Quick Program Facts
Degree Programs: PhD, MD-PhD, MS, Certificates
Total Enrollment: 347
Application Deadlines: Priority–November 30; Final–December 31
GRE Scores: Not required
Pathobiology, Pharmacology & Physiology (P3) is one of eight interdisciplinary PhD themes within the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) Graduate Biomedical Sciences (GBS). Students select their theme upon application to the GBS program but have access to faculty and courses across the entire university. Program goals are to provide students the skills and resources to cultivate excellence in their careers. The P3 theme provides the broadest training within the emerging and exciting field of translational research. The PhD program offers flexible, didactic, integrated research training directed by faculty with diverse interests ranging from molecules to whole organisms, and disease processes to new therapies. Graduate students take advantage of the exceptional research capacity, mentorship and modern, flexible education methods.
The P3 theme directors, faculty and mentors offer personal, day-to-day interactions with students. The GBS core curriculum introduces students to fundamental principals in genetics, biochemistry and metabolism, and cell and molecular biology. In addition, experts in the field teach P3 students a broad array of fundamental and advanced interdisciplinary subjects related to pathobiology, pharmacology and molecular basis of human diseases. Students participate in seminars and journal clubs that build on developing critical thinking skills. Students also have hands-on experience during laboratory rotations to explore and identify their personal research interests.
Research rotations during the first year provide an opportunity for each student to experience the research environment in several different labs. These experiences are critical for choosing an appropriate lab and thesis mentor. Students can perform their doctoral research in more than 350 different labs across campus as well as at Southern Research and the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.
All students traditionally accepted into GBS receive an annual stipend ($30,000–31,000 yearly), fully paid tuition and fees and single coverage health insurance. Traditionally accepted first-year students are funded by graduate school fellowships and may also be funded by other university and external fellowships. In subsequent years, the students’ mentors provide funding through research grants, institutional funds or training grants. All student support is guaranteed by their faculty mentor's primary department pending satisfactory progress.
Applicants apply to one of eight interdisciplinary themes. Competitive applicants are invited to interview in early spring. Offers of admission are generally made on a rolling basis from January through April. Offers of admission are based on a combination of factors, including:
- research experience,
- letters of recommendation,
- personal statement,
- resume or CV, and
- undergraduate performance (curriculum and GPA).