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 Structure: • Multiple interdisciplinary 1st year “feeder/umbrella" programs recruit and admit students • Student affiliates with 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 • Student then joins PhD program of JHS department in which advisor holds primary or secondary appointment (only JHS departments in SOM are currently credentialed by state to award PhD degrees) • Completes departmental program degree requirements (see dept PhD handbooks) • Receives departmental degree

3. Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB overview Interdisciplinary Feeder Programs: Admissions and 1st year curriculum • Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) (30*) • Primary JHS departments** – Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Neurobiology • Integrative Biomedical Sciences (IBS) (20) • Primary JHS departments – Pathology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Environmental Health Sciences • Neuroscience (7) Interdisciplinary Genetics (5) • Faculty of 17 departments Faculty of 13 departments • Biochemistry/Molecular Genetics (4) • Primary JHS department – BMG 1o & 2o appt • MD/PhD (8) Nutrition Sciences (SOM&SHP) (3) • Faculty of 13 departments Faculty of 5 departments * Number of students affiliated with program ** 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/PhD granting • Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics(40*) • Cell Biology (81) • Genetics (10) • Microbiology (75) • Neurobiology (38) • Pathology (42) • Pharmacology & Toxicology (35) • Physiology (33) * Approximate 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 • 52% male, 48% female • 65% US (25 states), 35% international (10 countries) • Average time to degree 5.5 - 6yr, ~4 publications/graduate • Represent 63% of total UAB research trainee workforce First year class 2006-07 • 870 applications (41% US, 59% international) • 75 entering students (83% US, 17% international; 19% US minority) • Mean GRE V+Q, 1222; mean GPA, 3.6 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 • Ranked #18 nationally for NIH funding (School of Medicine) Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB

6. Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB graduate program structure First Year Curriculum (via interdisciplinary feeder programs) Core courses • Two parallel core curricula sponsored by CMB and IBS programs, each shared with additional feeder programs Elective courses • Parallel sets of elective course modules, sponsored by individual feeder programs Lab rotations and advisor selection • Sessions of faculty research presentations sponsored by each feeder program at beginning 1st year • Programs oversee selection of 3 program-specific 10-week lab rotations, each followed by graded poster sessions • 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 (see dept PhD handbooks) * 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 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, Recruitment & Admissions Committees • Program Graduate Faculty • Must have 1o or 2o appointment in PhD degree-granting JHS department • Must provide • CV with grant support & previous trainees, if any • 1o & 2o department affiliation • Letter from 1o department chair guaranteeing student support if your funding lapses • Must also apply to Graduate School for UAB Graduate Faculty status; see http://www.uab.edu/graduate/gradfac/index.htm . Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB

8. Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB graduate program structure Typical Interdisciplinary Feeder Program Structure • Maintaining Program Faculty Status Reviewed every 3 years and may be placed on inactive status Renewable based on • Continued extramural grant support • Active participation in multiple program activities • Teaching in feeder or advanced departmental courses • Serving on student thesis committees • Judging talks & posters • Interviewing applicants • Hosting rotation students • Mentoring of current graduate student (s) • Publications • Continued 1o or 2o appointment in PhD granting department Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB

9. Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB graduate program structure Graduate Student Funding Costs and Sources Annual Student Costs, 2006 Stipend $23,000 Tuition/Fees $7,951 Health Ins $1,220 $32,171 + research & travel support First Year Students Feeder Program provides support (partially funded by 1st year Graduate Fellowships @ $24,541 allocated by Graduate School; remaining cost paid by 1o department of advisor) Continuing Students Support Sources R01 or other faculty advisor research support (70% tuition returned to funding source) NRSA (T32) and other training grants (23 grants; 75 predoc, 59 postdoc slots, FY06) NRSA (F30/F31) and other fellowships (17 awards, FY06) Diversity Fellowships (UAB CMFSDP, R01 minority supplement awards) Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB

10. Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB graduate initiatives Other Training Opportunities New PhD Training Pathways • PhD - MBA Program (“MBA for Scientists”, School of Business) • HHMI Med into Grad Fellowships (translational research, 1 of 13 awards nationally; includes training at Southern Research Institute in drug discovery) http://peir.path.uab.edu/medintograd/cat_index_29.shtml Summer Research Programs for Undergraduates • Feeder program-affiliated (IBS, IGGP programs) • Departmental (Physiology, Neurobiology, Pathology) • Special Populations (McNair, Bridges) • Medical Student Summer Research Program (NIH T35) UAB Undergraduate Science & Technology Honors Program • Students participate in advanced programs & research, receive UAB Graduate School admission with advanced credit and 2 years’ funding upon program completion 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 • Office of Graduate Biomedical Sciences (GBS), Shelby 120 • Interdepartmental interdisciplinary PhD programs under development (Interdisciplinary Genetics, Neuroscience,Clinical & Translational Science) • Training grant & fellowship support service • Increased graduate positions commensurate with new faculty recruitment • Increased level of institutional stipend support Graduate School • Recently recruited Graduate School Dean (Bryan Noe, PhD) • New graduate recruitment funding and marketing initiatives • New stipend support • New fellowship incentive awards • Online Graduate School application and electronic dissertation processes • Graduate School-sponsored Professional Development Programs • Graduate Student & Postdoc Research Symposia 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 • Training Grants & Fellowshipshttp://www.uab.edu/uasom/research/background_fedtraininggrants.htm 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

13. Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB graduate resources Graduate Biomedical Sciences Resources Entry Programs • Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics http://138.26.45.18/bmg-phd/mainpage-frame.html • Cellular and Molecular Biology http://www.cmb.uab.edu/ • Interdisciplinary Genetics http://138.26.45.17/education/graduate/IGGP/index.htm • Integrative Biomedical Sciences, including Toxicology http://peir.path.uab.edu/ibiosci/cat_index_29.shtml • Neuroscience http://www.neuroscience.uab.edu/ • Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD) http://www.uasom.uab.edu/mdphd/ Departmental PhD Programs • Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics http://138.26.45.18/bmg-phd/mainpage-frame.html • Cell Biology http://main.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=7785 • Interdisciplinary Genetics http://138.26.45.17/education/graduate/IGGP/index.htm • Microbiology http://www.microbio.uab.edu/apply.html • Neurobiology http://www.neurobiology.uab.edu/Grad-Program/index.htm • Pathology http://peir.path.uab.edu/pathgrad/ • Pharmacology & Toxicology http://main.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=10278 • Cellular & Molecular Physiology http://www.physiology.uab.edu/ Graduate Biomedical Sciences @ UAB