Physiology & Biophysics

The Department of Physiology and Biophysics is located in the Health Sciences Center of the University of Louisville, which provides an active and intellectually stimulating environment and a wide variety of course options. The graduate program permits studies in related disciplines, such as anatomy, neurobiology, pharmacology, toxicology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, and molecular biology.

The doctoral program of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics is offered through the Graduate School of the University of Louisville. As such, one major goal of the Department is to provide students with advanced training which leads to the Ph.D. Degree in Physiology and Biophysics. The research interests of the Department are broad enough 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.

I. ADMISSION

A. APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The University of Louisville Graduate School catalog gives a general description of admission procedures. Application information can be found on the Graduate School website http://graduate.louisville.edu/. The following application items must be submitted to the Graduate School Admissions Office at the University of Louisville.

1. One official transcript of the applicant's previous work for each college or university that has been previously attended.
2. Two letters of recommendation from people who are well acquainted with the applicant's previous academic work.
3. Applicants must forward scores from the Analytical, Verbal and Quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). In the case of students with professional degrees (for example, M.D., D.D.S. or D.V.M.) the aptitude test taken for admission into that professional program or National Board scores may be substituted for the GRE after approval by the Departmental Graduate Admissions Committee and the Department Chair.
4. TOEFL examinations scores for foreign students from non-English speaking countries.
5. A non-returnable application fee to the University of Louisville.
6. Applicants must state in a letter to the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, why they desire a Ph.D. degree in this Department.
7. Applicants for combined degrees (Ph.D.- M.D. or Ph.D.- D.M.D.) must apply and be accepted by the appropriate professional school (e.g., School of Medicine or Dentistry) before final action will be taken on the Departmental doctoral application.

B. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission to the Department of Physiology and Biophysics requires:

• A cumulative undergraduate grade point average that is usually 3.00 or higher on a scale of 4.0 (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1),
• A graduate record exam score (or equivalent) which is usually 50th percentile or higher as an average of the verbal, quantitative, and analytical sections, and in addition,
• A foreign applicant from a non- English speaking country must achieve a TOEFL Examination score acceptable to the Graduate School.
  

The Graduate Admission Committee (GAC) evaluates all requests for admission into the Program. The GAC consists of the Director of Graduate Admissions, the Director of Graduate Studies, and one other Departmental faculty member, who are appointed by the Departmental Chair. The GAC will determine if the student's qualifications warrant a Departmental interview. If so, interviews will be arranged by the Director of Graduate Admissions. The applicant will be interviewed by:

• At least one member of the GAC
• The Department Chair or the Chair’s designated representative
• Other members of the Departmental faculty

If the applicant cannot come for an interview, then consideration of the application will proceed without the interview, or in some cases, by telephone interview.

The GAC report to the faculty shall consist of: a) the narrative evaluations by each of the faculty interviewers, b) the Graduate School Admissions Summary (Form 1), and c) the completed application file. This report on the applicant will be submitted to the Department faculty for their action. An applicant will not be admitted to graduate studies in physiology without affirmative votes from at least 2/3 of the Departmental full-time graduate faculty. When an applicant is accepted into the Program, the Department Chair will send a letter of acceptance.

The prospective student must provide a letter indicating their interest in the Program. A Departmental file will be established for the entering student. The initial file materials will be copies of (a) the application, (b) all transcripts and GRE scores, (c) all letters of recommendation, (d) Form 1, (e) the Departmental notification of admission, (f) the Graduate School notification of admission, and (g) the written acceptance by the student. These documents will normally be placed in the Departmental files by the Departmental Director of Graduate Admissions after the student has submitted written acceptance.

II. FACULTY ADVISING

A. FIRST YEAR TEMPORARY ADVISOR AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

The Director of Graduate Studies will meet with the new student to discuss the student's academic and research interests. The Director of Graduate Studies will serve as a Temporary Advisor until a Permanent Advisor is selected.

B. SELECTION OF PRINCIPAL ADVISOR

During the first semester, beginning graduate students will visit research laboratories in which they have an interest. First-year students must select a Principal Advisor within the first 5 months of their graduate study. The selection process involves approval by the student, the Principal Advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Department Chair.

C. ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Advisory Committee in this Department is an integral part of the graduate student’s training. This Committee is to be extremely proactive in planning the student’s curriculum and providing an appropriate breadth in the student’s research experience. To that end, not only does the mentor provide guidance in developing the dissertation research plan, but the Advisory Committee has the additional responsibility to assure the research design will provide appropriate results for the proposed hypotheses.

