Mentorship is a key component to our Ph.D. program in Pharmacology & Physiology. Our students are mentored by world-renowned Georgetown University faculty, who are experts in the field. Through the program and their mentors, students will learn to use molecular, biochemical, and physiological approaches to pharmacology, which is conducted in cultured cells, isolated organs, intact animals, and humans.
Our faculty have a broad spectrum of research areas, but the most concentrated research area is in neuropharmacology and signal transduction. Because of our strong focus on neuropharmacology, students interested in clinical pharmacology or cancer pharmacology may wish to apply elsewhere, particularly, the Tumor Biology Program at Georgetown is very strong. For trainees interested in careers as physician-scientists, our Ph.D. program is one of four programs that participates in Georgetown’s dual degree MD-PhD program, which has its own admissions process and requirements.
Although there is a strong didactic component to the Ph.D. program, it is inherently a research degree. Thus, the first year of study is divided between research in various laboratories and course work. the following years are devoted, almost exclusively, to a novel research project culminating in publications in international journals and an original Ph.D. dissertation. On average, our students complete the program in approximately 5 years.
Degree Requirements
The program has an early focus on didactic learning with an overall emphasis on research. The first year consists of a set of required courses and rotations. Thesis research typically begins in the second year along with any elective courses important to the student’s research topic.
This course focuses on the most basic principles of pharmacology and covers, in detail, molecular and cellular drug targets, drug-receptor interactions, agonism, antagonism, drug metabolism, pharmacogenomics, and pharmacokinetics. Quantitative problem-solving regarding these topics will be required. An introduction to several important neurotransmitters/receptors and their signaling mechanisms is included. This course is meant to prepare the student for Graduate Pharmacology (PHAR 6001) in the spring.
This graduate course covers the major areas of human physiology, including neurophysiology, cardiovascular physiology, endocrinology, gastrointestinal physiology, renal physiology and respiratory physiology. It is team-taught by the Georgetown University Medical Center faculty in lecture format.
This course covers the principles of biochemistry. The first section examines protein structure/function, and enzymology; the middle section studies, metabolism, and the final section concerns aspects of advanced cell signaling. Current concepts regarding physiological processes at the cellular and molecular levels are investigated.
The course provides a survey of neuroscience research currently underway at Georgetown University. Each semester the course is given, 16 faculty present the research topic being studied in their laboratories with an emphasis on experimental design strategies and choices. Different faculty are chosen to present in different semesters. Students are given a reading list for each topic and the formal presentation by the faculty member is followed by an interactive discussion session. Students prepare a mini-grant proposal on a research topic chosen in consultation with the course director and a faculty member with expertise on the topic.
This course will allow the student to develop an understanding of the skills and ethical questions important for a successful and satisfying career in science.
This course is designed to help students critically read and evaluate primary literature. Faculty direct readings and discussion of papers in a focused area of study. Each student is responsible for all aspects of each paper for every session.
This course is designed to be taken by PhD students conducting research in the second year in the program. They should be generating data from their experiments and are planning on pre-doctoral grant submissions.
Transfer Credit/Advanced Standing: A Ph.D. student may make a written request for the transfer of credit for specific applicable courses or apply for advanced standing. Please speak with program leadership and review the policy on transfer credit and advanced standing.
Teaching: Teaching is not required during the program, and trainee stipends are not funded through TAships. However, for students interested in gaining experience in teaching and improving their pedagogical knowledge, we offer a range of optional teaching opportunities.