Graduate Biomedical Sciences Programs at The University of Alabama at Birmingham

1. Graduate Biomedical Sciences Programs at The University of Alabama at Birmingham

2. Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB overview • UAB Graduate Biomedical Sciences Training Model: • Multiple interdisciplinary 1st year feeder programs recruit and admit students • Student affiliates with specific interdisciplinary feeder program upon accepting program admission offer • Completes program core and elective course requirements in first year • Performs lab rotations with program faculty and identifies advisor in first year • Joins department in which advisor holds primary or secondary JHS appointment (only JHS departments in SOM are currently credentialed by state to award PhD degrees) • Completes departmental degree requirements • Receives departmental degree

3. Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB overview Interdisciplinary Feeder Programs: Admissions and 1st year curriculum • Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) (40*) • Primary JHS departments** – Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Neurobiology • Integrative Biomedical Sciences (IBS) (23) • Primary JHS departments – Pathology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Environmental Health Sciences • Neuroscience (7) Genetics (6) • Faculty of 17 departments Primary JHS department – Genetics 1o & 2o appt • Toxicology (4) Biochemistry/Molecular Genetics (5) • Faculty of 9 departments Primary JHS department – BMG 1o & 2o appt • MD/PhD (7) Nutrition Sciences (3) • Faculty of 13 departments Faculty of 5 departments * Number of students affiliated with program or department ** Individual faculty members may participate in more than one feeder program Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB

4. Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB overview Departmental Programs: Advanced training/degree granting • Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics(40*) • Cell Biology (81) • Genetics (10) • Microbiology (75) • Neurobiology (38) • Nutrition Science (3) • Pathology (42) • Pharmacology & Toxicology (35) • Physiology (33) * Number of students affiliated with program or department Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB

5. Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB overview Graduate Student Enrollment and Demographics • 440 total PhD students (JHS plus Nutrition Science) • 52% male, 48% female • 65% US (16.5% US minority), 35% international • Average time to degree 5.5 - 6yr • Perform research supporting ~$90M annual NIH direct costs • Represent 63% of total research trainee workforce First year class 2005-2006 • 925 applications (42% US, 58% international) • 98 entering students (69% US [19% US minority], 31% international) • Mean GRE V+Q, 1232; mean GPA, 3.5 Graduate Faculty • ~220 total graduate faculty in biomedical sciences (62% JHS 1o appt, 38% clinical/other 1o appt) • Faculty may participate in more than one graduate program Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB

6. Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB graduate program structure First Year Curriculum (via interdisciplinary feeder programs): Core courses • Parallel core curricula sponsored by CMB and IBS programs, each shared with additional feeder programs Elective courses • Parallel sets of multiple elective course offerings in modular format, sponsored by CMB and IBS programs • Elective modules recently coordinated to allow choice of electives from either program elective course set Lab rotations and advisor selection • Schedules of faculty research presentations sponsored by each feeder program • Programs oversee selection of 3 program-specific lab rotations • Advisor selection from program faculty typically in May of first year Continuing years(via departmental programs) • Department-specific advanced graduate curricula, qualifying exams and thesis defense overseen by departmental director and committees * faculty may participate in multiple feeder programs as teaching faculty and rotation advisors Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB

7. Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB graduate program structure Sample Feeder Program 1st Year Curriculum Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB

8. Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB graduate program structure Typical Interdisciplinary Feeder Program Structure • Steering Committee • Participating Department Chairs, departmental Graduate Program Directors, Feeder Program Director • Responsible for policies, budget, program faculty selection/review • Curriculum Committee • Recruitment/Admissions Committee • Program Graduate Faculty • Must have 1o or 2o appointment in PhD degree-granting department • Sponsored by JHS Department Chair with support letter and Faculty Applicant’s CV • Must also apply to Graduate School for UAB Graduate Faculty status; see http://www.uab.edu/graduate/gradfac/index.htm . • Reviewed every 3 years for research, teaching and training credentials and may be placed on inactive status Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB

9. Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB graduate program structure Graduate Student Funding Costs and Sources: Student Costs, 2006 Stipend $23,000 (Fall 2006) Tuition $6,800 Fees/Health $2,181 $31,981 First Year Students Feeder Program provides support (supported by 1st year Graduate Fellowships @ $23,590 allocated by Graduate School) Continuing Students Support Sources R01 or other faculty advisor research support (70% tuition returned to funding source) NRSA (T32) and other training grants (22 grants; 81 predoc, 59 postdoc slots) NRSA (F30/F31) and other fellowships (23 awards, FY2005) Graduate School Special Population Fellowships (GAANN, CMFSDP) Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB

10. Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB graduate initiatives Other Training Opportunities Summer Research Programs • Summer in Biomedical Science (SIBS, affiliated with IBS program) • Physiology Summer Research Program • Summer Program in Neurobiology (SPIN) (NSF funded) • Program for Research Experience in Pathology (PREP) • Genetics Summer Research Program • Medical Student Summer Research Program (NIH T35) UAB Undergraduate Science & Technology Honors Program • Initiated Fall 2005, students receive UAB Graduate School admission and 2 years’ funding on successful program completion and UG degree New PhD Training Pathways • PhD - MBA Program (initiated AY05-06) • HHMI Med into Grad Initiative (translational research, 1 of 13 awarded nationally) • Pathway for Advanced Research Training in Science (PARTS) Residency/PhD Program (Pathology dept, in development) Office of Postdoctoral Education • Advertises open postdoc positions, oversees funding levels, benefits, policies, career development activities, etc Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB

11. Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB graduate initiatives Graduate Initiatives & Resources School of Medicine Research Strategic Plan 2006 • Graduate Education and Clinical Research Training Initiatives (funding, new interdisciplinary programs, etc) • Office of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Shelby Bldg, anticipated Spring 2006 • GBS website and other recruitment initiatives Graduate School • New Graduate School Dean (Bryan Noe, PhD) • New UAB recruitment funding awards available to all graduate programs (Spring 2006) • Graduate School Office service upgrades • Graduate School website redesign, other communications initiatives • Professional Development Programs • Graduate Student Research Days (March 2-3, 2006, Hill University Center) • UAB Industry Roundtable Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB

12. Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB graduate resources Graduate and Other Training Resources School of Medicine • Graduate Programs in the Biomedical Sciences http://138.26.45.18/bmg/portal/portal.html • Medical Student Summer Research Program http://www.uab.edu/uasom/wcimg/t35application.doc Graduate School http://main.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=1183 • Graduate School Office 934-8227 • Dean, Bryan Noe, PhD, 975-8852 bnoe@uab.edu • Associate Dean, Life Sciences, Susan Rich, PhD, 996-4835, srich@uab.edu • Graduate Programs http://main.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=24831 • Graduate Faculty Application, 934-0656 http://www.uab.edu/graduate/gradfac/index.htm • Minority Fellowship Programs, Wanda Jordan, 935-2495, wjordan@uab.eduhttp://www.uab.edu/graduate/apply/acrobat/minority-schol.pdf • Summer Undergraduate Research Programs http://main.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=30027 Office of Postdoctoral Education 975-7020,http://www.postdocs.uab.edu/ UAB Science & Technology Honors Program996-5701 http://main.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=81656 Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB