GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The general requirements for the PhD degree are listed in the Loyola University /chicago Graduate School Catalog. Only some of those requirements are summarized here. Forty-eight semester credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree are required (plus dissertation research supervision). The time limit to complete all doctoral work is eight years for students with a bachelor’s degree and five years for students with a master’s degree. Students are required to participate in all departmental activities, such as research seminars, journal clubs, research retreats, and dissertation defenses; students are expected to schedule their research or other activities accordingly.

REQUIRED COURSEWORK

The IPBS PhD program requires students to complete a core curriculum of Molecular Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Methods, Ethics, Systems Biology, Statistics, Presentation Skills, and three research rotations during the first year.  The director of Graduate Programs will advise first year students in selecting lab rotations and electives with the assistance of individual track Graduate Program Directors (GPDs).  

Students in the Cellular and Molecular Physiology track continue complete the required coursework including Physiology, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, and two elective courses of choice; recommended options include Excitability and Ion Transport, Signal Transduction, Structure-Function of Membrane Proteins, Molecular Biology, or other approved electives. Students are required to participate in the Student Journal Club during semesters three, four, and five.  Students in their second, third, and fourth years are required to present one formal seminar annually.  Enrollment in the formal seminar course is required during the second year.  Additional coursework may be required (or desired), depending on the student's specific research interests. Decisions concerning additional coursework must be made with the approval of the student, their dissertation advisor and/or the GPD; a total of 48 credit hours are required for the PhD track.

Some of the information in the following sections is quoted directly from the IPBS handbook.

QUALIFYING EXAM

All students must pass a Qualifying Examination to become a PhD candidate.  The Qualifying Exam is standardized among all IPBS tracks and is administered at the end of the fourth semester after the required coursework is complete. The purpose of the Qualifying Exam is to evaluate the student’s competency in the following areas: 1. Hypothesis or Experimental Question: the student must have a hypothesis or experimental question which is clearly stated, testable, and well-justified. The rationale for this hypothesis or question must be clear and the student must be able to defend their proposed hypothesis or question. 2. Experimental Approach: the student must present an experimental approach that is clearly described and logical. The approach must directly test the hypothesis or experimental question; discussion of expected and alternative outcomes, potential pitfalls, and alternative approaches must be included. 3. Background Knowledge: the student must display a deep understanding of the Qualifying Exam topic and supporting literature. Additionally, the student must have broad knowledge of the general biomedical sciences and experimental approaches, especially in their specific track. 4. Oral Presentation: the student must clearly articulate and describe their research proposal. The student must be able to defend their rationale for specific approaches and respond to critiques professionally.  Overall oral communication skills are evaluated in this section.

Please consult the IPBS Handbook for procedural details.

SELECTION OF A DISSERTATION ADVISOR

By the end of the first year, students will have completed the three required laboratory rotations and will select a dissertation advisor and track in consultation with the Director of Graduate Programs and GPD. Students will communicate this decision with the Graduate Program Office via submission of the “IPBS PhD Track & Advisor Selection Form” (Appendix 1). Forms also will be available at the Graduate Program website.  here

SELECTION OF A DISSERTATION COMMITTEE

As soon as possible after passing the Qualifying Exam, the student will form a PhD Dissertation Committee, consisting of at least five members the student selects in consultation with their advisor. The student's advisor and three members must be members of the Graduate Faculty of the Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences. We recommend that one member is from outside the Program, including from outside the institution. The committee membership must be approved by the GPD and communicated to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School, who will have the responsibility of officially appointing the Committee. It is strongly suggested that the Committee be formed by January 1 of the third year and required no later than August 1, at the start of year 4.  n the first meeting, the Committee members will select a Chair who is not the student's advisor. The student should schedule meetings with the Dissertation Committee at least annually to discuss progress or changes of direction in their dissertation work (see “Subsequent Dissertation Committee Meetings” below). The student will initiate the Dissertation Committee form by logging into the Graduate Student Progress System (GSPS).  Once Committee members are entered, the form will be approved (electronically) by the Director of the Dissertation Committee and the Graduate School. (On the GSPS form, the term “Director” refers to the Committee Chair, which is different from the student’s advisor, who should be designated as “Principal Investigator”). Electronic approval from readers on the Committee is not required at this time, but all Committee members will be required to approve the subsequent Dissertation Proposal form and sign the Dissertation Defense form. In rare circumstances, it may be necessary to change the composition of the Dissertation Committee. Because the Committee is an official body appointed by the Associate Dean of the Graduate School, a student must make a formal, written request to the Associate Dean to add or replace any member of the Dissertation Committee (and then a new committee imust be created in the GSPS and approved.

