Pharmacology and Toxicology

Pharmacology is a field of science that studies the mechanism of action of drugs in order to develop and optimize their therapeutic potential. Toxicology, on the other hand, is the study of the mechanisms responsible for the adverse effects of drugs, as well as chemicals, physical and biological agents on living organisms.

Research in the Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology encompasses studies elucidating basic and translational mechanisms of drug action, the neuropharmacology of addiction, environmental factors that perturb health and lead to disease, DNA repair, genetic instability, and cancer biology, treatment, and prevention. Faculty in the Division use cutting-edge biochemical, molecular, cellular, physiological, and behavioral experimental approaches in their laboratories. Through interactions across various departments, centers and institutes, Division faculty and students have access to state-of-the-art facilities in genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, and imaging technologies and expertise.

To earn a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences in the Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, students participate in graduate education, research and scholarly work that is designed to promote student achievement of the highest level of professional and academic competence. A student receiving an advanced degree from the College of Pharmacy is prepared for a career in research and scholarly work in various settings including an academic institution, industrial company or governmental agency.

Students in the program develop a research project of their own creation, under the supervision of some of the field’s premier faculty, in order to attain the highest level of professional and academic competence in the field and practical experience in independent research. 

YEAR 1

FALL

• PGS 196S Division seminar
• PGS 189Q Seminar in Alcohol (Neuropharmacology Track) or PGS 196T Toxicology Seminar (Toxicology Track)
• Basic Science Elective I (Both Tracks) or PGS 384K Fundamentals in Toxicology (Toxicology Track)
• PGS 196H Lab research or rotation

SPRING

• PGS 386D Cellular & Systems Physiology II
• PHR 388K Basic Principles in Experimental Design & Statistics
• PHR 191Q Pharmacy and its Disciplines
• PGS 196S Division seminar
• PGS 189Q Seminar in Alcohol (Neuropharmacology Track) or PGS 196T Toxicology Seminar (Toxicology Track)
• Basic Science Elective II (Both Tracks) or PGS 384L Biochemical and Molecular Tox (Toxicology Track)
• PGS 196H Lab research or rotation
• * Milestone: Select supervising professor by end of spring semester

SUMMER
PGS 487Q Communication Skills for Scientists
PGS 196H Lab Research

YEAR 2

FALL 

• PGS 380F Biomedical Pharmacology I
• PGS 383D Neuropharmacology (Neuropharmacology Track) or PGS 384K Fundamental Toxicology or Elective I (Toxicology Track)
• PGS 185D Responsible Conduct of Research
• PGS 185G Grant Writing
• PGS 196S Division Seminar
• PGS 189Q Seminar in Alcohol (Neuropharmacology Track) or PGS 196T Toxicology Seminar (Toxicology Track)
• Lab research

SPRING

• PGS 380G Biomedical Pharmacology II
• PGS 388K Pharmacol Mech Addiction (Neuropharmacology Track) or PGS 384L Biochemical and Molecular Tox or Elective II
• PGS 196S Division Seminar Participation
• PGS 189Q Seminar in Alcohol (Neuropharmacology Track) or PGS 196T Toxicology Seminar (Toxicology Track)
• PGS 196H Lab Research
• * Milestone: Student works on draft of NIH-style proposal (NRSA) in preparation for qualifying examination

SUMMER 

• PGS 196H Lab Research
• * Milestones: Prepare and write Qualifying exam

YEAR 3 (and subsequent long semesters)

FALL

• * Milestone: Qualifying Exam (first week of September)
• PGS 196S Division seminar
• PGS 189Q Seminar in Alcohol (Neuropharmacology Track) or PGS 196T Toxicology Seminar (Toxicology Track)
• PGS 196H Lab Research

SPRING

• PGS 196S Division Seminar
• PGS 189Q Seminar in Alcohol (Neuropharmacology Track) or PGS 196T Toxicology Seminar (Toxicology Track)
• PGS 196H Lab research
• * Milestones: Qualifying examination; enter candidacy

Requirements

• Application for Admission 
• Official GRE scores 
• Resume and/or Curriculum Vitae
• Letters of Recommendation from three individuals
• The application fee is $65 for U.S. applicants and $90 for International applicants
• Official Transcripts. Include transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended. You will uploadyour transcript as a PDF after you submitted your application and paid the applicationfee. Upload your transcript(s) on the Status Check page. 
• Official TOEFL Scores
• Financial Responsibility Form 

Scholarships

• B. Berard Matthews Scholarship
• American Pharmacies Fellowship in Independent Pharmacy Management
• Max and Mary Anne Burlage Fellowship
• Jaime N. Delgado Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Pharmacy
• Johnson & Johnson Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Pharmacy