After selection of the Principal Advisor, the student's Advisory Committee will be determined. This Committee must have at least five members, and will contain; the Principal Advisor, as Chair, at least three Departmental faculty members, and at least one Graduate faculty member from outside the Department. In cases where the Principal Advisor holds a primary appointment in a department other than the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, a Departmental faculty member must be selected as Co-Advisor by the Principal Advisor and the student. The Co-Advisor will also serve on the student’s Advisory Committee and serve as the Second Reader of the Dissertation Reading Committee. Approval of the Committee membership by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Chair will be contingent upon the potential role of each Committee member in the training, or in the career plans of the student.

III. MINIMAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE IN PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOPHYSICS

A. GENERAL

The Ph.D. degree is designed for the student who wishes 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 reach a high level of creativity and expertise. Therefore, mere completion of a prescribed number of courses is not adequate for receipt of the doctoral degree. All Ph.D. students are expected to make steady and satisfactory progress toward the completion of the degree.

B. MINIMAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

The University of Louisville Ph.D. degree does not require a specific number of hours of academic credit. With approval by the Dean of the Graduate School, a maximum of 12 semester hours of this requirement may be credited for post­-baccalaureate work from other professional or graduate degree programs. A minimum of two consecutive semesters (9 credit hours in the Fall or Spring Semesters and/or 6 credit hours in the Summer) shall be taken to fulfill the full-time 1 year doctoral residency requirement at the University of Louisville. By the end of the Program, the student must demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research.

C. MINIMUM COURSE REQUIREMENTS

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

1. Systemic Physiology I and II (PHZB 605 and 606) or equivalent
2. Biochemistry (BIOC 645 and 647), or equivalent
3. Advanced Physiology (PHZB 611)
4. Cell Biology (MBIO 667) or equivalent
5. Experimental Physiology Laboratory (PHZB 625) or equivalent
6. Integrated Systemic Physiology (PHZB 609)
7. Seminar (PHZB 617) four semesters
8. Applied Physiology Statistics (PHZB 616.02)
   
   

D. ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

A student must have at least a 3.00 accumulated GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in order to take the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination and to qualify for the Ph.D. degree. In general, a student with a GPA of less than 3.00 after two consecutive semesters (excluding summer sessions) will require a 2/3 majority vote of the Departmental faculty to continue in the Ph.D. Program. For Departmental purposes, pass grades will not be included in the GPA calculation; however, a failing grade in a pass/fail-graded course will be included in the GPA calculation at 0 quality points per credit hour.

E. THE PH.D. QUALIFYING EXAMINATION

Before the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination may be taken, the student must have completed the Minimum Course Requirements listed above with a GPA of at least a 3.0. It would normally be expected that the student would take the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination by the end of four semesters of graduate studies. If the student has not taken the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination by the end of the second year, a letter of justification for the delay must be submitted by the Principal Advisor to the Department Chair.

A Ph.D. Qualifying Examination must be passed by the applicant in order to be admitted to Ph.D. candidacy. The Qualifying Examination Committee will normally be comprised of members of the student’s Advisory Committee. The membership must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Department Chair. A passing recommendation shall not involve more than one negative vote of this Committee. If the student does not pass the Qualifying Examination, one additional retake will be allowed if approved by a majority vote of the Departmental faculty.

The purpose of the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination is to test the student's use and depth of core physiology through its application to the student’s proposed research. This examination shall consist of a written research proposal outlining the dissertation research and an oral examination of the student’s depth of current understanding of the basic physiological concepts underlying the proposed research. The student will receive the Master of Science Degree in Physiology, upon satisfactory completion of the Qualifying Exam.

F. MAINTENANCE OF GRADUATE STATUS

A candidate for the Ph.D. degree who has completed all residency requirements, all of the approved required program of academic studies, and passed the Qualifying Examination may register for "DOCT 600" to maintain candidacy until the degree is awarded. Semiannual progress meetings will continue to be expected. To complete the Ph.D. degree, the student must continue to make satisfactory progress during the candidacy period. In order to be eligible to receive the Ph.D. degree, the student must have been admitted to candidacy no later than the end of the ninth month prior to the awarding of the degree.