PRESENTATION OF DISSERTATION PROPOSAL (THESIS OUTLINE)

The student will send the Dissertation Committee a written Dissertation Proposal which outlines the dissertation, including: background, specific aims, experimental plan, and bibliography. The proposal should be developed as soon as possible after passing the Qualifying Exam, and no later than August 1, at the start of year 4.  The experimental plan is not binding and can be modified after consultation with the Dissertation Committee. A meeting of the Committee should be scheduled at least two (but not more than four) weeks after submission of the document. At that meeting, the student will defend the Dissertation Proposal during an oral presentation. The Dissertation Committee must approve the Proposal with or without modifications by written vote of the members and submit the written document to the program administration office.

Students must initiate the “Ballot for Approval of a Dissertation Proposal” by logging into the GSPS.  Committee members, the Graduate Program Director and the Associate Dean will approve by electronic signature.

SUBSEQUENT DISSERTATION COMMITTEE MEETINGS

At least yearly and more frequently if the Dissertation Committee recommends, the student will schedule Committee meetings to evaluate their  progress. Prior to the meeting, the student will submit a Progress Report detailing the experimental work performed since the last Dissertation Committee meeting. Each Committee member will evaluate the progress and the Committee Chair will compile a written report.  This report will be submitted to the Program Administrator, who will distribute it to the student, the GPD, and include it in the student’s file.

STUDENT PROGRESS

The Dissertation Committee plays an essential role in monitoring and evaluating the student’s progress towards completing laboratory experiments, writing, and dissertation defense.  The Committee Chair is responsible for documenting the student’s progress and the results of each Committee meeting. In addition to evaluating the student’s progress, the Dissertation Committee may recommend supplementary didactic courses or training in special methods. These recommendations should be included in the Dissertation Committee's report.

The Dissertation Committee can, and should, encourage timely completion of the degree. In cases where progress is significantly delayed, the Committee (in consultation with the Dissertation Mentor) may recommend conditions to be met and within specific deadlines. Failure to meet such deadlines could result in suspension of stipend support and/or dismissal from the program due to insufficient progress (see “Causes for Dismissal” in the Handbook).

DISSERTATION DEFENSE

The candidate must be registered for the term in which they take their Dissertation Defense. The candidate must send each Dissertation Committee member a complete written document of the Dissertation at least four weeks prior to the defense. All Dissertation Committee members must be present at the defense, unless the Dean of the Graduate School approves the absence. In most cases, presence of an out-of-town committee member via phone will be acceptable. The final, revised document must be approved by all Dissertation Committee members prior to conferring the degree.  At least one week before the defense, a public invitation must be made to the Dean of the Graduate School, the Associate Dean of the Graduate School at the Health Sciences Campus, the Dean of the Stritch School of Medicine, and the Health Science Campus faculty and students, announcing the oral presentation of the candidate's research and defense. This invitation can be printed as a brochure including the candidate’s curriculum vitae, publications, dissertation abstract, and the constitution of the Dissertation Committee. A 45-minute public, oral presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer period, after which a closed examination with the candidate and the Dissertation Committee members will be held. The candidate must successfully defend their dissertation and must demonstrate solid background knowledge of the corresponding field of inquiry. Successful completion of the oral examination requires approval of the Chair and at least three other voting Committee members. The student will make any modifications the Committee requests and submit the final dissertation to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School at the Health Sciences Campus within a month of the oral defense.

If a student fails to receive the Committee's approval at the oral examination, they may request to schedule a second examination, which must be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School, with input from the Associate Dean of the Graduate School at the Health Sciences Campus. The GPD  will initiate the Thesis/Dissertation Defense form and will be instructed to submit a pdf of the approved (paper) Dissertation Defense Form. Electronic approvals of the Graduate School will follow.

During the first year, students become familiar with all potential research mentors in the Research Rotations and gain hands-on research experience during three, 10-week research rotations. For each rotation, students will have a desk and study space in one of the Physiology faculty's lab.   The faculty member sponsoring the laboratory rotation and the student will plan and implement various laboratory research experiences during the 10 weeks. Ensuring adequate time for coursework also will be an important consideration in planning the rotation's activities.  At the end of the sixth or seventh week of each rotation, students are required to give a 15-minute presentation to the Physiology faculty on an aspect of their lab experience.  The student’s goals are three-fold: to maintain a high level of academic achievement; begin to narrow research interests and select a potential thesis adviser.

