Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Pre-Qualifying Exam Course | ||
Scientific Writing: Thesis Proposal | 2 | |
Qualifying Exam | ||
Doctoral Training and Research | 1 | |
Proposal Preparation | ||
Doctoral Proposal | 2 | |
Dissertation | ||
Dissertation Term 1 | ||
Dissertation Term 2 | ||
Colloquium | ||
Pharmaceutical Science Colloquium | 1 |
32 total semester hours required Minimum 3.000 GPA required
Year 1 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer Full Semester | Hours |
3 | 2 | 2 | |||
3 | 3 | ||||
2 | 2 | ||||
2 | 1 | ||||
1 | |||||
11 | 8 | 2 | |||
Year 2 | |||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer Full Semester | Hours |
1 | 1 | 2 | |||
1 | 0 | ||||
2 | 1 | 2 | |||
Year 3 | |||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer Full Semester | Hours |
1 | 1 | 0 | |||
0 | 0 | ||||
1 | 1 | 0 | |||
Year 4 | |||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer Full Semester | Hours |
1 | 2 | 0 | |||
1 | 0 | ||||
2 | 2 | 0 | |||
Total Hours: 32 |
Scientific Writing: Thesis Proposal ( PHSC 7020 ) must be taken the summer before the qualifying exams.
Doctoral Proposal ( PHSC 9681 ) should be taken in summer of second year, but no later than fall of third year.
Pharmaceutical Science Colloquium ( PHSC 6810 ) must be taken six months before dissertation defense.
PHSC 5305 & PHSC 6213 is suggested to be taken in the fourth year, but can be taken at any point before graduation.
Year 1 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer Full Semester | Hours |
1 | 1 | 2 | |||
1 | or | 0 | |||
2 | 1 | 2 | |||
Year 2 | |||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer Full Semester | Hours |
1 | 1 | 0 | |||
0 | 0 | ||||
1 | 1 | 0 | |||
Year 3 | |||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
1 | 2 | ||||
0 | |||||
1 | 2 | ||||
Total Hours: 10 |
Doctoral Proposal ( PHSC 9681 ) may be taken in spring of first year but must be taken before fall of second year.
Pharmaceutical Science Colloquium ( PHSC 6810 ) must be taken six months before dissertation defense.
Advanced entry into the Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery PhD program requires a master's degree in pharmaceutical sciences or a related area and focuses on various advanced research courses and successful defense of the dissertation. An applicant's transcripts are required to be reviewed by the admissions committee to ensure they are eligible to be in the advanced entry program.
Annual review Qualifying examination Dissertation committee Dissertation proposal Dissertation defense
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Required | ||
Ethical Problems in Health Sciences Research | 2 | |
Seminar | ||
Complete the following repeatable course four times: | 4 | |
Pharmaceutical Science Seminar | ||
Colloquium | ||
Pharmaceutical Science Colloquium | 1 |
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Qualifying Examination | ||
Doctoral Training and Research | 1 | |
Proposal Preparation | ||
Doctoral Proposal | 2 | |
Dissertation | ||
Dissertation Term 1 | ||
Dissertation Term 2 |
10 total semester hours required Minimum 3.000 GPA required
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College of Pharmacy
Our students receive an education in chemistry and biology that prepares them for the evolving multidisciplinary research of the pharmaceutical industry and academia.
Our students' learning and development within the program is enhanced by diverse research interests within our department:
The University of Minnesota has one of the largest Academic Health Centers in the United States, which provides our students with the opportunity to collaborate with nationally recognized programs in:
Recent alumni have gone on to succeed in industry or academic positions with the following organizations:
... and more!
The graduate programs in the College of Pharmacy offer advanced education in all aspects of pharmaceutical sciences including drug discovery, development and application.
The PhD program in pharmaceutical sciences includes coursework as well as cutting-edge research focused on topics like discovery and evaluation of novel drugs, determination of a drug's effects on the body, delivery methods to improve drug treatment, and how medication is used and applied to enhance patient outcomes.
Because the scope of pharmaceutical sciences is so broad, our graduate program has a number of specialty disciplines:
Admission to the PhD program does not first require application to the MS program.
The Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD Program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison provides a rigorous background in scientific disciplines that are critical to the preparation of the next generation of pharmaceutical scientists. With approximately 30 faculty trainers and approximately 65 graduate students, the program’s interdisciplinary training combines pharmaceutically relevant aspects of classical disciplines such as chemistry, biology, and engineering. This training allows our graduates to pursue careers in academia, industry, government, and other sectors.
Students earn a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, concentrating in one of three research cores: Drug Discovery , Drug Action , or Drug Delivery .
Research in Drug Discovery focuses on areas related to medicinal chemistry such as small molecule development, natural products isolation and characterization, organic synthesis, chemical biology, and rational drug design.
Drug Action research focuses on areas related to pharmacology, toxicology, cellular differentiation, development, and disease. Interests include the impact of drugs and toxins on biological systems, mechanisms of normal biology, and mechanisms of disease. These are studied at the cellular, genetic, molecular, and biochemical levels using diverse model systems.
Drug Delivery research emphasizes principles in physical chemistry and drug transport, aiming for advances in formulation, drug targeting, and multi-modal therapy. This includes research involving biomaterials, cell engineering, immunotherapy, liquid biopsy, molecular recognition, molecular imaging, nanomedicine, pharmacokinetics, and solid-state chemistry.
We invite you to explore our webpages to learn more about the Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, our PhD program, and life in Madison.
Lara Collier, PhD Director of Graduate Studies Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD program
Contact us at: [email protected]
Bs pharmacology – toxicology.
An interdisciplinary, research-driven, biomedical health focused undergraduate major
4-year program that trains students to become a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
An interdisciplinary Master’s program focused on the psychoactive pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries (psychedelic, entheogen, and cannabinoid research/application)
An accelerated master’s program focused on developing practical and professional skills needed across the lifecycle of drug development, manufacturing, and ongoing safety management
A combined Master’s degree and residency that provides a solid background in academics and the administration of exemplary pharmacy services across an integrated health system
Prepares health services researchers to best meet the needs of patients and the communities in which they live, with a focus on improving medication outcomes
Check our FAQ page for detailed answers to common questions
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We’re here to help – send us your questions at any time!
Send us an email
UC Irvine’s PhD in Pharmacological Sciences program provides a unique opportunity for those interested in any scientific discipline represented by the Pharmaceutical Sciences faculty to have a year of broad, interdisciplinary training and self-selected lab rotations followed by focused doctoral research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences research group of their choice.
Students can choose from one of three tracks within the program: Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacology or Medicinal Chemistry.
The current areas of study in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Department include:
“The school has rotations that are longer than most departments – lasting a full quarter as opposed to a few weeks – which allows you to get a taste for what research is like in the industry and to really figure out what environments are best suitable for you.” David Wych, PhD ’21
The Pharmacological Sciences PhD program is flexible and tailored to the needs of each individual student. Students are actively engaged in research throughout their training: In the first year, laboratory rotations ensure exposure to a variety of techniques and research problems. By the end of their first year students have worked with several faculty members and selected a lab to join. During their third year, students are considered for advancement to PhD candidacy on the basis of academic standing, laboratory performance, and a qualifying examination. After advancement to candidacy, students devote their time to completion of an original research dissertation.
