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The Department of Cell and Molecular Biology offers students the opportunity to
earn Ph.D. degrees in a stimulating, dynamic research environment.  Our small group of exceptional
faculty perform cutting-edge research and provide
hands-on training to students in areas such as cellular neurobiology,
developmental biology, bacterial cell differentiation, and neuropharmacology. The
Department's research is well-funded, with one of the highest per capita levels
of external funding at Tulane University. |
GENERAL
INFORMATION
Research Facilities:
The laboratories of the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology are fully
equipped for modern research in developmental biology, cell biology,
microbiology, neurobiology and molecular biology. Major items include confocal
and deconvolution microscopes, scanning and transmission electron microscopes,
tissue culture facilities, a transgenic and knockout mouse core facility, and a
state-of-the-art molecular neurobiology core laboratory (see
Research Facilities). Students in the
department also have access to facilities located at the Tulane
National Primate Research Center and the Tulane University Health Sciences
Center, including the Gene Therapy Center
and the
Center for
 Bioenvironmental Research. The University's nine libraries house approximately
2.2 million
volumes and 14,000 currently received serial titles, many of which are located
in the nearby Howard-Tilton Memorial Library. Additional library facilities are
available at the Tulane Health Sciences Center.
Financial
Aid:
Students applying to the Ph.D. program are considered for a limited number of
Tulane teaching assistantships, which provide stipend support and carry a full
tuition waiver. Research assistantships, which also carry a full tuition waiver,
may sometimes be obtained by arrangement with individual faculty members. All of the Ph.D. students in the department are
currently supported by teaching or research assistantships which start at
$25,000 per year. In addition, students are given a $1000 supplement to defray
the cost of health insurance.
Cost
of Study:
Tuition
for the 2007-2008 academic year is $17,550 per semester. Fees are $785 per
semester and include the academic support service fee ($300), the student activity fee
($120), the student
health service fee ($245), and the Reily recreation center fee ($120). Tuition
is waived for students who obtain teaching or research assistantships, but fees
are not. Tulane supplies limited funds to qualified graduate students every year
to attend conferences and symposia.
Cost
of Living:
A
limited number of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments are available at the Papillon
Apartments (located in the Lower Garden District) at a
cost of $815-$1520 per month; see
http://housing.tulane.edu/papillon/index.php. Housing is also
available at the Deming Pavilion, located next to the Tulane University Hospital
Clinic in downtown New Orleans. Rents range from $650 to $1600; see
http://www.deming.tulane.edu/ for
more information. Off-campus housing is also available, with many options
available within walking distance of campus. The Associated Student Body
at Tulane provides a website with some off-campus listings; see
http://www.studentaffairs.tulane.edu/och/. Additional information about off-campus housing can be
obtained from the local newspaper (online at
http://www.nola.com/), realtor companies, and internet listings.
Most students find housing in the $300-$800 range. Once accepted into the
program, we encourage students to contact graduate students in the program for
advice on housing. As in other cities, many of the best rentals are not
advertised and can only be obtained through contacts.
Student
Group:
Graduate student enrollment in the department currently averages around 40 per
calendar year (masters and Ph.D.). More than 4,000 graduate students are enrolled at Tulane University in such
diverse programs as Business, Law, Social Work, Architecture, Engineering,
Medicine, and Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
Graduate student interests are represented at the University through the
Graduate School Student Association (GSSA). For more information
about our current students, click
here.
Location:
The campus is located in an historic, upscale neighborhood five miles from the
center of New Orleans, one of the most unique cities in the nation. A short ride
on the New Orleans streetcar (projected completion of line restoration:
December 2007) takes you to the edge of the French Quarter,
with its distinctive heritage and entertainment. The Louisiana Philharmonic
Orchestra, the Opera Association, various theatrical and jazz groups, antique
shops, art galleries and many other cultural amenities add to the city's flavor.