Fall

• Molecular Biochemistry (BMSC 410; 4 credits)
• Cell Biology (BMSC 412; 4 credits)
• Methods in Biomedical Science (BMSC 416; 1 credit)
• Ethics Course (BMSC 405; 1 credit)
• Research Rotation (2 credits)

10 Didactic Credits, 12 Total

Spring

• Systems Biology (BMSC 414; 3 credits)
• Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology (NRSC 410; 3 credits) *or elective
• Biostatistics  (BMSC 402; 2 credits)
• Communication Skills (BMSC 418, 1 credit)
• Research Rotation (two, 10 weeks, 3 credits)

8 Didactic Credits, 12 Total

*NRSC 410 is required for the Physiology and Neuroscience tracks

During the second year, students are exposed to a rich array of Cellular Physiology topics: the Excitation & Transport, Cellular Signaling and Membrane Protein courses. However, in consultation with their advisor and GPD, students may substitute other elective courses. Students are required to participate in the formal seminar course and also have the opportunity to take additional elective courses.  At the end of the year, students must pass a Qualifying Exam. The second year student’s goals are to: 1) maintain a high degree of academic achievement 2) pass the Comprehensive Exam 3) make substantial progress in their dissertation research, 4) begin formulating their dissertation proposal, and 5) establish their dissertation committee by January 1 of their 3^rd year.

Fall

• Advanced Elective: Excitability & Ion Transport (PIOL 470; 3 credits)^* or substitute elective
• Research (PIOL 412; 4 credits)
• Student Journal Club (PIOL 446, 456 or 468; 0 credits)
• Research Seminar (PIOL 416, 1 credit)**

3 Didactic Credits, 8 Total

^*Offered every other year (odd years)

**Research seminar may be taken during either the Fall or Spring semester but not both. Students will consult with their GPD and Seminar Series Director before enrolling in this course.

Spring

• Physiology (PIOL 401; 3 credits)
• Structure/Function of Membrane Proteins (PIOL 472; 3 credits)^* or substitute elective
• Research (PIOL 412; 3 credits)
• Student Journal Club (PIOL 446, 456 or 468; 0 credits)

6 Didactic Credits, 9 Total

^*Offered every other year (odd years)

27 Didactic Credits, 41 Total Credits

Summer         

• Qualifying Exam***
• Dissertation Research (full-time)
• Start formation of Dissertation Committee (by January 1^st of their 3^rd year, no later than August 3^rd of 3^rd year)

***For detailed information on the Qualifying Exam, please consult the Graduate Student Handbook. 

Students select electives in collaboration with their advisor. See some examples:

• Function of the Human Body (PIOL 301)
• Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology (NRSC 410)
• Epigenetics and Stem Cells (BMB 490)
• Physiology (PIOL 401) 
• Graduate Colloquy (PIOL 414)

• Physiological Methods (PIOL 420) 
• Excitability and Transport (PIOL 470)
• Epigenetics and Stem Cells (BMB 490)
• Graduate Colloquy (PIOL 414)

During the third year, students continue dissertation research and select a Dissertation Committee. Students will write, present, and defend their dissertation proposal/outline in a public seminar attended by their Dissertation Committee. The third year student’s goals are to: 1) maintain a high degree of academic and ethical standards 2) select a Dissertation Committee 3) receive formal approval and submit their dissertation proposal/outline, and 4) substantially increase the intensity of their dissertation research.

Students will complete 48 credit hours by graduation.  Additional credit hours are reserved for Year 3 in case additional courses are desired; otherwise, they can be met with research hours.

Fall

• Dissertation Supervision (PIOL 600)
• Presentation of Dissertation Proposal
• Research Seminar (PIOL 416, 0 credits)*
• Student Journal Club (PIOL 446, 456 or 468; 0 credits)

Spring

• Dissertation Supervision (PIOL 600)
• Research Seminar (PIOL 416, 0 credits)
• Student Journal Club (PIOL 446, 456 or 468; 0 credits)

Summer

• Dissertation Research (full-time)

^*Research seminar may be taken during either the Fall or Spring semester but not both semesters during the year. Students will consult with their GPD and Seminar Series Director before enrolling in this course.

During the fourth year, students continue dissertation research and periodically (about every six months) meet with their Dissertation Committee to help ensure timely completion of degree requirements. Students are required to give one formal research seminar in which they present their dissertation research to the Physiology faculty. This seminar may be in conjunction with the student’s final defense. By the end of the fourth year, students are expected to be close to completing and defending their dissertation research.

The fourth year student’s goals are to: 1) maintain a high degree of academic and ethical standards 2) maintain a high intensity of dissertation research 3) periodically meet with their Dissertation Committee, and 4) prepare to complete/defend their dissertation research.

Fall

• Dissertation Supervision (PIOL 600)
• Research Seminar (PIOL 416; 0 credits)*
• Student Journal Club (PIOL 446, 456 or 468; 0 credits)
• PRESENTATION OF DISSERTATION PROPOSAL

Spring

• Dissertation Supervision (PIOL 600)
• Student Journal Club (PIOL 446, 456 or 468; 0 credits)

Summer

• Dissertation Research (full-time)
• FINAL DISSERTATION DEFENSE

^*Research seminar may be taken during either the Fall or Spring semester but not both semesters during the year. Students will consult with their GPD and Seminar Series Director before enrolling in this course.