CLICK HERE to view the sample curriculum for the Pharmaceutical Sciences Track.
CLICK HERE to view the sample curriculum for the Pharmacology Track.
CLICK HERE to view the sample curriculum for the Medicinal Chemistry Track.
For more details regarding the required course work, please visit our program’s section in the UCI General Catalogue .
Complete the Online Application which is submitted to the UCI Graduate Division. When completing the “Degree Program” section of the online application for admission, please make the following selections:
Students are admitted to the Pharmacological Sciences PhD program on an annual basis in the fall quarter only. The admissions committee screens applications immediately after the application deadline. First round applicants selected to interview will be notified by early January. Admitted applicants can expect to receive an offer of admission in late January through mid-March.
The online application and supporting materials should be received by December 1, 2023.
Applicants are required to submit:
Applicants are encouraged to upload the following in their application:
For additional details about applying to the PhD in Pharmacological Sciences program, view our information sheet here .
The acceptance rate for the Pharmacological Sciences program is approximately 23%, and admitted applicants from previous cycles had the below characteristics:
Admitted applicants receive funding for tuition, health insurance, and a monthly stipend/salary through a combination departmental or university fellowships and/or teaching assistant (TA) and graduate student researcher (GSR) positions in their first year. In years two through five, students are generally funding by their faculty advisor as GSRs, as well as through a combination of university fellowships, extramural grants/fellowships, and/or TA positions.
Diversity Fellowships
UCI is committed to the recruitment, admission, and retention of a high quality and diverse graduate student population and has several diversity fellowships for new and returning students who qualify. If you have overcome socioeconomic or educational challenges, please indicate that you are a diversity candidate and describe your experience in detail within the Personal History section of the application.
TOEFL or IELTS
All graduate applicants are required to demonstrate English proficiency for admissions consideration. Applicants are waived from the English Language Proficiency requirement if they have earned an undergraduate degree from an institution at which English was the sole language of instruction according to the World Higher Education Database (WHED) . Please see WHED’s instructions on how to search for your institution. If English is not the sole language of instruction listed or if no language is listed at all, the waiver does not apply and the applicant is required to take and pass an approved English proficiency test. Approved tests and minimum scores are outlined in the next section.
Please note: Test results that are two years old or older are not acceptable.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If a student will be supported as a Teaching Assistant (TA), please read the English proficiency summary chart for teaching assistants . Students who have not earned an undergraduate degree from an institution at which English was the sole language of instruction according to WHED are required to demonstrate English language proficiency to serve as a TA when they apply to the program.
The TOEFL is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
TOEFL Score Requirements for Admission Consideration:
As an alternative to the TOEFL, you may submit scores from the Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
IELTS Score Requirements for Admission Consideration:
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Phd in pharmaceutical sciences.
We enable students with backgrounds in fundamental sciences to become leaders in pharmaceutical sciences
Located in the vibrant and multicultural city of Chicago, UIC's PhD Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences is one of the strongest and largest of its type in the United States. Our college is consistently ranked in the top ten in terms of funds secured annually from the National Institutes of Health and by US News and World Report. We pride ourselves on giving students from all types of backgrounds the tools they need to become independent researchers. Students in the program select one of the program concentrations, described below.
We are so pleased you are considering graduate studies in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago! Although Pharmaceutical Sciences is one of the best graduate programs of its kind in the country, our real pride is mentoring students into independent researchers who become leaders in our field. The program has some unique strengths, including providing flexibility to carry out internships in your later years. Have a look around our website. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] . We look forward to reading your application! Debra Tonetti, PhD | Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences
All students in the Pharmaceutical Sciences program take the following courses. Additional concentration coursework is also required and is shown in each of the concentration tabs.
Five concentrations comprise the PhD program in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Click on the tabs below to learn more about each of them. To see the faculty mentors for each concentration, visit the Faculty Mentors page .
Concentration description.
Faculty in the Chemistry in Drug Discovery concentration use the tools and techniques of chemistry to discover and develop new chemical probes and potential therapeutics. Students in this concentration learn how to design, synthesize, characterize and analyze small molecules, peptides, and proteins.
Students in the Chemistry in Drug Discovery Concentration take the following courses:
Prof. Terry Moore ([email protected])
The Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics concentration is designed to provide advanced understanding of fundamental causes of diseases, strategies that identify new drug targets, and mechanistic explanations of how drugs work (or fail) from the perspective of the target and systems they impact. Faculty affiliated with MMT integrate a wide variety of molecular, biochemical, genetic, bioinformatic, and bioengineering approaches to study mechanisms of pathogenesis ranging from infectious diseases to cancer. Students will enroll in fundamental molecular and cellular biology courses and select elective courses in areas of their focused research.
Students in the Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics Concentration take the following courses:
Prof. Alessandra Eustaquio ( [email protected] )
Faculty in the Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery concentration use the tools and techniques of physical and biologic sciences and engineering to understand and develop delivery systems and formulations for therapeutic molecules and control the biodistribution of therapeutic molecules. Students in this concentration learn how to design, synthesize, characterize and analyze novel materials and drug delivery systems and design and develop technologies related to therapeutic distribution in the body.
Students in the Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Concentration take the following courses:
Prof. Richard Gemeinhart ([email protected])
Faculty research programs in the Pharmacognosy concentration aim to develop therapeutics from natural products and to study the mechanisms of pain, cancers, and a wide array of infectious and tropical diseases. Students of this concentration are trained in a combination of bioinformatics, synthetic biology, genetic engineering, chromatography, and spectroscopy to achieve these goals.
Students in the Pharmacognosy Concentration take the following courses:
Prof. Brian Murphy ([email protected])
Pharmaceutical Sciences participates in the joint PharmD/PhD program, which trains students for careers in academic pharmacy and bench science research. Students admitted to this joint program participate in the PharmD curriculum and pursue original doctoral research projects in the laboratories of the university’s graduate faculty in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
The joint program offers the potential of reducing the time of earning both degrees in sequence (9 or more years) by approximately two years. The trade-off is that both degrees are awarded at the end of the training period and neither degree can be received before the other is completed.
The PharmD/PhD program is for exceptional, highly motivated and achieving students ready to meet the challenge of increased academic load and independent research project.
Program coordinator: Dr. Lindsey McQuade ( [email protected] )
$ 37,500 annual graduate stipend for students on teaching assistantship or research assistantship
33 internships completed by department graduate students in the last five years
19 students currently on training grant or fellowship
# 7 nationally ranked College of Pharmacy according to US News
# 7 nationally ranked total research funding among Colleges of Pharmacy according to AACP
The Pharmaceutical Sciences Program at UIC offers a supportive, inclusive environment and rigorous academic preparation for students who are interested in careers in pharmaceutical sciences. If you have any questions about the program or about your application, please contact [email protected].
Where discoveries are delivered. SM
Graduate education in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Development (PSDD) provides training in research strategies in the design and development of novel therapeutic agents to improve human life in disease and health. The PSDD training area will provide translational sciences research training that bridges basic sciences and clinical research for the purpose of addressing the world’s challenges in unmet therapeutic needs. Research in pharmaceutical sciences encompasses multi-faceted, interdisciplinary drug development research.
