplinary foundation courses (IFC) and two integrated bioscience courses (17 s.h.):
- One Biochemistry IFC: Fundamentals of Biochemistry or Structure and Function of Macromolecules
- One Molecular and Cellular Biology IFC: Molecular Basis of Microbiology and Immunology
- Three 1-s.h. courses in Scientific Communication, Scientific Integrity, and Bioethics and Statistics.
Students are required to take two integrated bioscience courses from the list below:
- Cancer Biology
- Cell Structure and Function
- Host-Pathogen Interactions
- Molecular Approaches to Research
- Principles of Development
- Principles of Genetics
- Principles of Organ Pathology
- Principles of Pharmacology
- Principles of Physiology
- Proteins and Enzymes
In addition, 3 courses (9 s.h.) are required in discipline electives and 9 s.h. are required in Dissertation Proposal, Research, and post-candidacy writing.
Internship: No internship is required.
Language Examination: No language examination is required.
Additional Requirements:
Ph.D. students are required to participate in the Department of Neuroscience's Journal Club, Invited Lecture Series, and Departmental Research Seminar Series. Students will also attend an annual outstanding lecture in neuroscience and bi-annual, one-day workshops in specific areas of neuroscience.
Culminating Events:
Research Rotations:
Graduate students are encouraged to meet with potential research advisors in their first semester in the fall, allowing them to begin research rotations in selected laboratories. Three rotations are recommended for Ph.D. students, although a student may opt out of additional rotations once an arrangement for thesis work is established. After completion of a seven-week rotation, a student may request to remain in the laboratory to perform thesis-directed research. Most students are supported by Research Assistantships and Fellowships. The decision for a student to remain in a laboratory will require evidence of available support from the principal investigator and/or fellowship support from the department.
Research Proposal and Preliminary Exam:
By the beginning of the fourth semester of graduate studies, a doctoral candidate in Biomedical Neuroscience should have sufficient research experience to begin writing a research proposal for the Ph.D. degree. The proposal is mentored and approved by a faculty member who serves as the thesis advisor at the time of submission of the proposal. An examining committee of three Department of Neuroscience Graduate Faculty will review the written proposal and, if satisfactory, conduct an oral examination on the proposal and the scientific context of the proposal, in the absence of the thesis advisor. If the proposal is unsatisfactory at the time of submission, the student may be given one opportunity for a rewrite at the discretion of the committee members. If the oral defense of the proposal is unsatisfactory or if the student fails to demonstrate adequate general scientific knowledge, the student may be given the opportunity to retake the oral exam within a period of three months. If the student passes the oral examination, s/he is elevated to candidacy for the Ph.D.
Doctoral Thesis:
A Thesis Advisory Committee will be constituted including the student's research advisor and at least three additional Neuroscience Graduate Faculty members. An additional “Outside Examiner” will be selected who is an expert in an area relevant to the thesis project and a full-time faculty member at an institution other than Temple University. The Chair of this committee will be selected from among the Temple University Neuroscience Graduate Faculty serving on the committee exclusive of the thesis advisor. Formal annual reviews of research progress are carried out and documented by reports from the committee. Once a first draft of a doctoral thesis is completed, a formal “Preliminary Defense” of the thesis will be held which includes the thesis committee and an external examiner. This defense should result in an explicit plan to complete the research and writing of the thesis. When the thesis is revised and completed according to the satisfaction of the Thesis Advisory Committee, a “Final Defense” of the thesis will be held.
The Final Thesis Defense will be open to the public satisfying all Graduate School requirements for the defense of a dissertation. It is expected that the thesis work will result in at least one peer-reviewed publication in the scientific literature. However, most doctoral students will have several papers published by the time of the defense of the doctoral thesis. In a rare case, the thesis itself may serve the publication requirement.
Contacts
Program Contact Information:
www.temple.edu/medicine/. . . /neuroscience.htm
Department Information:
Dept. of Neuroscience
Temple University School of Medicine
1900 N. 12th Street, Room 203
Philadelphia, PA 19122
biomedns@temple.edu
215-204-0678
Department Contacts:
Admissions:
biomedns@temple.edu
215-204-0678
Graduate Program Chairperson:
Jay Rappaport, Ph.D.
jayrapp@temple.edu
215-204-0678
Department Chairperson:
Kamel Khalili, Ph.D.
kamel.khalili@temple.edu
215-204-0678
About the Program
The Department of Neuroscience at the Temple University School of Medicine is committed to fostering the critical inquiry of our students into areas of medicine and science. The curriculum supports an interdisciplinary approach to research training, providing new pathways for learning and discovery. Under this program, students have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge research projects directed toward the treatment and/or cure of HIV/AIDS, as well as neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and brain tumors. World-renowned scientists supervise this academic program.
The Ph.D. program is intended to educate premier investigators who will be tomorrow’s leaders in Biomedical Neuroscience. Toward this end, the graduate emphasizes training in neurological/neurodegenerative disease research that is translational, with the goal of developing improvements in patient care through interdisciplinary interactions involving clinical and basic scientists.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 7 years
Campus Location:
Health Sciences, Main
Full-Time/Part-Time Status:
Full-time study is required.
Department Information:
Dept. of Neuroscience
Temple University School of Medicine
1900 N. 12th Street, Room 203
Philadelphia, PA 19122
biomedns@temple.edu
215-204-0678
Interdisciplinary Study:
The program encourages interdisciplinary coursework and research among faculty and students with interest in Neuroscience, Microbiology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Cancer Biology, Psychology, and Engineering. Interaction with clinical divisions within the School of Medicine is also encouraged to foster translational research and bench-to-bedside discoveries and advances. Each student is mentored on a one-to-one basis by a Graduate Faculty member. Faculty co-mentors also are assigned to foster an expanded interdisciplinary experience and to bolster mentoring by junior faculty members. Additional mentors include more senior graduate students and postdoctoral trainees. This multi-level mentoring approach is designed to provide a supportive network to maximally benefit each student. In addition, our students have the opportunity to train with renowned scientists from around the world, as well as many supporting faculty representing a wide array of other fields in the School of Medicine.
Affiliation(s):
Not applicable.
Study Abroad:
No.
Ranking:
Not applicable.
Accreditation:
Not applicable.
Areas of Specialization:
Research in Biomedical Neuroscience is laboratory-based.
Job Placement:
The program is designed to prepare Ph.D. students for careers as researchers or teachers and M.D./Ph.D. students for careers as physician scientists.
Licensure:
Not applicable.
.
Non-Degree Student Policy:
Courses are restricted to matriculated students.
Financing Opportunities
Successful candidates will be supported by research assistantships, teaching assistantships, training grants, research grants, or internal funding.
Updated 10.9.08
|
