Participating Programs

The Program In-depth:

Participating Programs
Application
Visual Tour
Curriculum
Current Students
COM Research
Seminars and Journal Clubs
BMS Student Handbook
The Graduate
SURF
Links

Contact Information:

Ms. Lanette Flagge
Academic Advisor

Ronald Balczon, Ph.D.
Director of Graduate Studies

BMS Graduate Program
MSB 3030
University of South Alabama
Mobile, AL 36688
(251)460-6153
lflagge@jaguar1.usouthal.edu
rbalczon@usouthal.edu

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Seven formal advanced programs participate in the interdisciplinary graduate program in the College of Medicine. More information regarding faculty researchcan be found through the links below:

Advanced Programs
      Research Focus Areas
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Cancer Biology       Cardiovascular Pathobiology Genetics of Disease Integrative Biology
Cell Biology & Neuroscience Lung Biology       Signal Transduction Microbial Genetics Neuroscience & Toxicology
Microbiology & Immunology Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology       Pathogenesis of Sickle Cell Disease   Structural Biology & Drug Discovery
Physiology            

Choosing a mentor for graduate training is an important step in graduate education. In the first year of the program, there are numerous mechanisms by which students can interact with graduate faculty: during coursework in the interdisciplinary core curriculum, the series of "Meet the Discipline" forums, seminar series and journal clubs organized by Departments or research focus groups in the College of Medicine, and informal meetings. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss potential projects and rotations with faculty early in this first year. In addition,offer another mechanism for students to familiarize themselves with faculty and their research.

The research rotation is a critical part of this process: students will participate in 3 five-six week rotations designed to allow the student to explore research opportunities with potential graduate mentors. Students may be very focused and choose to rotate with faculty in one of the Basic Science disciplines or those affiliated with the Cancer or Lung Biology Interdisciplinary Programs. Alternatively, students may be more interested in rotating with several faculty having a common research focus. Rotation schedules are coordinated by the Graduate Office in the College of Medicine. At the end of the first year, students should have come to an agreement with a Ph.D. mentor. This choice of mentor determines the departmental affiliation of a student for the duration of their studies.

The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Basic Medical Sciences is administered by a Director and the Graduate Executive Committee according to the By-laws (PDF format) of the Graduate Faculty and utilizing a rotating committee structure. Minutes of the Graduate Executive Committee and other pertinent documents can be downloaded as well (PDF format).

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Last updated: 11/29/2004