Since cancer research as a discipline is unusually broad, encompassing a wide variety of approaches to the biology, biochemistry, and genetics of this disease, the curriculum requirements are designed to be flexible and to provide the students with a maximal opportunity for specialization within this multidisciplinary field. Specific information about the requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Oncology, as well as for a minor in oncology, may be obtained from the department. Students who join this program usually rotate in several laboratories in the Department of Oncology during the first semester to become familiar with laboratory personnel and with ongoing research. By the end of the first semester, students generally have a major professor and begin their research projects. The ratio of graduate students to faculty is purposely kept low to maximize student and staff interaction.
Excellent facilities are available.
The McArdle Laboratory maintains several shared service facilities available to all McArdle personnel including electron microscopy, histotechnology, animal care, flow cytometry, cell culture media preparation, glassware washing and sterilization, an irradiator, darkrooms, a biocontainment level-3 laboratory, and a reading room. McArdle scientists have been the recipients of numerous national and international awards and prizes for outstanding scientific contributions. In addition, members of the faculty play an active role in affecting science policy, hold positions on study sections and committees of private and governmental research organizations, and serve on the editorial boards of many professional journals. The research interests of the faculty broadly span cellular and viral biology, genetics, and biochemistry. A detailed description of faculty research interests is also available from the department.