The Ph.D. programs in the biomedical sciences require year-round participation beginning with the fall semester of the entering year. General requirements for Ph.D. programs are the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 72 credit hours of approved graduate course work for students whose highest earned degree is a bachelor's or a minimum of 48 credit hours for those whose highest earned degree is a master's in a relevant field. During the first year, the student will take the biomedical sciences core curriculum courses, including three laboratory rotations. Student planning and progress during the first year will be monitored by an advisor.

By the end of the first year, it is expected that the student will have selected a program and will have tentatively identified a research mentor. Guidance and monitoring will then be provided by an advisory committee consisting of the research mentor and at least two other program faculty members. The didactic work during the second year will meet the specific program's requirements and the student's needs in preparation for dissertation research. By the end of the second year, it is expected that the student will have completed 45 to 48 hours of course work and will be settled in a mentor's laboratory to undertake dissertation research.

Students will then complete the selected program's General Examination requirements, submit a dissertation proposal, undertake dissertation research, complete the dissertation and the required number of credits toward the degree, and satisfactorily complete an oral defense of the dissertation research.

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Learning Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate a broad knowledge base in proteins, nucleic acids, and cell biology.
2. Write various forms of scientific documents: lab reports, research articles, dissertation.
3. Identify the background of basic and biomedical ethics and the guiding legislation and principles for its implementation in biomedical science.
4. Demonstrate advanced knowledge in one of three PhD program specific area (molecular medicine, microbiology/immunology, or biochemistry/molecular genetics, according to field chosen.
5. Produce a piece of original research.

First year core curriculum:

In the first fall semester, students take Genes to Proteins, a Cell Biology and Systems Physiology course, along with a lab rotation and the first career skills course, which focuses on scientific writing and speaking. In the Spring semester, students take the second lab rotation, and the second career skills course, which focuses on ethics and grantsmanship. They also begin to choose from courses specific to the various PhD programs. This will assist in guiding the student toward the ultimate choice of Ph.D. degree programs. In the summer of the first year, all students take a third lab rotation and the Careers in Biomedical Sciences seminar. Courses in the chosen program are taken in the second and all subsequent years until completion of the program. For course selections after the first year, please refer to the Program Information section of the Program of Interest. You may also find detailed information about lab rotations in the Forms section of our website, or refer to the General Lab Rotation Information guideline.

Fall

Genes to Proteins (4 credits)
Developmental Cell Biology and Systems Physiology (4 credits)
First Laboratory Rotation (1 credit)
Career Skills: Scientific Writing and Speaking (1 credit)

Spring

One of the following program courses
Infections and Immunity (4 credits)
Neural Development & Neurodevelopmental Disorders (4 credits)

One of the following program courses
Molecular Basis of Human Disease (3 credits)
Biochemical Core (3 credits)

and

Second Laboratory Rotation (1 credit)
Career Skills: Ethics and Grantsmanship (3 credits)

An elective course which may be one of the following
Structure/Function of Proteins and Enzymes
Other electives also available are
MMED398, BIOC 398, MICR398, IMMU398 Readings and Research (variable credits)

Summer

Third Laboratory Rotation (1 credit)
Career Skills: Biomedical Science Careers (1 credit)

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Mentors and Advisors:

1. Academic Advisor for first year students: Linda Werling, Ph.D.
2. Coordinator for Laboratory Rotation Mentors: Anne Chiaramello, Ph.D.
3. Program Directors:

   A. Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics: Valerie Hu , Ph.D.
   B. Molecular Medicine: Norman Lee, Ph.D.
   C. Microbiology and Immunology: David Leitenberg, MD, Ph.D.
   

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Research Facilities

Extensive research facilities are available in faculty laboratories in GW's Medical Center and Columbian School of Arts and Sciences, the Children's Research Institute, and in selected laboratories of adjunct faculty at the National Institute of Health and other Washington-area research organizations. The University's Gelman Library and Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library are available to graduate students along with numerous government agency and other research libraries in the Washington area, including the National Library of Medicine.

GWU-NIH Graduate Partnership Program

The Institute for Biomedical Sciences admits a few highly qualified students each year to a special course of studies conducted through the GWU-NIH Graduate Partnership Program. The student will take graduate courses at GWU and perform his/her dissertation research in pairs of laboratories at one of the GWU sites and at a laboratory on the NIH campus. Students interested in this program must apply to both the NIH Graduate Partnership Program and the George Washington University’s Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. For additional details about the program, please visit the above NIH link or visit the GWU-NIH Graduate Partnership Program page on the IBS website.

Seminars

Each of the graduate programs has a research seminar series that brings distinguished investigators to GW. In addition, GW's Columbian School of Arts and Sciences and Medical Center, and Children's Research Institute all have an extensive series of seminars and special lectures.

Housing

Cost of living varies widely according to the type of accomodations and the area in which the student chooses to live. University housing is not generally available to graduate students, but the University will refer them to apartments as they become available in University-owned buildings in the campus area. With a Metro stop on campus, GW is easily accessible via public transportation. For more information regarding off campus housing, rental listings, a mover's guide, neighborhood information, and on-line help, please visit the GWU Off Campus Housing webpage.

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