G. DISSERTATION

The dissertation shall represent a scholarly achievement which embodies results of independent research and which demonstrates a thorough understanding of research concepts in the field of inquiry. The completed dissertation must be in the appropriate format as required by the Graduate School. It must be approved by a Dissertation Reading Committee which includes the candidate's Principal Advisor, and two additional readers, one who is a member of the candidate's Advisory Committee and one who is from outside the Department. Then, at least two weeks before the scheduled dissertation defense and at least 30 days before the expected date of graduation, the dissertation shall be submitted to the Dissertation Defense Committee (consisting of at least the Reading Committee and the remaining members of the student’s Advisory Committee). The Dissertation Defense Committee, selected by the Principal Advisor, must have been approved by the Director of Graduate Studies, the Department Chair, and by the Dean of the Graduate School prior to the Final Examination. Two unbound copies of the accepted dissertation, signed by the Dissertation Defense Committee must be deposited with the Dean of the Graduate School and one copy must be given to the Department Chair before graduation.

H. DISSERTATION DEFENSE

The dissertation defense is an oral defense of the dissertation and a demonstra­tion of mastery of the candidate's research field. It is administered by the Dissertation Defense Committee. The defense of the dissertation is a public examination and the Graduate School will notify all faculty members of the Graduate School that they are invited to the Dissertation Defense, but only members of the Dissertation Defense Committee will vote on the student's performance. For the student to pass the Dissertation Defense, the vote of the Dissertation Defense Committee may not include more than one negative vote. The Dissertation Defense must take place at least 14 days before the end of the semester in which the degree is anticipated.

I. The Department will not approve the granting of the Ph.D. degree until the student has submitted at least one first-authored manuscript on the dissertation research and one co-authored manuscript for publication in a refereed journal. The manuscript and the choice of journal must be approved by the Principal Advisor before manuscript submission.

J. In any case where the Departmental requirements are less restrictive than those of the Graduate School, the Graduate School regulations will apply.

IV. EXCEPTIONS

• The above are statements of minimum Departmental requirements. However, it is recognized that there could be special and unusual cases in which rare exceptions should be allowed. The student and advisor should consult with the Department Chair if an exception is desired.
• In the above guidelines, the Director of Graduate Studies has considerable responsibility for program quality. To avoid any possibility of a potential conflict of interest, the Department Chair (or designate) will fulfill the role of Director of Graduate Studies for any Ph.D. or M.S. student who has the Director of Graduate Studies as their Principal Advisor.

V. APPENDICES

A. TYPICAL DOCTORAL PROGRAMS

1. Traditional Doctoral Program

First Semester (1st FALL)
Graduate level Biochemistry (BIOC 645 – 4 CH)
Systemic Physiology I (PHZB 605 – 4 CH)
Seminar (PHZB 617.01 – 1 CH)
Experimental Physiology Lab (PHZB 625 – 3 CH)

Second Semester (1st SPRING)
Graduate level Biochemistry (BIOC 647 – 4 CH)
Systemic Physiology II (PHZB 606 – 4 CH)
Seminar (PHZB 617.01 – 1 CH)
Cell Biology (MBIO 667 – 3 CH)

Third Semester (1st SUMMER)
Research (PHZB 619 – 9 CH)

Fourth Semester (2nd FALL)
Advanced Human Physiology (PHZB 611 – 4 CH)
Seminar (PHZB 617.02 – 1 CH)
Research (PHZB 619 – 3 CH)
600- Elective (3 CH)

Fifth Semester (2nd SPRING)
Integrated Systemic Physiology(PHZB 609 – 3 CH)
Seminar(PHZB 617.02 – 1 CH)
Research (PHZB 619 – 5 CH)
Statistics (PHZB 616.02 – 3 CH)

M.S. Final Exam
(Ph.D. Qualifying Exam)

MAST

Sixth Semester (2nd SUMMER)
Doctoral Candicacy DOCT

Seventh Semester (3rd FALL)
Doctoral Candicacy DOCT

Eighth Semester (3rd SPRING)
Doctoral Candicacy DOCT

Ninth Semester (3rd SUMMER)
Doctoral Candicacy DOCT

Tenth Semester (4th FALL)
Doctoral Candidacy DOCT

Eleventh Semester (4th SPRING)
Dissertation Defense DOCT

If more research/dissertation time is needed, the student will continue to register as DOCT (“Active Status”), until completed.

2. Doctoral Program for Residents/Fellows

This sequence is based on the premise that the clinician will be given the equivalent of two full calendar years (“Research Leave”) free to complete research without clinical duties. The Director of Graduate Studies will see that the Graduate School is notified of the transfer of the preclinical courses applicable to the Departmental doctoral requirements. The clinician will take: a) Advanced Human Physiology, b) Integrated Systemic Physiology, (c) Statistics, d) two semesters of Seminar, and e) complete initial research (PHY 619) to define a doctoral research problem.

