Program Overview

PhD Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences

The UT Health Science Center College of Pharmacy is a top-ranking research institution offering prospective Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD students the chance to elevate their research skills while preparing for a career in the pharmaceutical sciences.

Transforming Healthcare with Cutting-Edge Research

Our mission is to advance pharmaceutical sciences through focused, cross-cutting, collaborative research and graduate education relevant to career advancement. The objective of the graduate program in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences is to provide graduate students at the PhD level with expertise in the area broadly defined as the pharmaceutical sciences.

Deadline for Application: March 15

About Our Program

The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences offers PhD degrees through the College of Graduate Health Sciences. The graduate program aims to equip students with comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical sciences while emphasizing their chosen area.

Research Areas

We provide expertise in four focused research areas:

• Therapeutic Targets and Molecular Mechanisms of Disease: Research in this area aims to identify and validate new drug targets (endogenous proteins) relevant to treating diseases such as cancer, neurological conditions, metabolic disorders, and infectious diseases using biochemical and biological approaches.
• Drug Discovery and Development: Research in this area includes the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of new chemical entities with potential use in treating diseases such as cancer, infections, and disorders of the endocrine, cardiovascular, central, and peripheral nervous systems.
• Pharmacometrics: Research in this area includes the quantitative assessment of drug disposition (pharmacokinetics) and effects (pharmacodynamics) using mathematical models based on biology, physiology, pharmacology, and different disease states.
• Drug Delivery and Targeting: Research in this area includes the design and evaluation of novel and translational drug delivery systems, which can lead to targeted delivery systems to different organs in the body to enhance the in vivo stability and permeability of novel molecules with reduced toxicity.
• Artificial Intelligence in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Research and teaching in this area includes artificial intelligence/machine learning-based disease prediction and target discovery, drug design and repurposing, drug pharmacometrics, and animal and human imaging.

Program Highlights

Rotations & Direct Placement Options

Students can opt for direct placement by requesting direct entry to a specific research lab or choose a rotation path that allows them to explore various research labs before selecting their preferred one.

Student Life & Opportunities

PhD students are given ample room to study, congregate, and collaborate in the modern, purpose-built College of Pharmacy building, including a desk in a student area outside yet near the laboratory; access to a kitchen, study areas, and private student areas to interact; a personal PC with top-tier software provided by the UT Health Science Center College of Pharmacy.

Grants, Fellowships, and Patents

Students are encouraged to apply for grants and fellowships, and the Graduate College of Health Sciences provides cash incentives for each application submitted. Many students in the program have published in high-impact scholarly journals, often marking their first publication.

Internships

Graduate students are encouraged and supported to participate in internships during their time in the program. Students have joined internships at top-ranking companies and government institutions.

Entrepreneurship

The college takes great pride in encouraging students to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities and start a business. Students interested in start-up companies receive entrepreneurship training in pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences.

Admissions

The PhD program based in the College of Pharmacy is under the jurisdiction of the College of Graduate Health Sciences. The PhD is a research degree that prepares scientists to engage in basic research.

Requirements

Applications for the PhD program are accepted from students with a BS or MS degree in pharmacy, chemistry, biology, mathematics, engineering, or other appropriate disciplines. The standard admission time for new students is in the Fall Semester, which begins about mid-August. Prospective graduate students should submit a completed application form and supporting documents by March 15th for the Fall Semester.

• A minimum grade point average of 3.0
• A combined score (verbal and quantitative) of at least 300 on the Graduate Record Examination
• TOEFL or IELTS scores if your native language is not English or have graduated from an institution outside the US
• Three letters of recommendation
• No application fee

Financial Aid

We offer a tuition waiver, stipend, and health insurance. Students may also apply for other fellowships.

Memphis Life

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is part of an investment region spanning downtown, Mud Island, South Bluffs, and the medical district. Twenty-six thousand residents enjoying the heart of the city trend younger, highly educated, and active. The city touts 167 parks totaling 3,219 acres, 60 miles of bike lanes, 300 bikes from 45 Bike Share stations, fleets of thousands of electric scooters, and miles of running/biking/walking paths along the Mississippi River, the Green Line, Overton Square, and Shelby Farms, the second largest urban park in the nation.

Living Options

There are no on-campus living accommodations. Off-campus living is available close by. Information on living options can be found at the university's off-campus housing website.

Cost of Living

Memphis has one of the lowest living costs in a large metro area. Rent prices and mortgage expenses are considerably lower than the national average. The median monthly rent rate is substantially lower than the national average. Expenses for food and services are also significantly lower than in other major regions. Home to FedEx, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Le Bonheur Children Hospitals, numerous sports and music venues, museums, and growth opportunities abound.