Research activities in the program reflect the highly interdisciplinary nature of pharmacology. Areas of investigation range from molecular biological approaches to electrophysiological studies to behavior analyses. Neuropharmacology studies include the molecular physiology of neurotransmitter receptors and channels, pharmacological regulation of neurotransmitter receptors, neurochemical control of food intake, molecular mechanisms in signal transduction, and molecular controls in synaptic communication. Behavioral pharmacology and drugs of abuse studies involve neural mechanisms underlying learning and memory, effects of neurotoxic and psychotropic drugs on classical conditioning, role of central monoaminergic pathways in behavioral actions of drugs of abuse, developmental alterations in neuroanatomical structures in drug abuse, and addiction. Students in the Ph.D. program must pass written and oral qualifying examinations after two years of study, while students in the M.S. program must pass a written exam at the end of the first year of study.
All students then prepare an original proposal that forms the basis of their dissertation research.
The University has a modern, fully equipped animal facility and three medical libraries. Microcomputer facilities and online search capabilities are available to all students. Financial Aid Tuition scholarships may be awarded to qualified students in each of the graduate programs. Students may also apply for financial assistance through the Financial Aid Office. Students are required to maintain adequate medical insurance.