Training in PSDD for the Ph.D degree with the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program is described at: https://biomedsci.ucsd.edu/training-areas/molecular-pharmacology.html
This web site includes information for student applications to the PSDD Ph.D program.
Faculty Leader Contact:
Vivian Hook ([email protected])
Summary of PSDD Research Training
The Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Development (PSDD) training area is a unique joint effort between the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SSPPS), the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), Center for Drug Discovery Innovation (cDDI), the UCSD Drug Development Pipeline , the Center for Compound Resources, the Center for Computer-Aided Drug Design, with programs of the School of Medicine , School of Engineering , and UC BRAID . The overall goal of this training area is to provide students with a visionary perspective on the drug discovery and development process.
Graduate education in “Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Development” (PSDD) provides training in research strategies in the design and development of novel therapeutic agents to improve human life in disease and health. The PSDD training area will provide translational sciences research training that bridges basic sciences and clinical research for the purpose of addressing the world’s challenges in unmet therapeutic needs to improve human lives. Research in pharmaceutical sciences encompasses multi-faceted, interdisciplinary drug development research in (a) design and discovery of drug molecules targeted to regulators of disease processes, including marine natural products, (b) in vitro and in vivo efficacy of candidate drug therapies, (c) chemical optimization by medicinal chemistry approaches, (d) drug pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics in ADME research based on drug delivery strategies, (e) safety and toxicity of drug molecules, and (f) advanced analytical technologies of drug molecule properties. Graduate students will be trained in these disciplines through a complete curriculum and state-of-the-art research strategies for drug development. Faculty of the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SSPPS) and the BMS program will train students in the area of PSDD. PSDD training will provide students with exciting opportunities in the professional field to become leaders in academic, government, private industry, biotechnology, and related areas to advance innovative drug development via pharmaceutical sciences research.
PhD degree:
Students apply for admissions to the UCSD ‘Biomedical Graduate Program’ (BMS) for training by faculty in ‘Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Development (PSDD). Research training in PSDD is associated with the BMS areas of ‘Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Discovery’. Graduate students of the BMS program deveop their Individual Development Plans (IDP) with faculty advisors of the program. The IDP plans the research, coursework, and degree requirements for the student.
How to Apply
Training Areas
Individual Development Plans
PharmD/PhD degree:
First year pharmacy students can pursue the PharmD/PhD degree by conducting 3 research rotations with faculty on research topics of PSDD during years 1-2 of the pharmacy curriculum. Pharmacy students in their 2nd year can apply for admissions for the PhD program of the Biomedical Sciences graduate program at UCSD (see previous paragraph). See information about the dual PharmD/Ph.D degree at
https://pharmacy.ucsd.edu/degree-programs/dual-pharmd-phd-program
Core Graduate Courses in ‘Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Development’
SPPS 263A Principles in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Development: Pre-Clinical Drug Discovery and Development
PPS 263B Principles in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Development: Pre-Clinical to Clinical Drug Development
Courses in Selected Areas of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Development
SPPS 226 Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics
SPPS 219 Pharmacogenomics
SPPS 222 Pharmaceutical and Physical Chemistry
SPPS 223 Pharmaceutical Biochemistry
SPPS 224 Biopharmaceutics
SPPS 225 Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems
SPPS 268 Systems Mass Spectrometry
SPPS 281 Medicinal Aspects of Natural Products
Faculty in Drug Discovery & Development in Pharmaceutical Sciences
The Pharmaceutical & Translational Sciences (PHTS) Program brings together, under one umbrella, the school’s three laboratory-based PhD programs—CXPT, MPTX, PSCI. This promotes a more cohesive interdisciplinary experience advancing education and offering opportunities to sample the entire range of innovative research options. This doctoral training program prepares students for careers in the pharmaceutical industry, academia and advanced scientific research in a broad range of settings. The training encompasses a unique scientific framework from drug discovery, delivery and development to application of genetics and genomics to experimental and clinical translational research.
The umbrella structure allows students to attend courses and seminars together, and rotate through laboratories across programs during their first year. This fosters interdisciplinary crosstalk among students and faculty, helping students find an ideal laboratory and faculty mentor as well as a specialized track of study they want to pursue. Upon successful completion of the first year, students will select an area of study from one of the three listed below, in which they will earn the Doctor of Philosophy degree following successful completion of the PhD Program.
The MPTX PhD Program provides training in molecular mechanisms of disease as well as disease and drug interaction. Coursework emphasizes molecular pharmacology and the interaction of drugs with cell physiology. Research areas are laboratory-based and include drug design and development, receptor pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, medicinal chemistry, cancer biology and pharmacology, immunology, metabolism and biochemistry, molecular- and neuro-pharmacology, and oxidant and environmental toxicology. The MPTX PhD program and the PSCI PhD program are both administered under the umbrella of the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
The PSCI PhD Program provides training that emphasizes basic as well as applied research through advanced coursework in contemporary pharmaceutical sciences. Independent laboratory research areas include drug design, development, targeting and delivery; medicinal chemistry; computational chemistry; pharmaceutics; pharmacokinetics; pharmacodynamics; immunology; and molecular and cell biology. The PSCI PhD program and the MPTX PhD program are both administered under the umbrella of the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
The CXPT track provides cross-training between clinical and basic sciences—focusing on the investigation of disease processes, drug development, and the efficacy and toxicity of therapeutic regimens. Course requirements and research opportunities offer both experimental (basic) and disease-focused experiences. The emphasis in this track is clinical translational, using molecular and translational science techniques to address clinically relevant research questions.
“The rigorous training I received through the USC Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD program equipped me with a strong foundation in natural product chemistry, microbial genetics and analytical chemistry. This comprehensive background has proven invaluable in my research on unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying microbe-host interactions.”
Phd pharmaceutical sciences ’14, assistant professor, weill cornell graduate school of medical sciences.
“My experience at USC has been instrumental in my current success. The health economics and outcomes research curriculum provided me with the relevant technical expertise to work in the field. I was fortunate as a student to get two internships, at Amgen and AbbVie, in addition to working with my professors on industry projects.”
Phd health economics ’18, ms pharmaceutical economics and policy ’14, director, global health economics and outcomes research, moderna.
“My USC experiences and mentors enhanced both my technical and soft skills, priming me for my professional career. Their impact on me, professionally and personally, is priceless.”
Phd, molecular and cellular biology ’10, certificate in clinical trial design and management, regulatory science, regulatory documentation team leader, product development, genetech.
“There is something about the culture of the school at USC that motivates people to strike out and be creative in how things get done. Since graduating I’ve been a postdoctoral researcher contributing new and exciting lines of study to an existing research program, I’ve provided research support in fields outside of my primary training (e.g., cancer therapy and early detection), to now serving in leadership roles focused on enhancing institutional equity in graduate programs and training the next generation of scientists.”
Phd, molecular pharmacology and toxicology ’13, assistant professor of neurology at oregon health and science university.
“Faculty and staff are able to help you with whatever path you choose: academics, industry or government. There is always someone who can help you. USC makes a promise and can keep that promise.”
Phd molecular pharmacology and toxicology ‘23, ms regulatory science ‘23.
“USC was a good fit for me because it had provided me with opportunities to develop necessary scientific skills and grow a professional network for a postgrad career in the pharmaceutical industry.”
Ms, regulatory science ’17, phd, molecular pharmacology and toxicology ’22, scientist at bristol myers squibb.
