Programs of Study
The graduate program in Molecular Medicine at the University of Maryland offers inter-disciplinary
research and training opportunities with an internationally-renowned faculty. Our program is provides training in state-of-the-art approaches and techniques leading to a Ph.D. degree in Molecular Medicine.
- The goal of this program is engage the student in hands-on research as soon as possible. During the first year students participate in a core curriculum, journal clubs and seminars, and begin laboratory rotations.
- The graduate curriculum is tailored to meet each student's research interests and career goals, and each student is assigned a Faculty Advisory Committee that assists in designing his or her individual curriculum. Information about the research programs of Molecular faculty is available through a series of introductory courses organized by the leaders of the four research tracks in Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology, Cancer Biology, Molecular Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics, and Molecular Pharmacology, and in professor's rounds, an informal series of talks by faculty designed to introduce the faculty and their research interests. After completing three laboratory rotations, the student chooses a mentor and a research track.
- At the end of their second year, students successfully pass a qualifying exam enabling the student to advance to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. The qualifying exam is consists of an oral defense of a written research proposal in the format of a short grant application on a topic that will usually be the student's pending dissertation project. As a Ph.D. candidate, the student's primary focus is on research with participation in advanced elective courses as recommended by the mentor and research track, and continued attendance at journal clubs and seminars. Thesis work is guided by a thesis committee selected by the mentor and student.
NOTE: For more information, prospective students may wish to view the student handbook.