Festivals are a way of life in New Orleans and the surrounding area, ranging
from the Jazz and Heritage Festival to Crawfish and Catfish Festivals and, of
course, Mardi Gras. New Orleans is home to the New Orleans Saints (professional
football) and the New Orleans Hornets (professional basketball), as well as to
semi-professional baseball (the Zephyrs). Other attractions include the
Audubon Institute (Zoo, Insectarium, Aquarium of the Americas), sporting and musical events at the Superdome and the New Orleans
Arena, and superb convention facilities that attract many scientific as
well as business and cultural conferences each year. The particularly mild
winter climate allows the many local outdoor activities, such as skating,
biking, running,
tennis, golf, boating, hunting and fishing, to be enjoyed all year round.
The
University:
Tulane University is one of the major private universities of long tradition in
the south. Originally founded as the Medical College of Louisiana in 1834, the
graduate school came into being in 1884. Today, the University offers doctoral
degrees in nineteen fields and thus provides a strong and diverse academic
environment. With twelve schools and colleges that cover a full range of areas
from the liberal arts and sciences to professional programs, Tulane gives its
12,000 students a breadth of choice equaled by few other private
universities in the country. An ever-increasing endowment and a firm commitment
to research and academic excellence enable Tulane University to continue to grow
in stature, size and achievement.
Applying:
Applicants
for admission to the Ph.D. program should have a strong undergraduate background in the basic
biological, chemical and physical sciences and an enthusiasm for a research
career in the biological sciences. The Graduate Record Examination General
Test is required and a minimum combined score of 1100 (Verbal + Quantitative) is
required for the applicant to be considered. The GRE subject test is not
required. TOEFL scores are required of students from countries in which
English is not the native language. A minimum TOEFL score of 600 on the
paper version, 250 on the computer version or 100 on the internet based version
is required. Ph.D. students are usually admitted in the
Fall semester, although applications will be considered for the Spring semester
upon request. Ph.D. applicants must submit a complete application by
February 1st. The GRE institution code
for Tulane is 6173; the department code is 0206 (Cell & Molecular Biology).
The TOEFL institution code for Tulane is 6173; the department code is 35
(Biology).
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications using Tulane's
web-based application site
at
https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=tulane-se. Paper applications can be
obtained from the School of Science and Engineering Graduate website at
http://www.sse.tulane.edu/pdfs/sse_graduate_application.pdf. Paper
applications should be submitted directly to the Cell and Molecular Biology
Department, c/o Marnie Mercado
,
at the address below. All supporting documents should be submitted
directly to the Cell and Molecular Biology Department as well.
There is no application fee.
Please also visit the School of Science and Engineering site, at
http://www.sse.tulane.edu/pages/grad_curr_newstudent.php.
Correspondence and Information:
Dr. Peter Cserjesi
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
2000 Percival Stern Hall
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 865-5546
FAX (504) 865-6785
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What is the application deadline?
A: Students must submit completed applications by February 1.
Q: What are the institution and department codes for the GRE?
A: GRE Institution Code: 6173;
GRE Department Code: 0206 (Cell & Molecular Biology).
Q: What test scores do I need to be considered for admission? What undergraduate
grade point average do I need? Is research experience required for the
Ph.D. program?
▪The minimum GRE score required for admission to our program is a combined score
of 1100 (Verbal + Quantitative). All applicants receiving scores of 1100
or higher will be considered for admission. The GRE subject test is not
required.
▪Specific GPA requirements are not established,
as numerous factors are weighed when accepting applicants - GRE scores, undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, strength of application, etc.
▪Prior laboratory research experience, although not
required, is viewed favorably for admission to the Ph.D. program.
Q: Do I need to take the GRE subject test?
The GRE subject test is not required.
Q: What are the institution and department codes for the TOEFL?
A: TOEFL Institution Code: 6173; TOEFL Department Code: 35 (Biology).
Q: What is the minimum score required on the TOEFL?
A: A minimum TOEFL score of 600 on the paper version, 250 on the computer
version or 100 on the internet based version is required.
