ANATOMY AND CELL BIOLOGY

Direct inquiries to: Dr. J. Litvin, Department of Anatomy, 3400 N. Broad St. Phila. PA 19140, (215) 707-2070.

E-Mail: jl1@ astro.ocis.temple.edu.

Graduate Faculty

F. David Aker, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Temple University; Mark M. Black, Professor, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University;Robert Boyd, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma; Francis Conway, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Hahnemann University; Bruce Hirsch, Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania; Albert A. Lamperti, Professor, Ph.D., University of Cincinnati; Judith Litvin, Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of North Carolina; Thomas A. Marino, Professor, Ph.D., Temple University; Patricia Olds-Clarke, Professor, Ph.D., Washington University; Joanne M. Orth, Professor, Ph.D., Temple University, Brett A. Oxberry, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Arizona; Laurie G. Paavola, Professor, Ph.D., Stanford University; Helen E. Pearson, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Medical College of Pennsylvania; Stephen H. Pilder, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Princeton University; Steven N. Popoff, Professor and Chair, Ph.D., Loyola of Chicago; Carson Schneck, Professor, M.D., Ph.D., Temple University; Marvin Sodicoff, Professor, Ph.D., University of Cincinnati.

General Statement

The Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology offers graduate work leading to the Ph.D. or M.D.-Ph.D. degree. The goal of our graduate program is to prepare students for biomedical careers in academia, govern-ment, or industry. Research training is focused on organization and function at the molecular, cell, and organ level. This includes instruction in the scientific method, in current cellular and molecular biology research techniques and in oral and written communication skills. The student will gain the ability to evaluate critically information in the literature and to present his or her own data in a clear, logical fashion, i.e., in a manner that makes apparent its significance and interpretation. In addition, our program provides interested students with the oppor-tunity to gain experience in studying and teaching the anatomical sciences to pro-fessional students. This latter opportunity, in addition to satisfying students' interests, will enhance their credentials when pursuing academic job opportunities. Our program is tailored to suit individual interests and needs, never at the expense of providing the student with an excellent graduate education. The Ph.D. degree can be obtained in four to five years. Course work usually is completed within the first two years of study. The majority of the time in the program is spent performing research, which culminates in the presentation and publication of a dissertation.

Areas of Concentration

The varied research interests of the faculty allow the students a breadth of research possibilities. The principal research frontiers in Anatomy and Cell Biology rely exten-sively on molecular and cellular approaches and techniques. Our graduate students will, therefore, receive training in these areas. Areas of particular strength in the department are: (1) Skeletal Biology, e.g., regulation of skeletal development and metabolism, structure and function of bone cells matrices, etiology of metabolic bone diseases, including osteopetrosis and inflammation-mediated osteopenia. (2) Cardiovascular Biology, e.g., regulation of cardiac myocyte growth, fine structure and function of cardiac muscle, regulation of commitment and differentiation of cardiac myocytes. (3) Reproductive Biology, e.g., genetics and cell biology of sperm function, reorganization of DNA during spermato-genesis, development and function of Sertoli and germ cells. (4) Neurobiology, e.g., properties of the neuronal cytoskeleton. The Department has excellent research facilities for molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, cytochemistry and electron microscopy, in addition to ample facilities for the study of gross anatomy, histology and neuroanatomy. Several of the faculty have joint appoint-ments in the Fels Institute for Cancer Research which provides another avenue for interaction and exchange of ideas between students in our department and members of the Fels Institute.

Application Deadlines

February 1 for fall admission, and September 1 for spring admission.

Financial Aid

Students will be supported for the first year with departmental funds. Upon successful completion of the oral exam at the end of the first year (Preliminary Part I) the student will be supported by his or her mentor using research grant funds. A satisfactory level of performance must always be maintained, as described in the Polices and Procedures document for this program.

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to the graduate program must hold a B.A. or B.S. degree with a substantial background in the sciences. In addition, each student must submit undergraduate and graduate transcripts (including Temple University), and scores from the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The subject test in biology is recommended. Scores from the GRE tests are expected in the 50th percentile or higher. A personal interview is desirable. Two letters of recommendation are required, as is a statement of research and career goals. Also, individuals for whom English is a second language must take the TOEFL exam and score at least 250 on the computer-based version (CBT) or 600 on the paper-based version.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours exclusive of dissertation research. Required courses include Histology, Cell Biology, Seminars in Cell Biology, Principles of Development, Scientific Integrity, and Research. Students must pass a preliminary oral exam. (Preliminary Exam Part I). After designing a research project the student must defend a written proposal of the research project (Preliminary Exam Part II). After submitting an acceptable dissertation, the student must present his or her research findings in a seminar format followed by an oral defense of the work. As part of his or her learning experience, each student has the option to learn and teach part of the basic anatomy classes to medical students. The doctoral program must be completed within seven years of the matriculation date and enrollment must be continuous.

Course Descriptions -Anatomy

Note: Registration for all courses is subject to prior departmental approval.

500. Human Gross Visceral Anatomy. (2 s.h.)

Consists of that part of Anatomy 501 which deals with the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis.

501. Human Gross Anatomy. (6 s.h.)

A conference-laboratory course correlating basic, normal, adult structure with development, function, and clinical application. Laboratory work consists of a complete dissection of the body.

503. Histology. (4 s.h.)

Structural and functional organization of cells, tissues and organs, as seen with the light and electron microscopes. Lectures, clinical correlation talks, and laboratories.

505. Basic Embryology. (2 s.h.)

The development of the human embryo from fertilization and placenta formation to establishment of all the organ systems. The course is geared toward congenital abnormalities and an appreciation of gross human structural relationships encountered in the concurrent Anatomy 500 and 501.

506. Neuroanatomy. (4 s.h.)

Students should have a good prior knowledge of gross human anatomy, especially of the peripheral nervous system. Human neuroanatomy, with emphasis on the central nervous system. Clinical problem solving and patient presentations are employed.

510. Seminar in Cell and Developmental Biology. (1 s.h.)

Weekly meeting in which participants discuss their research or papers of special interest from the current literature on cell and developmental biological issues.

520. Readings in Anatomy: Cell Biology. (2 s.h. each)

Students and faculty review in depth current articles in cell and developmental biology that relate to their proposed area of research.

522. Teaching in the Anatomical Sciences. (1-6 s.h.)

Teaching experience provided in Medical Gross Anatomy, Histology and/or Neuroanatomy.

799. Preliminary Examination Preparation. (1-6 s.h.)

800. Summer Anatomy Research. (1-6 s.h.)

850. Pre-candidacy Anatomy Research. (1-6 s.h.)

899. Post-candidacy Anatomy Research. (1-9 s.h.)

999. Dissertation Completion and Writing. (1-9 s.h.)

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