Cellular and Molecular Physiology Graduate Study

The goal of our graduate program is to prepare doctoral students for research careers in integrated biological function. Students develop and pursue individually tailored course curricula to provide a broad knowledge of biomedical sciences as well as to focus on areas of particular interest. The Department expects students to acquire coherent knowledge of interrelated biophysical-physiological problems at several distinct levels: organ system function, cell and tissue behavior, and subcellular-molecular processes.

During the second year, in preparation for a qualifying exam, students undertake two directed reading periods, each with a faculty member whose own expertise is relevant to the anticipated thesis topic. Following completion of the reading periods, the student will prepare a thesis proposal in collaboration with a third faculty member. Finally, the written proposal will provide the focus for a formal examination. A public presentation of the proposal to an audience of the student’s peers will precede an oral examination session. Success in this exam and submission of a thesis prospectus mark the beginning of candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. Students then formally implement their research proposals in their thesis laboratory and select a committee of faculty members, with which they meet periodically to discuss their research. Thereafter, almost all of the student's time is devoted to thesis research. The culmination of the program is the submission of a written doctoral thesis, which is evaluated by several expert readers and then presented in a public lecture attended by members of the department and the university. 

The final decision of the Admissions Committee will be based on a combination of the evaluations of the applicant's file and the personal interviews.
Application Policies and Procedures are set by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. We welcome applications from students with backgrounds in the biological and/or physical sciences. These include majors in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, computer science, and psychology. Applicants should select in the online application "Biological and Biomedical Sciences" as the "Program of Study" and should specify Physiology and Integrative Medical Biology as a subfield or concentration. 

Full financial support, which includes an annual stipend and payment of tuition and health insurance is available to students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Funding for foreign students is extremely limited. Because only a few Yale fellowships are available for outstanding foreign students, foreign applicants are advised to apply for fellowships or other funding from their government or other agencies.