“I chose the Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics program because it afforded me a foot in the biomedical research doors of both clinical and foundational science. It’s truly translational in that it involves going to the clinic and then pursuing solutions in the lab.”
Pharmd ’11, phd clinical and experimental therapeutics ’16.
“Overall, my experience at USC was excellent and it really did set me up for my career. The alumni connection was strong which helped my transition to the industry a smooth one. The ‘Trojan family’ is really a great one and I see that whenever I visit USC as an adjunct faculty or when I attend USC receptions at conferences or when I get in touch with faculty at USC who are always willing to listen and are always looking to get the alumni involved in bettering the various programs at the school.”
Phd pharmaceutical and translational sciences ’04, head of clinical pharmacology and dmpk at stealth biotech startup.
“I only applied to pharmacy schools that advertised a dual degree program; plus USC is the number-one private pharmacy school in the country. While it was a struggle to take PharmD and PhD classes at the same time, the School’s dual degree program allowed me to complete my clinical and research training two years faster than if I had pursued the degrees separately.”
Field application scientist at agilent technologies.
“One of the appealing factors that sold me was the famous USC alumni network, the focus on translational science at various levels, and the option to earn a masters in either regulatory science or drug development. Taken together I believe they contribute to making me more competitive in the job market after my PhD.”
Advisor, eli lilly and company.
“The Pharmaceutical & Translational Sciences (PHTS) Program offers students a broad range of research labs. The school is constantly expanding its research capability in both personnel and hardware. If you intend to join the field of pharmaceutical and translational research, this is the program you will love.”
Phd, pharmaceutical sciences ’21, scientist at igm biosciences, inc..
“I chose USC Mann because the program is geared towards developing researchers who are prepared for highly competitive industry spots after graduation. PhD students are also eligible to enroll in a regulatory science masters degree program to compliment their research and coursework. This program is part of what helps PhD graduates from USC Mann to successfully move into industry positions.”
Phd, clinical and experimental therapeutics ’20, clinical project manager at iqvia.
Choose pharmacy at the university of texas at austin.
The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy operates longstanding and well-developed graduate training programs in pharmaceutical sciences and translational sciences.
The goal of graduate study at The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy is to develop the intellectual breadth and specialized training necessary for a career in teaching, research or advanced professional practice.
Emphasis is placed on the knowledge, methods and skills needed for scholarly teaching; original research and problem solving; intellectual leadership; creative expression; and professional prominence and recognition.
We are committed to eliminating disparities, raising awareness and fostering a culture where everyone has equal opportunities and a sense of belonging in our graduate training program.
The graduate training programs are dedicated to nurturing a culture of acceptance and support and are committed to ensuring that aspiring Pharmacy Longhorns from all backgrounds have equal access to the graduate programs through intentional outreach and engagement efforts.
Ready to apply?
Let's Get Started
Interested in learning more? Download the UT Austin College of Pharmacy graduate brochure .
Pathway Programs
The UT Austin College of Pharmacy is committed to ensuring that aspiring Pharmacy Longhorns from all backgrounds have equal access to the college through intentional outreach and engagement efforts. The college has multiple programs that demonstrate a commitment to providing a supportive and collaborative approach to student and trainee success.
Visit our Pathway Programs page to learn more.
Pharmaceutical Science is an interdisciplinary field that includes areas of study in chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics, pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacotherapy, and health outcomes. Students applying to the graduate program in pharmaceutical sciences will select a division-specific training track that most closely matches their interests. The University of Texas College of Pharmacy offers a Ph.D. program with specialization in each of these areas of pharmaceutical sciences and a M.S. degree program that is limited to the pharmacotherapy and health outcomes areas of research.
Graduate training in the pharmaceutical sciences program is housed within five different divisions. Students applying to pharmaceutical sciences select a division-specific training track that most closely matches their interests. Visit each of the division homepages to learn more about faculty research and to get details on the division specific graduate program objectives and curriculum.
Courses of study leading to a master of science degree are only offered in pharmacotherapy and in health outcomes.
Each graduate student’s course of study may be uniquely tailored to meet the specific learning objectives of the student.
Graduate education, research, and scholarly work leading to a Ph.D. are developed uniquely for each student as part of his/her plan of work.
Students applying to the graduate program in pharmaceutical sciences will select a division-specific training track that most closely matches their interests.
Each of the five division specific tracks, listed below, have course work and research training specifically tailored for training in the track-specific field.
The Translational Science program is designed to provide training in the area of translational science toward the goal of applying basic biomedical scientific discoveries into strategies that will improve healthcare delivery, patient outcomes, and community health.
For many years, extensive national resources have been devoted to basic biomedical (bench) and clinical (human subject) research; however, significant barriers continue to exist in moving knowledge bi-directionally between basic research, clinical research, and applications to improve health outcomes in individuals and the community. These barriers make it difficult to efficiently and effectively translate new knowledge into improved patient care.
To remedy these problems, Translational Science has emerged as an academic and scientific discipline. Translational Science (TS) is a scientific discipline that investigates methods to move discovery more efficiently and effectively into application. TS investigators must respond, interact, facilitate change, and conduct research within and among varied organizational behaviors, structures, and cultures. TS conducts rigorous studies that close the knowledge gaps between different levels of the research process – the basic science laboratory, clinical research discoveries, and application of these research findings toward disease prevention and management, and strategies to improve human, community, and global health.
The doctoral degree program in Translational Science is offered as a multi-institutional joint degree program between The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), and The University of Texas at San Antonio, in collaboration with The University of Texas School of Public Health regional campus in San Antonio. Graduate students complete their research on the campus of the university of their faculty mentor.
The Translational Science graduate program is designed to leverage the existing resources and expertise in specific key areas of each university to offer a strong, diverse, and competitive Ph.D. training program. This program is designed to prepare the next generation of scientists to lead multi-disciplinary biomedical research teams in increasingly complex research environments. These scientists will advance knowledge in the area of translational research toward the goal of applying basic biomedical scientific discoveries into strategies that will improve healthcare delivery, patient outcomes, and community health.
A complete description of the objectives of this graduate training program, course curriculum and milestones, eligibility for admission, and application process can be found on the UTHSCSA Translational Science site .
Research Track | Degrees Offered |
---|---|
Dr. Maria Croyle , the Graduate Advisor in the College of Pharmacy has overall responsibility for counseling and academic advising of graduate students in pharmaceutical sciences. However, each division within the College of Pharmacy appoints a Division Graduate Adviser, (DGA) who aids the students with course selection and programmatic progress. Each student must be advised by their DGA each semester before registering until they enter candidacy, to ensure the student is on track to graduate.
Contact the Pharmacy Graduate Coordinator in PHR 4.220 (512-471-6590) for an appointment or contact your supervising professor.
Give to the School
Uniquely positioned to bridge the chemical and biological worlds.
Our program seamlessly blends chemistry and biology, which distinguishes it from traditional graduate programs. We develop and exploit novel chemical tools relevant to the fields of biochemistry, biology, pharmacology, and medicine. Research is directed toward biomedical and pharmaceutical discovery by applying both chemical and biological principles to interactions between molecular structure and biological activity.