First Semester (1st FALL)
Advanced Human Physiology (PHZB 611 - 4 CH)
Research (PHZB 619 - 7 CH)
Seminar (PHZB 617.01 - 1 CH)

Second Semester (1st SPRING)
Integrated Systemic Physiology (PHZB 609 - 3 CH)
Seminar (PHZB 617.02 - 1 CH)
Research (PHZB 619 - 5 CH)L
Statistics (PHZB 616.02 - 3 CH)

Third Semester (1st SUMMER)
Research (PHZB 619 - 6 CH)

Fourth Semester (2nd FALL)
Research (PHZB 619 - 9 CH)

Master of Science Degree
(Ph.D. Qualifying Exam)

Fifth Semester (2nd SPRING)
Doctoral Candidacy (DOCT)

Sixth Semester (2nd SUMMER)
Doctoral Candidacy (DOCT)

Dissertation Defense

If more research/dissertation time is needed, the clinician will continue to register as DOCT (“Active Status”), until completed, and dissertation defended.

B. SUMMARY OF PROGRAM PROCEDURES FOR THE Ph.D. FORMS

1. Form 3 formalizes the approval of a required program of academic studies. This form should be completed by the Advisory Committee early during the second semester that the student is in the Departmental Program.
2. Each year, on or before February 1 and July 1, it shall be the obligation of each Principal Advisor to provide the faculty with a semi annual report on the student's activity and progress. This report should contain information on courses taken and grades obtained, any abstracts of papers at meetings, any submitted manu­scripts or reprints, grants applied for, teaching activities, seminars given, and on the status of the student regarding timely completion of the Graduate Program forms. This form is to be signed by the mentor and student and acknowledged by Advisory Committee members. This information will be the source material for subsequent faculty meetings in which the full­-time Graduate Faculty members of the Department will discuss each student's academic and research progress.
3. Form 3 (3a, 3b and 3c) reports the Advisory Committee’s approval of the required courses and anticipated dates of semiannual Committee meetings, Qualifying Exam and graduation.
4. Form 4 reports results of the Qualifying Examination.
5. Form 5 requests approval of the proposed Reading Committee and Dissertation Defense Committee. After the Reading Committee has reviewed the dissertation, this form recom­mends the composition of the Dissertation Defense Committee. Form 5 must be forwarded to the Graduate School at least two weeks but preferably one month prior to the planned dissertation defense.
6. Form 6 advises the Graduate School that the student has successfully defended the dissertation and verifies the completion of all academic program requirements including publication requirement) for the Ph.D. degree.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

APPLICATIONS will be reviewed beginning:
January 5th (of each calendar year)
Stipend Support is given out based on each application's merit once 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 Admissions
Houchens Building,Suite 105
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292

Please be sure to include: your name, address, telephone(s) (FAX), e-mail, undergraduate institution/degree and UofL degree sought.

YOU MUST PLACE THE CODE: PHZBGAC IN THE SUBJECT LINE!

Graduate Application

1. The applicant should send a letter or email of intent to the Graduate School which includes the applicant's name, address, telephone, e-mail, undergraduate institution with degree earned or anticipated and the Departmental Degree Program sought.
2. Doctoral degree applicants are required to have submitted a COMPLETED application to the Department prior to March 1st. Stipends are available on a first come basis!
3. One official transcript of the applicant's previous coursework is required for each college or university that has been attended.
4. Two letters of recommendation from people who are well acquainted with the applicant's previous academic work. (Forms are on our website).
5. Analytical, Verbal and Quantitative scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or for those who have already completed professional degree the entrance or exit aptitude test for that degree may be substituted for the GRE AFTER PRIOR APPROVAL by the Departmental Graduate Admissions Committee and the Chair.
6. TOEFL Examination scores from foreign applicants from non-English speaking countries.
7. A non-returnable application fee of $50 made payable to the University of Louisville.
8. A written statement stating the applicant's personal background, motivations and current career interests.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GENERAL INFORMATION

COURSES
The Department offers a variety of graduate courses including human physiology, cardiovascular physiology, 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.

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.

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
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
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.

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
The City of Louisville is located on the banks of the Ohio River and is the center of the largest metropolitan area in Kentucky. The city includes a mixture of elegant older homes, modern high-rise architecture and peaceful small suburbs. The rural areas of Kentucky and southern Indiana are easily accessible from the city and contain a number of state and national parks. Culturally, Louisville combines the advantages of a large city and a university town.