Georgetown University Medical Center Office of Graduate Biomedical Education NE118 Med-Dent. Bldg. 3900 Reservoir Rd., NW Washington, DC 20007-2197 202-6871379 (voice) * 202-687-2585 (facsimile)

Graduate Program Description
Biomedical Sciences Program

Introduction

T he Biomedical Sciences Program at Georgetown University provides unique, broad-based educational and research opportunities in biomedical sciences. Emphasis is placed upon providing students with comprehensive exposure to the biomedical sciences to facilitate their choice of thesis research projects, as well as to provide a strong foundation and enhance flexibility for their research careers.

The Biomedical Sciences Program encompasses more than 125 faculty investigators, whose research interests include interdisciplinary studies in neuroscience and oncology/tumor biology, as well as basic science research in biochemistry and molecular biology, cell biology, microbiology and immunology, pathology, pharmacology, physiology and biophysics. Faculty also participate in this program from main campus departments such as biology, chemistry, nursing, psychology and linguistics, as well as from clinical departments at the medical center such as pediatrics, otolaryngology, medicine, psychiatry, neurology, neurosurgery, radiation medicine, and molecular and human genetics.

Funding for the program, in the form of graduate student stipends and tuition remission, is currently provided by the medical center. The primary consideration for acceptance into the Biomedical Sciences Program is the student's potential for highest quality research and academic scholarship, evaluated by both formal criteria and a personal interview.

Program Overview

Individuals who are accepted into the Biomedical Sciences Program at Georgetown University gain automatic admission into each of the participating degree-granting programs, which currently consist of the

• Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Department of Cell Biology
• Department of Microbiology and Immunology
• Department of Pathology
• Department of Pharmacology
• Department of Physiology and Biophysics
• Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience
• Interdisciplinary Program in Tumor Biology

Much of the first year is spent in an interdisciplinary core curriculum consisting of molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology, cell biology, and biostatistics, plus a research survey course where students are exposed to a wide range of research being carried out at the Medical Center, and a fundamentals of biomedical sciences course which spans topics from pharmacology to microbiology and immunology. During the first year, students are not limited to participation in a discipline-specific seminar series and journal club, but have the opportunity to participate in a variety of departmental and interdisciplinary seminars and journal clubs.

During the first year of the program, students rotate through three laboratories prior to selecting a research mentor. One rotation is completed during the summer prior to first year courses, one during the first year, and one during the summer following the first year. Student are encouraged to conduct rotations in different areas of biomedical investigation in an effort to maintain a broad-based approach to their education.

After completion of the first year of the program, students are required to declare a specific degree-granting program, and will concentrate on thesis research in one of the basic science departments or interdisciplinary programs as noted above. The formal requirements for a Ph.D. degree are completion of 48 credit hours with at least a B average, three (3) different laboratory rotations, satisfactory completion of a comprehensive examination, a thesis proposal, a written dissertation, and a final oral defense. During the second year, students complete any additional coursework required for their chosen degree-granting department or program; however, the nature and focus of their education is expected to remain broad-based. As such, during the second and subsequent years in the program, which focus primarily on thesis research, students have the opportunity to take additional elective courses that integrate several disciplines. If necessary, following the declaration of a degree-granting program, students have the opportunity during the second year to conduct an additional laboratory rotation if they consider this beneficial to their selection of a thesis laboratory. It is anticipated that following completion of the first two years of formal course work that completion of the final phases of the Ph.D. will require approximately three additional years.

Curriculum

Course Listing

CBIO-539 Biochemical and Cellular Sciences II (3 credits): Intended as an in-depth introduction to the field of Cell Biology, covering the major topics: membrane structure and function; elements of the cytoplasm (endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, mitochondria, Golgi, cytoskeleton, etc); chemical signaling between cells, cell adhesion, and the extracellular matrix; control of cell division; motility; mechanisms of differentiation; and the properties of malignant cells. Professor Byers (Department of Cell Biology). In depth, additional credits may be taken in conjunction with this course as CBIO-901 in the areas of cytoskeleton, adhesion, and signaling (1), and complex systems (1-2).