All of our graduates have been successful in finding desirable positions. An important measure of the success of our program is whether students are obtaining their first-choice postdoctoral positions. To a large extent, our recent graduates are receiving multiple offers from top labs. Our recent graduates have taken postdoctoral positions in prestigious labs at Harvard, Duke, Scripps, and MIT, to name a few.
Students enter the CBMC program through application to either the Pharmaceutical Sciences program or the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, a large umbrella program offering an entry to 16 PhD programs on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus. The Figure below shows the overview of the CBMC program. To complete the CBMC graduate program, a student needs to pass 8 courses, cumulative exams, qualifying exam and thesis defense. In addition, students will participate in the weekly seminar series throughout the training. Over the last 10 years, more than 50 PhD students have graduated from the CBMC program and the average time to completion is approximately 5 years. More details are described in the Student Handbook .
CBMC 807: Molecular Foundations in Chemical Biology Prerequisites: Students are expected to have a solid understanding of introductory organic chemistry as taught at the undergraduate level.
This course provides a review of important concepts in organic chemistry as they apply to biological research. Topics include a review of intermolecular interactions as they apply to biological structures and function, a discussion of how small molecules interact with their targets, an overview of synthetic methods that relate particularly to drug molecules, and basic strategies of drug design.
CBMC 805: Molecular Modeling Prerequisites: None
This course provides a general introduction to the field of Molecular Modeling while providing relevant applications of theory to both academic and industrial research endeavors.
PHRS 801: Common Core in Pharmaceutical Sciences Prerequisites: None.
This course provides an interdisciplinary environment for students from each of the four Divisional PhD programs in UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Students will learn about and develop skills in topics related to responsible conduct of research, pharmaceutical development, professional development, and independent development.
PHRS 899: Seminars in Chemical Biology Students must register for PHRS 899 each semester of their graduate program. However, only 4 credits of PHRS 899 (2 credits for MS) may count toward requirement for the PhD degree. Seminars are conducted jointly with the Division of Chemical Biology and Bioorganic Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry. Attendance at all Division seminars is mandatory and two unexcused absences will result in a grade of F. As an additional component of the seminar requirements of the graduate curriculum, attendance by all students is required during a student’s Doctoral Defense. These Defense seminars are held outside of the normal seminar series.
Each student is required to present a seminar in PHRS 899 either in the student’s third year or in the beginning of his/her fourth year and will be considered in assigning the grade in PHRS 899. In this seminar, the student critically reviews the area pertinent to his/her thesis topic making sure that s/he discusses studies that include his/her group’s contributions and those of other laboratories and includes a description of the student’s ongoing studies that add to this body of research. Faculty members will evaluate the student seminar. Students receiving an overall failing evaluation on the presentation will receive an “incomplete” grade in PHRS 899 for that semester and must consult with the seminar coordinator before giving a make-up seminar at a later date. Additionally, students receiving “incomplete” grades may be advised to seek further training in presentations. In those cases where the student’s research contains intellectual property (IP) and where disclosure risks the IP, a student can provide a comprehensive review of a different subject in medicinal chemistry. Permission to do so will require approval of the thesis adviser and the seminar coordinator. Each seminar topic, title, summary, and research article must be approved by the student’s research adviser and seminar coordinator. A student presenter should send the title of their seminar talk to the Graduate Program Coordinator upon request.
PHRS 991: Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Research Rotations) During the first two semesters, the student conducts three ~10-week research rotation projects, each under the supervision of a different faculty member. These rotation projects are considered as course work for PHRS 991. Students select rotations from any of the CBMC Faculty. With approval of the DDGS, students may also perform rotation projects with faculty outside the labs of the CBMC Faculty, especially when the rotation will provide training in an area that is outside of the expertise of the CBMC Faculty.
To select an adviser for each research rotation, the student should interview members of the CBMC faculty about possible projects. Prior to each rotation, the student will turn in a RESEARCH ROTATION LAB SELECTION FORM (Appendix A) to the Graduate Program Coordinator. Over the course of the first year each student is encouraged to schedule individual interviews with all members of the CBMC faculty. Although varied slightly from year to year, the rotations usually start in the late August and end in the late April in the next year. The schedule for the 2022-2023 academic year is as follows:
Fall : Monday, August 22 – Friday, October 28 (OK to start before August 22)
Winter : Monday, November 7-Friday, January 20
Spring : Monday, January 30 – Friday, April 7
Students admitted in the fall semesters can begin their rotations the summer before. In that scenario, the student must contact the Graduate Program Coordinator at least four weeks prior to the start of the rotation. The summer rotation will be considered as one of their three required rotations. A waiver for one research rotation may be granted if a student has previously completed substantial independent research. Students seeking such a waiver must petition the DDGS, and provide information (e.g. reports, manuscripts, grant proposals, and/or letters from research advisers) about their previous research. If a student has obtained a specific fellowship to work with a CBMC faculty member, then research rotations may be optional.
During lab rotations, students are expected to work in the laboratory at least 20 hours per week. Students are fully integrated into the laboratory during their rotation projects and are involved in lab meetings and journal clubs. At the beginning and end of each rotation, the rotation adviser and student review a written or oral statement of expectations for the student’s performance in the laboratory. These discussions provide the student with the advisers’ expectations and critical comments on areas of excellence and weakness. Guidelines for the research rotations are described in the PHRS 991 syllabus.
At the end of each rotation, students will submit a written report using the Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences – Student Evaluation Form (Appendix B) to the Graduate Program Coordinator. Students will also present the results of their rotation projects to their Student Advisory Committee (SAC). The SAC committee, in consultation with the rotation adviser, will provide a brief summary and evaluation and submit a grade to the Graduate Program Coordinator and the DDGS to be entered at the end of the semester. After the third rotation, students will present the work of their rotation in the CBMC End of Year Mini-Symposium.
The DDGS serves as the temporary advisor for the first-year students who enroll in PHRS 991. The SAC committee provides additional mentoring and consists of three CBMC faculty. The SAC is formed at the beginning of the first semester based on a student’s request and availability of faculty members.
CHEM 701 (Introduction to Laboratory Safety) Prerequisites: first year graduate student status or permission of instructor
This course provides an overview of safety rules and regulations, guidance in safe laboratory practice, and creates a culture of laboratory safety.
CBMC 804A: Biochemical Foundations of Chemical Biology . Prerequisites: CHEM 466, BIOC 505, 601, or PHCO 643; or permission of instructors.
This course covers core biochemical and molecular biology techniques, concepts, and tools used to conduct research at the interface of chemistry and biology. Topics include enzymology, characterization of drug-target interactions, mechanisms-based inhibitor design, assay design and development, targeting kinases and GPCRs, biopharmaceuticals, gene therapy, nucleic-acid binding agents, information-based drugs, chemical tools to study epigenetics, harnessing biosynthetic pathways for chemical diversity, and other recent advances and techniques in drug discovery.
CBMC 804B: Foundations of Chemical Biology Journal Club . Prerequisites: Enrollment in CBMC 804A.
This course is a series of presentations by students that run in concert with CBMC 804A.
Biology Core Course Each student has the option to choose one 3- or 4-credit hour course on campus that is focused on biological systems or techniques. A good starting point to find such a course is the BBSP website. Some examples include PHCO701 (Introduction to Molecular Pharmacology), BIOC706 (Biochemistry of Human Disease), GNET631 ( Advanced Molecular Biology), CBIO643 (Cell Structure and Function) and CBIO893 (Advanced Cell Biology).
