It is recommended that students have completed undergraduate courses in organic chemistry, physical chemistry, calculus, physics, and the biological sciences. Specific research areas include microbial physiology, bacterial pathogenicity, cellular and molecular immunology, tumor immunology, lymphocyte differentiation, membrane biology, molecular virology, molecular genetics and gene regulation. Students will utilize the techniques of molecular biology, genetic engineering, genomics, array technology, transgenic technology, hybridoma technology and fluorescence-activated cell sorting. The program of study is tailored to the individual background and career goals of the student and stresses an interdepartmental approach both in the selection of courses and in the pursuit of research. The most important aspect of the doctoral program is an independent research thesis under the direction of the student's mentor.
Financial aid is available for qualified students.
Students select their doctoral degree program at the completion of the first year core curriculum from among the departments of Microbiology and Immunology, Anatomy and Neurobiology, Biochemistry, Physiology and Pharmacology. Inquiries regarding admission should be directed to the Director, Integrated Biomedical Sciences Curriculum, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536-0298.