MICB-507 Principles of Biomedical Sciences (3 credits): Introduction to microbiology, pathology, and pharmacology. Professors Cihlar (Department of Microbiology and Immunology), Irving (Department of Pathology) and Wolfe (Department of Pharmacology).

PBIO-501 Fundamentals of Human Physiology (5 credits): Introduction to the fundamentals of human physiology. Professors Haramati and Mulroney (Department of Physiology and Biophysics).

MICB-506 Research Survey Seminar (1 credit): Interdisciplinary approach seminar participation, designed by the student in consultation with the program director. Professor Rosenthal (Department of Microbiology and Immunology).

Electives: To be chosen, as time permits, from the course offerings for the semester.

Year 2

Emphasis will be on completion of the 48 credit requirement, and on the preparation for and beginning of thesis research. Students will complete their training with core course requirements in their chosen degree-granting program, additional electives in their area of emphasis, directed readings, and seminars. The Comprehensive Examination is usually taken at the latest by the end of the summer following this academic year.

One of the following 2 courses should be taken during Year 2:

PHAR-534 Ethical Issues in Scientific Research (2 credits): Discussion of ethical questions and dilemmas facing scientists today. Professor Schwartz (Department of Pharmacology).

IDST-503 Survival Skills for Emerging Scientists (2 credits): Grant writing, presentations, and ethical issues. Professor Gale (Department of Pharmacology).

Electives: As time permits

Courses are available as electives from the Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biostatistics & Biomathematics, Cell Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Pathology, Pharmacology, and Physiology & Biophysics, as well as through the Interdisciplinary Programs in Neuroscience and Tumor Biology.

Please consult the Graduate School catalog, or departmental/program publications, for core course requirements for each degree-granting program, as well as descriptions of core and elective courses.

Work beyond the second year will be primarily on thesis research in addition to the required continued participation in the seminar series and journal club (not for credit). Other requirements include defending a Thesis Proposal (usually in year 3), completing an acceptable Dissertation, and passing a Final Oral Defense .

Facilities & Resources

G eorgetown University Medical Center resources available to all graduate students include the Medical Center and university libraries (which currently receive 1,500 biomedical journals), university computer center (which has software developed for molecular dynamics calculations), and the specialized clinical and support facilities available through various departments and centers.

T he Biomedical Sciences Program follows the application procedures outlined in the Graduate School Catalogue. At a minimum, application requirements for this particular program include the following:

• Graduate School Application Form
  
• Supplemental Application Form for the Biomedical Sciences Program
• Application Fee
• Academic Statement of Purpose
• Official Transcript (s)
• Recommendations (3 minimum)
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test
• TOEFL (foreign student applicants only)

ALL paper documents must be submitted directly to the following address:

Office of Graduate Biomedical Education
Biomedical Sciences Program Admissions Committee
NE118 Medical-Dental Building
3900 Reservoir Road, NW
Washington, DC 20007-2197

DO NOT send paper application materials directly to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, as this may delay processing and review of your application by the Biomedical Sciences Program Admissions Committee.

For more information, please consult the Application Instructions for the Biomedical Sciences Program which accompany this description (also available from the above address).

APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR FALL 2001 ADMISSION: February 1, 2001

Faculty

I n-Depth information about our faculty may also be found on our searchable website at MedNetwork at: http://mednet.odr.georgetown.edu. You may also wish to consult websites for individual departments, programs and research centers. The listing below provides merely a sample of faculty available to students for laboratory rotations and potential thesis research. Individual participating degree-granting departments and programs may have a specifically designated thesis mentorship pool for their Ph.D. program. Many of these faculty participate by giving a presentation about their research in the Interdisciplinary Research Survey Course (MICB-505).

General Information and Assistance

G eneral information about the Biomedical Sciences Program and other graduate biomedical training programs at the Georgetown University Medical Center may be obtained by contacting:

W. Taylor Johnson, M.F.A.
Coordinator, Graduate Biomedical Education
Office of the Dean of Research and Graduate Education
Georgetown University Medical Center
NE118 Medical-Dental Building
3900 Reservoir Road, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20007-2197
voice: 202-687-1379
fax: 202-687-2585
e-mail: johnsont@odrge.odr.georgetown.edu



Graduate Program Description
Biomedical Sciences Program
Revised 6/1/00