PHRS 802: Drug Development and Professional Skills Development Prerequisites: None.
This course provides an interdisciplinary environment for students from each of the four Divisional PhD programs in UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Students will learn about the general process of drug development and develop associated professional skills.
Elective Course: Students have the option to take one elective course of their interest. There is no requirement on the number of credit hours of the course. Students typically choose a course that provides specific skills and knowledge their thesis work needs.
PHRS 994: Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Thesis Research) The students begin to register 3 credit hours PHRS 994 each semester once they have chosen the thesis adviser. Guidelines for the thesis research are described in the PHRS 994 syllabus.
Cbmc faculty, katelyn arnold.
Katelyn Arnold is a Research Assistant Professor in the Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry (CBMC). Dr. Arnold’s research interest is in therapeutic development of synthetic heparin. She uses chemoenzymatically synthetized oligosaccharides in various animal models to investigate the relationship between oligosaccharide structure and function to understand anti-inflammatory mechanisms. This work also involves pharmacokinetic studies using methods and standards specific for synthetic heparin.
ACCEPTING DOCTORAL STUDENTS
The Aubé laboratory uses synthetic chemistry to enable the study of biological pathways and as starting points for drug discovery. Current efforts in the group include the study of new opioids lacking side effects, new approaches for the treatment of tuberculosis, androgen biosynthesis inhibitor discovery, the search for RNA-protein interaction inhibitors, and the development of new synthetic methods.
The Axtman lab is devoted to characterization of the dark proteome, especially those proteins with underexplored roles in the brain. Our interests lie at the interface of chemistry and biology, with a focus on using small molecules, specifically potent and selective chemical probes, to explore and impact disease-propagating pathways. Active projects are aimed at finding pre-clinical small molecule candidates that, after further optimization, can help address the need for new therapeutics in human diseases. Our scientists are working to design and synthesize chemical modulators and develop screening assays. All data and reagents are openly shared to facilitate and expedite scientific advancement.
Albert Bowers received his PhD in organic chemistry (synthetic methods) from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He carried out postdoctoral research (total synthesis) at Colorado State University before moving as an NIH sponsored fellow to Harvard Medical School (biosynthesis). He is a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and affiliate member of the Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery.
Rafael M. Couñago, PhD, is a Research Associate Professor in the Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Department in the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and a Principal Investigator at the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) at UNC. Rafael´s research group at SGC-UNC uses protein biochemistry, structural biology and cell-based assays to illuminate protein function and explore new therapeutic strategies for human diseases.
The Drewry lab in focused on designing, synthesizing, evaluating, and sharing small molecule chemical probes for protein kinases. These tools are used to build a deeper understanding of disease pathways and facilitate identification of important targets for drug discovery. Through wide ranging partnerships with academic and industrial groups, the Drewry lab is building a Kinase Chemogenomic Set (KCGS) that is available to the community for screening.
Research in the Frankowski lab uses synthetic chemistry to develop new approaches for the treatment of unmet medical needs. Our current efforts focus on programs to treat metastatic cancer, hepatitis C virus infection and the development of chemical tools for studying dopamine and sigma receptors.
Dr. Stephen Frye is currently a Professor in the Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery (CICBDD) which he previously directed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). Prior to joining UNC to create the CICBDD in 2007, Dr. Frye was the world-wide vice president of Discovery Medicinal Chemistry (DMC) at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Dr. Frye led DMC for seven years, overseeing five departments and more than 200 chemists in the U.S. and U.K. developing global protein target-class chemical science for GSK. During his 20-year career at GSK, the teams led by Dr. Frye successfully developed three FDA approved drugs: Avodart, a dual 5a-reductase inhibitor for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, Tykerb, a dual erbB2/EGFR inhibitor for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, and Pazopanib, a multi-targeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma and soft tissue sarcoma. As founding director and current faculty member in the CICBDD at UNC, Dr. Frye plays a key role in translational research through collaborative drug discovery projects with other UNC faculty. A clinical candidate from one of these projects created in the Center is now progressing through multiple human trials. In addition, his lab has established a leading program in the area of chemical biology of chromatin regulation with an emphasis on protein-protein interactions dependent upon lysine methylation. Dr. Frye has published more than 130 papers in the fields of organic and medicinal chemistry.
ACCEPTING DOCTORAL STUDENTS The Gumpper lab utilizes structural biology (cryoEM), biophysical/biochemical assays, and computational approaches (MD simulations, molecular modeling, and docking) to study the molecular mechanisms controlling G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling. We are interested in revealing how molecular interactions influence the larger downstream biological and therapeutic outcomes. As a model system we focus on studying psychedelic compounds and their receptor targets (namely 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors) to produce novel chemical matter to treat pain and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Lab website: https://tarheels.live/gumpperlab/
Our projects focus on investigating the role that refined spatial and temporal control of intracellular signaling cascades can play in the progression of cardiovascular injury. We use a research strategy involving plasmid and optogenetic protein engineering, high content screening, high resolution microscopy and physiologically based cell analysis. With this approach we hope to uncover new targets for therapeutic development by better defining signaling cascades that drive cardiovascular disease response.
The Hathaway lab was established at UNC with a founding idea that the group could make a contribution to understanding dynamic epigenetic processes by using unique chemical biology approaches they pioneered. Through the combination of protein bioengineering, synthetic organic chemistry, and mammalian cell-based model systems, they have created platforms that use chemically tethered enzymatic recruitment to specific chromatin loci to produce a host of mechanistic insights. The Hathaway group also has drug discovery programs to identify new small molecules that inhibit disease relevant epigenetic pathways both for research purposes and as potential future therapeutics.
The James lab is interested in modulating the activity of chromatin reader proteins with small-molecule ligands, specifically potent and selective chemical probes, in order to open new avenues of research in the field of chromatin biology and potentially translate to compounds of therapeutic value. They are also interested in applying novel probe-based techniques, such as affinity labeling technologies, to the study of epigenetic regulators.
Michael Jarstfer, PhD, is an Associate Professor within the Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry and the Associate Dean for Graduate Education. He is also the Director of Graduate Studies for the Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD program. Dr. Jarstfer has expertise in drug target identification, high-throughput-screening, medicinal chemistry, and compound optimization for drug discovery as well as pharmacology in preclinical animal models.
NOT ACCEPTING GRADUATE STUDENTS
The Lawrence lab works to understand the biochemical processes of the cell by studying them as they happen in the cell as opposed to studying them in vitro. He currently focuses on applying his discoveries to cancer detection and treatment and, to a more limited extent, inflammatory diseases.
Andrew Lee studies the role of conformational dynamics in protein function, conformational changes, enzyme catalysis, drug binding, and allostery. His laboratory uses a variety of biophysical and biochemical tools, especially NMR spectroscopy. NMR spectroscopy is a powerful approach that yields atomic-resolution molecular information and is uniquely sensitive to molecular fluctuations over a broad range of timescales.
Research in the Jian Liu group is focused on glycobiology and glycobiochemistry, an emerging field that emphasizes the biological functions of carbohydrates. We are particularly interested in understanding the biosynthetic mechanism of sulfated polysaccharides known as heparan sulfate and heparin.