Q: Is financial aid available for your graduate programs?
A: Students admitted to the Ph.D. program receive a teaching
assistantship, which provides stipend support in return for a light teaching
responsibility (~5 hrs/week) and carries a full tuition waiver. Research
assistantships, which also provide a stipend and full tuition waiver, may
sometimes be obtained by arrangement with individual faculty members, if
research funds are available. Teaching and research assistantship stipends
currently start at $25,000 per year and include a health insurance supplement of
$1,000.
Q: Are international students eligible for financial aid?
A: International students applying to the Ph.D. program are eligible for
financial aid. If admitted, the student will receive a teaching or
research assistantship, tuition waiver, and health insurance supplement as
described above.
Q: Do you admit students in the Spring semester?
A: Ph.D. students are usually admitted in the Fall semester,
although applications will be considered for the Spring semester upon request.
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PROGRAM
DESCRIPTION
Introduction
The
graduate program in the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology is designed to
train students for careers in research, academics and/or professional service in
the areas of Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology, and
Neurobiology. This involves 1) the acquisition of a basic body of knowledge and
a conceptual understanding of the current problems in these fields; 2) gaining
an in-depth understanding of and developing the capacity to conduct independent
research or professional service in one or more of these areas; 3) developing
the necessary research skills (including knowledge of instrumentation, specific
laboratory techniques and the ability to evaluate experimental data) to pursue a
career in the biomedical sciences; and 4) learning basic skills in the presentation
of materials, including an ability to evaluate, synthesize and organize
information into a coherent view of a particular problem, the ability to clearly
present organized information to students and peers, and the ability to write
scientific papers. It is the goal of the graduate program to provide the
opportunity for students to develop these skills through course work, seminars,
research and teaching.
Prior
to the start of the first year, all incoming graduate students will meet with
the appropriate graduate director to discuss the student's academic background and
scientific interests. At this time, the graduate director will make
recommendations concerning course requirements, and students enrolled in the
Ph.D. program will be assigned a temporary
faculty advisor. The faculty advisor will be responsible for advising the
student on academic matters such as course selection, laboratory rotations,
exams, and teaching requirements, and will monitor the student's progress. The
graduate director will also monitor all students’ progress during the first
year in the program. Ph.D. students are required to take core courses in biochemistry,
cell biology, developmental biology and/or neurobiology. They
are expected to take additional elective courses tailored to their own
interests, which can include courses offered by other departments at the uptown
campus and the nearby Tulane Health Sciences Center. Ph.D. students will finish all course work by the end of the second year.
 Normally
by the end of their first year, students enrolled in the
Ph.D. program select a laboratory in which to carry out their research. There
are two mechanisms available to assist students in the selection of an
appropriate laboratory. First, during the first semester, all new students will
take an orientation seminar course that will introduce them to the research
interests of the department faculty. Second, each graduate student enrolled in the Ph.D.
program will undertake two to three 3-month rotations in the
laboratories of individual departmental faculty members. If the student and the
faculty member agree, the length of the rotations can vary. The goal of these
rotations is to allow students to become acquainted with different faculty
members, their research problems and methodologies, and to get a feel for the
general atmosphere of the different labs. Each student will make a commitment to
a particular laboratory, with the approval of the head of the laboratory, by the
end of the first year. Once the student selects a laboratory in which he/she
will conduct his/her dissertation research, the faculty head of the laboratory
will become the student's faculty advisor (dissertation advisor).
During
their second year, Ph.D. students name a thesis committee
consisting of their advisor and at least three faculty members with whom they
will subsequently meet on a regular basis (at least once per year) to ensure
that adequate research progress is made. With the help of their thesis
committee, Ph.D. students submit and present orally a research proposal. After
successful completion of their coursework, students focus exclusively on their
research until the submission and defense of a Ph.D. dissertation, which
typically occurs after their fourth or fifth year.
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REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE
A.
