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PhD in Human Physiology

The Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program in Human Physiology prepares the next generation of leading scientists that will shape research and education in universities, hospitals or clinics, and the biotech or pharmaceutical industry.

Our PhD program engages graduate students in cutting-edge research on novel and important biomedical questions across multiple disciplines, including experimental and computational neuroscience, neuropathology, muscle-cardiovascular-renal pathophysiology, cytoskeletal biology and signaling, and cancer biology.

Our outstanding faculty-leaders in their respective fields-provide unsurpassed mentorship and training, creating individualized study programs to best fulfill each student's unique educational needs and professional development goals. Students in our program also benefit from a highly collaborative environment within our program, other departments within Boston University, and multidisciplinary interactions across Boston-area universities, hospitals, international research groups, and institutes.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

Demonstrate advanced knowledge of theory and existing research in physiology and/or neuroscience.

Synthesize existing knowledge, identify and access appropriate resources, and critically analyze and evaluate others' findings to identify and design research questions in physiology and/or neuroscience.

Communicate research results in a manner appropriate to the audience.

Graduates will:

Make an original and substantial contribution to the discipline.

Demonstrate career success.

Admission Requirements

Applicants should refer to the program website for the most up-to-date admission requirements and application deadlines.

Degree Requirements

Students admitted with a bachelor's degree must complete the equivalent of 16 term courses (64 units); those admitted with a master's degree must complete the equivalent of 8 term courses (32 units). In both cases, a minimum grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained. No more than 8 units of any C grade will be accepted for inclusion in the requirement. No grade below C will be accepted.

At the end of the first year of study, the student submits a plan of study for completion of all degree requirements, including identification and approval of a departmental faculty member who will serve as the student's research advisor.

Candidates take their comprehensive examination at the end of all formal coursework, usually at the end of the second year. This examination consists of a written, formal NRSA-type proposal followed by an oral defense of the hypothesis to be tested as well as general information emphasized in core coursework.

Following completion of dissertation research, a candidate must complete the written dissertation and defend it orally before the departmental faculty. At least one original research paper must be submitted for publication in a reputable scientific journal prior to receiving the doctoral degree.

A candidate must be in residence for at least two consecutive full-time academic terms (full time equals 12 to 18 units per term or 8 to 12 units per term for a teaching or research fellow). A candidate's program must be completed within five (post-master) or seven (post-bachelor) years of matriculation. Complete details can be found in the Graduate Student Manual available on our website.

Curriculum

The following is the required curriculum for the Doctor of Philosophy Program in Human Physiology, unless the student has previously completed an equivalent course. Each course carries 4 units unless otherwise indicated. The specific course requirements are intentionally left broad to allow students to concentrate on areas related to their career goals.

Core Courses