The Liu laboratory’s research interests focus on the development and application of novel drug target-binding affinity molecules by integrating directed molecular selection and evolution, ligand design and engineering, in vitro cellular and signaling characterization, and in vivo therapeutic efficacy studies in tumor mouse models. The Liu laboratory has extensive experiences in the design, synthesis, characterization, and delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic agents based on both polypeptides and polynucleotides.
The McGinty lab studies molecular mechanisms of chromatin signaling. By pairing atomic precision protein chemistry with high resolution structural biology, they aim to understand how the nucleosome functions as a signaling hub for gene expression, DNA replication, and DNA damage repair in development and disease.
Dr. Muratov served as a corresponding author on an approach used by regulators to initially screen new chemical products for toxic effects. They have proposed an improvement that could increase the accuracy of toxicity estimation to as much as 85 percent, saving millions of dollars and years of development time for new drugs and other products while improving safety.
The Pattenden lab develops innovative techniques in chromatin-based therapeutic target discovery and cancer diagnostics. Our research program enables discovery of novel molecular targets, pathways and mechanisms. Our central strategy exploits tumor-specific changes in chromatin accessibility, a universal feature that is directly linked with transcriptional activation, DNA damage repair, replication, RNA processing, and nuclear organization.
Ken Pearce, Ph D is the director of the Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery. Pearce’s primary expertise and interests are fundamentals of protein methods, biochemical and cell assay development, medium- and high-throughput screening, hit validation and mode-of-action, biophysical methods for characterizing protein-protein and small molecule-protein interactions, and structure-activity relationships for early drug discovery. He joined the center as director of lead discovery and characterization in mid-2015 after spending over 18 years at GlaxoSmithKline and legacy companies in the Molecular Discovery Research organization.
The Popov Lab develops inventive, cutting-edge approaches to solve problems in modern computational structural biology and drug discovery. Their computational research, in collaboration with experimental screening and medicinal chemistry efforts in the Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery enables the identification of novel chemical probes and drug candidates to advance understanding of biological processes. Some of their recent projects include: • Identification and characterization of allosteric and cryptic binding sites • Development of AI-driven methods for accelerated virtual screening (VS) • AI approaches for DNA-encoded library (DEL)-guided virtual screening (VS) and new-generation DEL library designs • Collaborative hit discovery and optimization projects
We are actively engaged in drug discovery efforts via the shared resources of the National Institute of Mental Health’s Psychoactive Drug Screening Program. Our goals are to discover and develop novel small molecule probes for in vitro and in vivo validation of molecular targets for therapeutic drug discovery. We have particular strengths with GPCR and ion-channels and have expanded our capabilities to enable screening of the entire GPCR-ome in massively parallel screening campaigns (see Keiser et al, Nature 2009; Huang et al, Nature in press and Kroeze et al, Nature Structural Biology 2015 for recent papers).
Paul Sapienza is a research assistant professor in the Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. His research aims to further understanding of the role of dynamics in biomolecular recognition, enzymatic catalysis, and allostery. He uses nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study protein dynamics on multiple timescales, while other tools such as calorimetry, crystallography, and kinetics serve to link dynamics with function. He is focusing on thymidylate synthase as it is an enzyme with a multistep catalytic cycle, is a cancer drug target, and exhibits negative cooperativity (allostery).
Scott Singleton is engaged in educational innovation and research. His work attempts to build on what is understood about memory and attention to devise, test, and implement effective teaching and learning strategies. His current work focuses on teaching that positively affects student engagement in the classroom, identifying core basic science concepts that serve as threshold concepts for pharmacy students, and evaluating the transfer of learning between courses in the professional PharmD program.
Junjiang Sun is a Research Assistant Professor in the Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry (CBMC). Sun’s research interests focus on gene therapy for hemophilia, hemophilia associated joint disease (Hemophilia Arthropathy), by expressing bypassing agents (activated coagulation factor V, IX) via AAV vectors. This technology platform provides novel therapeutic approaches for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).
Alex Tropsha, Ph.D., is an expert in the fields of computational chemistry, cheminformatics and data science. His laboratory develops new methodologies, software tools and applications in the areas of computer-assisted drug design, chemical toxicology, materials informatics, text mining, and health care informatics.
The Wang lab is interested in developing drug leads/candidates for kinase, phosphate kinase and protein targets identified by UNC faculty and external investigators. We have successfully used the structure- and/or ligand-based drug design approaches to deliver compounds to clinic (MerTK inhibitors such as MRX-2843) or licensing (IDH1 inhibitor, co-developed with NCATs). We will continue to apply the similar approaches for drug discovery towards new targets.
The Willson laboratory is home to the US site of the SGC, an open science consortium that accelerates research on the lesser studied regions of the genome. The laboratory works closely with pharma companies and academic investigators to develop small molecule chemical probes for hundreds of dark kinases that are openly shared with the scientific community. Current research has led to the development of the Kinase Chemogenomic Set (KCGS) that contains selective inhibitors of more than 200 kinases as well as high quality chemical probes for several of the dark kinases.
Dr. Xu co-authored the Heparin study with Dr. Jian Liu and Dr. Lindhardt. Heparin is a naturally occurring polysaccharide that prevents blood clotting, or coagulation, and has been in use since the late 1930s. A polysaccharide is a long chain of carbohydrate molecules.
The Zhang lab studies lipid signaling pathways that are involved in human disease by developing novel chemical probes and technologies. They currently focus on discovering new bioactive lipids, developing small molecule modulators and biosensors for lipid metabolizing enzymes, and applying their research results to novel diagnosis and treatment of cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and antimicrobial resistance.
Cbmc emeriti faculty, cbmc adjunct faculty, yuriy abramov , ph.d.
Sean ekins , ph.d., denis fourches, phd, clark d jeffries , ph.d., jian jin , ph.d., kyoko nakagawa-goto , ph.d., david nichols , ph.d., lars pedersen, ph.d..
[email protected] Adjunct Associate Professor, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Staff Scientist, Head of Collaborative Crystallography Lab, NIEHS
Dr. Tang is a collaborating member from ViiV Healthcare with the UNC-Chapel Hill HIV Cure Center. His research is focused on discovering novel HIV latency reversal agents with better tolerability and exploring new ways to clear the latent T cells upon activation and viral particles.
Weifan zheng , ph.d..
Our students receive full financial support, including a competitive stipend, paid tuition and health insurance. They complete the Ph.D. program in approximately five years, and our graduates have taken postdocs in prestigious labs (at Harvard, Duke, Scripps and MIT to name a few) and found desirable positions in academia and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. We meet many of our students for the first time during the School’s Recruitment Weekend each January.
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Pharmaceutical chemistry, about the program, learn more about the program.
Students in the M.S. degree program in Pharmaceutical Chemistry will gain an in-depth understanding of the experimental and computational processes and societal issues that surround the discovery and design of modern pharmaceuticals. The program is intended for students seeking to be employed as research chemists in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
College of Letters and Science
UC Davis General Admission Requirements Program Admissions Requirements
Program contact information, primary program contacts.
