Are you interested in graduate school?
The Pharmaceutical Sciences graduate program is designed for students who are committed to pursuing a career in the basic and health-related sciences. Students in the Cellular and Systems Pharmacology department are trained in the fields of physiology, pathology, pharmacology, endocrinology and neuroscience. All students enter directly into the Ph.D. program. More information about the Pharmaceutical Sciences graduate program, including admissions processes, can be found on the Graduate Education website.
What kind of jobs can I get after graduation?
Graduates in Cellular and Systems Pharmacology can compete for jobs in four major areas:
- Academics: Starting as a post-doctoral researcher with the ultimate goal to assume faculty positions in Departments of Physiology, Pharmacology, Neuroscience and other Life Science in Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Veterinary Medicine, and Liberal Arts and Sciences.
- Industry: Physiologist/pharmacologist in pharmaceutical industries with the ultimate goal of becoming a laboratory section leader in a company.
- Research Institute: Physiologist/pharmacologist at biomedical research institutes.
- Government Laboratories and Regulatory Agencies: Positions of physiologist/pharmacologist in federal and state research laboratories and regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration.
Do you provide funding or financial assistance?
All students who are accepted into our Ph.D. program are funded through graduate assistantships and fellowships, which offer a nationally competitive stipend, full tuition and student fee coverage, and student health insurance. Graduate assistant stipends start at $35,000. Competitive and prestigious fellowships such as the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship are also available to support eligible students.
What are the admissions requirements?
We (and the University of Florida) employ a holistic approach to evaluate and recruit students who are passionate about doctoral training in our program. A strong interest in biomedical research demonstrated by a consistent and strong involvement in scientific research in biological, biochemical, physiological, pharmacological/toxicological, neuroscience and other relevant fields during undergraduate studies is highly desirable. A strong basic science curriculum is preferred. For international students, the minimum TOFEL score set by the University of Florida is 80 (internet test) with an average score of greater than 100 for the admitted College of Pharmacy-wide classes in the past several years. Please note the GRE is no longer required for admission to the UF College of Pharmacy’s graduate programs. GRE scores will not be considered in admission decisions.
What can I expect during my training?
- Courses: Required “core” courses include systems physiology and pathophysiology, pharmacology, biostatistics, and research ethics. Additional required courses emphasize journal article evaluation, oral presentation skills, and scientific writing. Students have the opportunity to select advanced elective courses that are most relevant to their research projects and career development. Students typically take their Doctoral Candidate Qualifying Exams at the end of the second year in the program.
- Research: During the first year of graduate training, students complete laboratory rotations. In these rotations, students are introduced to the particular research program of each lab. After the last rotation, the student will select a major advisor and his or her laboratory in which to perform the student’s dissertation research. Note: Students advance directly to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree and are not required to complete an M.S. degree first.
- Teaching: During their graduate training, students in our program participate in teaching and scholastic activities. Teaching not only helps students develop their communication, mentoring and organization skills, but also provides students who are strongly interested in an academic career path valuable, early experience. The majority of the teaching responsibilities involve assisting faculty in exam administration, mentoring pharmacy students, and assisting in teaching labs and small group discussions. Senior students will have the opportunity to engage in classroom lectures.
How long does it take to complete the degree?
On average, students take 4.5 to 5 years to graduate from our department with a Ph.D.
Where is the University of Florida?
The University of Florida is in Gainesville, Florida, which is in the north-central part of the state. For more information about the city, please visit the city’s homepage at http://www.cityofgainesville.org/
Interesting facts about our graduates from the past 10 years:
- Our graduates hold faculty positions at universities including Georgetown, Howard, Duke, and the University of Michigan.
- Our graduates hold research scientist or director positions in the pharmaceutical industries.
- Our graduates currently hold postdoctoral positions at major research institutions such as the Mayo Research Institute.
- One of our graduates is a research scientist for the US Army Medical Research Institute!
Want to know more about pharmacology? Check out this video: