Program Overview

Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences

The graduate program in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences engages students in advanced research through the Cardiovascular Group, the Smooth Muscle Research Group, and the Airways Inflammation Research Group. Students' individual research programs are supported by multidisciplinary, laboratory environments that encourage collaboration and exposure to new techniques and model systems.

Program Overview

Students gain a foundation in molecular biology, organ and vascular systems, cardiovascular and respiratory physiology, and pharmacology. The program is supported by state-of-the-art facilities and direct contact with patient-oriented research. Students typically advance to careers in health care-focused professions, as well as research opportunities in academia and industry.

Completing this Program

• Courses: The amount of required coursework is determined by the student's supervisory committee.
• Research Ethics: Students are required to attend Research Integrity Day sessions in the first year of their program. Additional Research Ethics requirements may apply, depending on the type of research being done.
• Sex & Gender Module: Students are required to complete one of the CIHR sex and gender online training modules found at discoversexandgender.ca in the first year of their program.
• Thesis: Students will be required to submit and defend an original research thesis.
• Seminars: Students participate in a journal club and work-in-progress seminars for their research group and will present one seminar per year.
• Candidacy: Students will complete both oral and written candidacy exams.

Outcomes

Researchers at academic institutions, education, medicine, government agencies, health organizations, private sector/industry, biotechnology start-up companies, clinical trials coordinators, research-oriented positions in pharmaceutical/biotech companies, and Fortune 500 businesses.

A PhD in cardiovascular and respiratory sciences is usually considered a final degree; graduates may go on to pursue post-doctoral research.

Thesis-based Program

Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend it in an open oral defense.

Courses

Three courses, depending on academic background

Classroom Delivery

Time Commitment

Six years maximum

Supervisor

A supervisor is required and must agree to oversee the student's research before admission will be granted

Fees and Funding

See the Graduate Calendar for information on fees and fee regulations, and for information on awards and financial assistance.

Supervisors

Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.

1. Ejaife Agbani
   • Accepting Inquiries
   • Platelet Biology, Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Procoagulant Membrane Dynamics (PMD) Analysis and Translation, Medical Device Innovation
2. Todd Anderson
   • Accepting Inquiries
   • Atherosclerosis, lipids, endothelial function
3. Andrew Braun
   • Accepting Inquiries
   • Vascular Physiology and Ion Channel Function
4. Steven Greenway
   • Unavailable
   • Cell-free DNA, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Microbiome
5. Fui Boon Kai
   • Accepting Inquiries
   • The role of extracellular matrix dysregulation in fibrotic lung disease
6. Justin MacDonald
   • Accepting Inquiries
   • Vascular smooth muscle biology, Chronic inflammation, Chemoproteomic drug discovery
7. Robert Newton
   • Seeking Students
   • Inflammation - Anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids
8. Aaron Phillips
   • Accepting Inquiries
   • Research Area, Collaborations, Tools, Trainees
9. Dr. Marc J. Poulin
   • Accepting Inquiries
   • Human physiology, healthy brain aging and dementia, sleep, intermittent hypoxia & high altitude, industrial physiology
10. Satish Raj
    • Accepting Inquiries
    • Human, Cardiovascular Autonomic Physiology and Pharmacology, Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, Vasovagal Syncope, Orthostatic Hypotension

Admission Requirements

• GPA: A minimum of 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.
• Minimum Education: An MSc degree or equivalent.
• Work Samples: None
• Documents: Official transcripts are required.
• Reference Letters: Three
• Test Scores: None

English Language Proficiency

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL ibt) score of 105.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.5 (minimum of 6.0 in each section)
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 75, or higher (Academic version).
• Canadian Academic English Language test (CAEL) score of 70 (minimum 70 in each section)
• Academic Communication Certificate (ACC) score of A- in each course.
• Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency minimum score of 200.
• Duolingo English Test and obtaining a minimum score of 145* (with no sub-score below 125*).

Deadlines

• For January Admission:
  • International application deadline: August 1
  • Domestic application deadline: October 1
• For May Admission:
  • International application deadline: December 1
  • Domestic application deadline: March 1
• For September Admission:
  • International application deadline: April 1
  • Domestic application deadline: June 1

Related Programs

If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.

• Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences
  • Thesis-based MSc
• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Thesis-based MSc
  • Thesis-based PhD
• Kinesiology
  • Thesis-based MSc
  • Course-based MKin
  • PhD
• Microbiology and Infectious Disease
  • Thesis-based MSc
  • PhD

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