Program Overview

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Overview of the Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences PhD Program

The Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine offers a PhD program that provides a comprehensive education and research training in the biomedical sciences. The program covers a broad spectrum of research areas, including chemical biology, immunology, virology, cancer, and neuroscience.

Mission and Research Areas

The mission of the department is to understand the molecular processes underlying physiology and pathology and to apply this knowledge to discover new drug targets and develop novel therapeutics. Students in the program can focus on various research areas, including:

• Signal transduction
• Structural biology and drug design
• NMR spectroscopy
• Molecular genetics
• Cancer chemoprevention
• Viral immunosuppression
• Cancer immunology
• Cell-mediated immunity
• Mechanisms of HIV infection
• Vaccine development
• Glycobiology
• Biomedical mass spectrometry
• Clinical pharmacology
• Drug delivery
• Anti-parasite drug development
• Histone acetylation and gene regulation
• Melatonin and circadian rhythm
• Drug metabolism
• Vitamin D pharmacology
• Natural product biosynthesis
• Telomerase and chromosome stability
• T cell activation and tolerance
• DNA repair
• DNA topoisomerases
• Molecular imaging
• Clinical pharmacology of cardiovascular agents

Financial Support

All accepted students are offered full support, which includes coverage of tuition, health, dental, and vision benefits, as well as a stipend for the duration of their PhD training.

Admission Requirements

Applicants should have a BA or BS degree with a major in any of the biological or physical sciences. Entering students are expected to have completed college-level courses in:

• Chemistry (inorganic, organic, and physical)
• Calculus
• Physics A strong background in biochemistry is particularly desirable. The application must include:
• A completed application form
• At least three letters of recommendation
• Unofficial undergraduate transcripts
• A statement of interest All application materials must be received by December 3rd.

Program Requirements

Students in the Pharmacology program must successfully complete the following courses:

First Year

• ME.100.716: Analysis of Macromolecules (2 credits)
• ME.330.709: Organic Mechanisms in Biology (2 credits)
• ME.110.728: Cell Structure and Dynamics (1.5 credits)
• ME.360.728: Pathways and Regulation (2 credits)
• ME.360.720: Organ Systems-Physiology (6 credits)
• ME.330.802: Topics in Pharmacology (biweekly seminar series) (0.5 credits)
• ME.330.708: Primary Source Readings and Analysis (0.5 credits)

Second Year

• ME.330.707: Graduate Pharmacology I (2 credits)
• ME.330.715: Graduate Pharmacology II (2 credits)
• PH.120.602: Concepts of Molecular Biology (4 credits)
• PH.140.615: Statistics for Laboratory Scientists I (4 credits)
• ME.330.714: Essential Grantsmanship: Writing the Research Grant Proposal (1 credit)

Students must also take two advanced elective courses selected from those offered by this or other departments. The program allows students to select a course of studies uniquely suited to their own career goals.

Research Rotations and Dissertation

During their first year of study, students will complete approximately 8-week research rotations in addition to their coursework. They will initiate dissertation research by the end of their first year and complete elective courses relevant to their developing interests in subsequent years of training.

Qualifying Examination

During the second year of study, students will be required to pass a qualifying examination conducted as prescribed by the Doctor of Philosophy Board of the University. This examination will probe the depth and breadth of the students knowledge of the biomedical subjects taught in the core courses.

Dissertation and Seminar

The candidate is required to present a written dissertation based on original research undertaken while in residence as a graduate student and to present a departmental seminar describing the thesis research.

Combined M.D.-Ph.D. Degrees

Students seeking admission to or who are already participating in the M.D. program in the School of Medicine may participate in a program leading to both the M.D. and the Ph.D. degrees.