Program Coordinator Katie Danyo [email protected]
Graduate Program Chair Sheila David (530) 752-4280 | [email protected]
Department Chair David Goodin [email protected]
Advisor: Admissions Only David Olson Pharmaceutical Chemistry [email protected]
Advisor: Admissions and Primary Contact Dean Tantillo Pharmaceutical Chemistry [email protected]
Internal Fellowship Analyst Heidi West (530) 754-9473 | [email protected]
Senior Academic Advisor Samantha Duesdieker (530) 752-4928 | [email protected]
External Fellowship Analyst Yvette Garcia [email protected]
College of Letters and Science
Do you want to be on the forefront of modern pharmaceuticals? The demand for pharmaceutical chemists is high and is anticipated to grow as modern chemistry and biology provide us with increasingly accurate tools to develop unique therapies. The pharmaceutical chemistry major provides students with an in-depth understanding of the processes and societal issues surrounding the design and development of modern pharmaceuticals. Students in this major will learn how drugs work and how to synthesize, design and deliver them, as well as the ethical issues surrounding pharmaceutical development.
The pharmaceutical chemistry program at UC Davis provides a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics. The major focuses on design principles and experimental methods used in pharmaceutical and medical chemistry. Undergraduate research and study abroad are strongly encouraged and may apply to major requirements.
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The Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry is a full-time program offered in a face-to-face format at our Glassboro, NJ campus. It requires the completion of 63 graduate semester hours (21 courses). The following courses make up the Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. The courses listed above are not official and are subject to change.
The graduate program in Pharmaceutical Sciences spans the entire life cycle of a drug, from bench to bedside. The Medicinal Chemistry concentration focuses on drug discovery and development, part of the pre-clinical studies phase of the cycle. Pharmaceutical Sciences Ph.D. Programs Distinction through five interrelated training opportunities involving the entire life cycle of a drug.…
The Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry has been named as a Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship Program partner at The University of Kansas. The program provides a generous stipend and tuition for four years of graduate study to outstanding students. Other university-level awards include: Honors Fellowship - Awarded on a competitive ...
The department offers a PhD degree with no terminal MS option. In the first year, students typically conduct two to four 10-week rotations in different faculty labs to sample the breadth of research in the department. They then decide on a faculty mentor who will guide their dissertation research. Coursework requires students to become ...
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers research-centered Master and Ph.D. programs in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry. The objectives of these programs are to give students who have an undergraduate foundation in chemistry the opportunity to engage in advanced course work, in-depth study and independent research.
The PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Temple University's School of Pharmacy is a rigorous, research-based graduate course of study that prepares you for advanced scientific research. The curriculum integrates biochemistry, organic chemistry, pharmaceutics and pharmacology. You will acquire expertise on drug synthesis, action, delivery and ...
Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery. The PhD Program in Medicinal Chemistry educates and trains students in the design and synthesis of novel, biologically active compounds and in delineating their mechanisms of action using biochemical, biophysical, and pharmacological approaches. Research specializations are available in synthetic ...
The program expanded in the 1950s to include analytical aspects and pharmaceutics. After Prof. Blicke's retirement in 1960, his former student, Prof. J. H. Burkhalter returned to the College and argued for an independent graduate education program in Medicinal Chemistry. Until that time, Ph.D. degrees in the College were in Pharmaceutical ...
Part 2 will test students' overall knowledge in another program focus covered by the pharmaceutical sciences curriculum. For example, if the student is in the pharmaceutics and drug delivery PhD program, part 1 will be about pharmaceutics and drug delivery, and part 2 can focus either on pharmacology or medicinal chemistry and drug discovery.
PhD Graduate Program. Our students receive an education in chemistry and biology that prepares them for the evolving multidisciplinary research of the pharmaceutical industry and academia. Our graduate program has been awarding PhD degrees to students for over seventy-five years and has a long and distinguished history of being among the top ...
The PhD program in pharmaceutical sciences includes coursework as well as cutting-edge research focused on topics like discovery and evaluation of novel drugs, determination of a drug's effects on the body, delivery methods to improve drug treatment, and how medication is used and applied to enhance patient outcomes. ... Medicinal Chemistry and ...
The Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison provides a rigorous background in scientific disciplines that are critical to the preparation of the next generation of pharmaceutical scientists. With approximately 30 faculty trainers and approximately 65 graduate students, the program's interdisciplinary training combines pharmaceutically relevant aspects of ...
Fall 2025 Admission Deadline: December 2, 2024 PhD in Pharmacological Sciences UC Irvine's PhD in Pharmacological Sciences program provides a unique opportunity for those interested in any scientific discipline represented by the Pharmaceutical Sciences faculty to have a year of broad, interdisciplinary training and self-selected lab rotations followed by focused doctoral research in the ...
Five concentrations comprise the PhD program in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Click on the tabs below to learn more about each of them. ... Faculty in the Chemistry in Drug Discovery concentration use the tools and techniques of chemistry to discover and develop new chemical probes and potential therapeutics. Students in this concentration learn how ...
First year pharmacy students can pursue the PharmD/PhD degree by conducting 3 research rotations with faculty on research topics of PSDD during years 1-2 of the pharmacy curriculum. Pharmacy students in their 2nd year can apply for admissions for the PhD program of the Biomedical Sciences graduate program at UCSD (see previous paragraph).
PhD Program. The Pharmaceutical & Translational Sciences (PHTS) Program brings together, under one umbrella, the school's three laboratory-based PhD programs—CXPT, MPTX, PSCI. This promotes a more cohesive interdisciplinary experience advancing education and offering opportunities to sample the entire range of innovative research options.
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry faculty members also teach in the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree program, which is administered by the School of Medicine Dean's Office. The PharmD professional program prepares pharmacists to lead and innovate in pharmacy practice, policy, and science; to remain lifelong experts in the safe and ...
The PSPG graduate program, and before that the Pharmaceutics pathway of the Pharmaceutical Chemistry graduate program, is internationally recognized for training in the drug development sciences. Recently, we have added a new area of research, regulatory sciences, to drug development sciences through procurement of a large center grant in ...
The UT Austin College of Pharmacy operates longstanding and well-developed graduate training programs in pharmaceutical sciences and translational sciences. ... Pharmaceutical Science is an interdisciplinary field that includes areas of study in chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics, pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacotherapy ...
Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry (CBMC) is a dynamic, multifaceted graduate program dedicated to improving human health through research leading to new concepts for the design and development of therapeutic and diagnostic agents. Our program seamlessly blends chemistry and biology, which distinguishes it from traditional graduate ...
We explore fundamental biological mechanisms and molecules of therapeutic relevance for better health, empowered by novel technologies at the interface of chemistry, physics, and computational sciences. Elisabeth Fall.
Students in the M.S. degree program in Pharmaceutical Chemistry will gain an in-depth understanding of the experimental and computational processes and societal issues that surround the discovery and design of modern pharmaceuticals. The program is intended for students seeking to be employed as research chemists in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
Major Requirements. The pharmaceutical chemistry program at UC Davis provides a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics. The major focuses on design principles and experimental methods used in pharmaceutical and medical chemistry. Undergraduate research and study abroad are strongly encouraged and may apply to major ...
The program is designed for completion in four years and requires a strong pre-pharmacy background, including coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Program Length: 4 years; Tracks/concentrations: Doctorate in Pharmacy; Cost per Credit: $1,233; Required Credits to Graduate: 151; Accreditation: Accreditation Council for ...