The Department of Physiology and Biophysics is a member of the Graduate School of the University of Louisville.  As such, one of the goals of the Department is to provide students with advanced training that leads to the Ph.D. Degree in Physiology and Biophysics.  The research interests of the department are quite broad to provide each student with a wide selection of possible research and graduate education opportunities.  Our doctoral graduate program is designed primarily to prepare students for a research career in basic and applied physiology.

The Ph.D. degree is designed for the student pursuing a professional life that involves original, independent research and who desires knowledge that will permit competent advanced teaching in a physiology area.  The Ph.D. degree requires that the student reaches a high level of creativity and expertise and therefore, mere completion of a prescribed number of courses is not adequate for receipt of the doctoral degree.

Typically, a student with a bachelor’s degree will require about four years to complete the Ph.D. program.  However, the program does not have a fixed time for the awarding of the Ph.D. degree and completion would obviously depend on the progress of the individual student.

Admission Requirements

The requirements for admission are:

1.  A genuine interest in graduate work and the desire for a significant research career in the Biomedical Sciences.

2.  B.A., B.S. or an equivalent degree.

3.  A cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0 (A=4, B=3, etc.).

4.  Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores which average at the 50th percentile or higher in verbal, quantitative and analytical sections.  Conditional acceptance may be granted on the basis of the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores or equivalent until the GRE is completed.

5.  In the case of a foreign applicant from a non-English speaking country, the applicant must achieve a TOEFL examination score of 550 (paper) or 213 (computerized), with the exam taken in the United States.

6.  Specific course prerequisites include: Biology (2 sem), Chemistry (2 sem), Organic Chemistry (2 sem) and Physics.

7.  Under special circumstances, deficiencies and prerequisites may be waived or removed during the first year of training.

Application Procedures

Applications will be reviewed beginning January 5th (of each calendar year). Stipend support is awarded based on each application's merit once the application is completed.  Therefore, stipends are awarded on an approved and accepted, first-come, first-served basis.  It behooves the applicant to have all materials submitted by the above date of January 10th of each calendar year.

Submit all components directly to:

Office of Graduate Admission
University of Louisville
Houchens Building , Suite 105
Louisville KY 40292

Courses

The Department offers a variety of graduate courses including an introductory human physiology, advanced cardiovascular and integrated systemic physiology as well as an exciting seminar series and special topics courses.

Financial Aid

Students admitted to the Department of Physiology and Biophysics Ph.D. program are supported by financial aid with a fellowship or an assistantship. These students are given a stipend, full tuition remission, and health insurance for up to five years.

Research Facilities

All faculty members have excellent research facilities equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.  Major items of available research equipment include intravital and fluorescent microscopes, computer data acquisition systems, image enhancement systems, cellular and molecular core facilities and a state-of-the-art instrumentation laboratory.  In addition, within the Health Science Center complex, the department has access to cold rooms, constant temperature rooms, liquid scintillation counters, a photography laboratory, a machine shop, and a state-of-the-art laboratory animal research facility that is AALAC approved.  The Kornhauser Library located on the Health Science Center campus contains the most current physiology and medical journals as well as an extensive collection of current books and monographs.

The University of Louisville dates back to 1798 and the Medical School is one of the oldest in the United States.  The Health Sciences Center includes the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, and Public Health, the University Hospital, Regional Cancer Center, the Ambulatory Care Center, and the Eye Research Institute.  A number of nearby hospitals are also affiliated with the Health Sciences Center.

The Department of Physiology and Biophysics is located in a 14-story high-rise building which is devoted to basic science research and teaching.  The department has modern, well-equipped laboratories specifically designed for physiological research.  There are currently 21 faculty in the Department .  In addition, the department has many joint, associate and adjunct faculty who regularly contribute in the research and teaching endeavors of the department.

The Ph.D. degree is designed for a student who is pursuing a professional life that involves original independent research and desires knowledge that will permit competent advanced teaching in a physiology area.  The Ph.D. degree requires that the student reaches a high level of creativity and expertise, therefore completion of a prescribed number of courses is not adequate for receipt of the doctoral degree.

At least three years of contiguous enrollment in approved courses beyond the baccalaureate degree is required for the Ph.D. degree.  A maximum of 6 semester hours of this requirement may be credited for post-baccalaureate work in other professional or graduate degree programs.  A minimum of two contiguous semesters in which the student is registered full-time shall be taken in residency at the University of Louisville.  By the end of the program, the student must demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research.

The required program of academic study must include (if not completed with a grade of B or better prior to admission to the Department) the following courses:

• Systemic Physiology I and II (PHZB 605 and 606) or equivalent
• Graduate Biochemistry (BIOC 645 and 647) or equivalent
• Advanced Physiology (PHZB 611)
• Cell Biology (MBIO 667) or equivalent
• Experimental Physiology Methods (PHZB 625)
• Integrated Systemic Physiology (PHZB 609)
• Seminar in Physiology (PHZB 617.01, 617.02) four semesters
• Statistics of Physiology (616.02)

A typical Doctoral Program for the Traditional Student would be:

First Semester (1st Fall)

• Systemic Physiology I (PHZB 605, 4 cr)
• Graduate Biochemistry I (BIOC 645, 4 cr)
• Seminars in Physiology (PHZB 617.01, 1 cr)
• Physiological Methods (PHZB 625, 3 cr)
  

Second Semester (1st Spring)

• Systemic Physiology II (PHZB 606, 4 cr)
• Graduate Biochemistry II (BIOC 647, 4 cr)
• Cell Biology (MBIO 667, 3 cr)
• Seminars in Physiology (PHZB 617.01, 1 cr)
  

Third Semester (1st Summer)

• Research (PHZB 619, 6 cr)
  

Fourth Semester (2nd Fall)

• Advanced Human Physiology (PHZB 611, 4 cr)
• Research (PHZB 619, 5 cr)
• Seminar (PHZB 617.02, 1 cr)
  

Fifth Semester (2nd Spring)

• Research (PHY 619, 3 cr)
• Integrated Systemic Physiology (PHZB 609, 3 cr)
• Statistics (PHZB 616.02, 3 cr)
• M.S. Final Exam (Ph.D. Qualifying Exam)
  

Sixth Semester (2nd Summer)

• Research (DOCT)
  

Seventh Semester (3rd Fall)

• Research (DOCT)
  

Eighth Semester (3rd Spring)

• Research (DOCT)
  

Ninth Semester (3rd Summer)

• Research (DOCT)
  

Tenth Semester (4th Fall)

• Research (DOCT)
  

Eleventh Semester (4th Spring)

• Research (DOCT)
• Dissertation / Defense
  

The program requires that a student, upon completion of the minimum course requirements (usually at the end of the second year), must take and pass the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination.  Graduation requirements are that the student maintain at least a B average and produce an acceptable dissertation based on original research.