University Requirements.
The
degree of Doctor of Philosophy is awarded to students based on an accumulation
of course credits and on superior accomplishments in a field of cell biology,
molecular biology, developmental biology and/or neurobiology. A minimum of one
year of full-time study in residence at Tulane University is required. The Ph.D.
degree must be completed within 7 years from the date of matriculation in the
graduate school. Graduate students beyond their 5th year are no longer eligible
to receive teaching assistant stipends. A minimum grade point average of 3.0
must be maintained. If a student receives 2 grades of B- or a single grade below
a B-, then he/she is placed on probation and considered for dismissal by the
Graduate Dean in consultation with the Department.
To
be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D., a student must have completed course
requirements and passed a qualifying examination. The qualifying exam, which is
taken prior to the end of the 5th semester, consists of a written research proposal in
the form of an NIH or NSF grant proposal (agreed upon by the dissertation
committee), followed by an oral defense of the proposal. The qualifying exam may
be postponed to the end of the 5th semester under certain
circumstances with the approval of the student’s advisor and thesis committee.
By the end of the third year, each student must submit to the graduate school a
written research prospectus, which has been presented to and approved by the
student's dissertation committee. The recommendation for admission to candidacy
is made by the department and must bear the signatures of the department chair
and the chair of the dissertation committee. For students expecting to receive a
degree in December, recommendation for the admission to candidacy must be
submitted by September 15. For students expecting to receive a degree in May the
deadline is December 15.
B.
CMB Course Requirements
1.
Remedial Courses
Prior
to the beginning of the fall semester every incoming graduate student will meet
with the graduate director to discuss the appropriate course work for the first
year. Students are expected to have strong backgrounds in the basic sciences
(physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics) as well as in genetics, cell
biology and molecular biology. The Committee will determine if any weak areas
exist and may require the student to take additional undergraduate courses to
rectify any deficiencies. Such course credits will not count towards a higher
degree.
In
addition, individual faculty advisors or the graduate director may recommend
that students take other course work. For foreign students, this may include an
English language course.
2.
Graduate Core
The
graduate core is a group of 3 to 4 courses required of all graduate students.
The aim is to provide a basic core of knowledge in the general areas of cell and
molecular biology. These courses include:
|
Common Core
Courses: |
|
CELL 601 - Cellular Biochemistry (3
credits, fall) OR CHEM 683, 684 -
Introduction to Biochemistry (3 credits each, fall and spring, Chemistry
Department) |
|
BIOL 709-710 -
Research Rotations (3 credits each, fall and spring of Year One) |
|
CELL 786-787 -
Seminars in CMB (1 credit each, fall and spring, Year One and Year Two) |
|
Developmental
Biology Core Courses: |
Neurobiology Core
Courses: |
|
CELL 608 -
Advanced Developmental and Cell Biology II (3 credits, spring) OR
CELL 678 - Developmental Genetics (3 credits, spring) |
NSIP 711/712 -
Graduate Neuroscience I and II (3 credits each, fall and spring, Year
One) |
|
Developmental Biology Journal Club: |
Neurobiology Journal Club: |
|
CELL 684 -
Current Topics in Developmental Biology (2 credits, fall and spring,
Year One and Year Two) |
NSIP 604 - Trends
in Neuroscience (1 credit, fall, Year One and Year Two) |
|
|
CELL 636 - Topics
in Neurophysiology (1 credit, spring, Year One and Year Two) |
Students
with a very strong background in biochemistry may have the biochemistry
requirement waived. This or other modifications of the core requirements can be
made in consultation with the graduate director and the graduate faculty
advisor.
3.
Seminar Courses
A series of seminar courses and
journal club courses are required of all graduate students. This includes a
seminar series (CELL 786/787 - Seminars in CMB, 1 credit) required the first
four semesters and a
journal club course - students may choose from CELL 636 - Topics in
Neurophysiology, CELL 684 - Current Topics in Developmental Biology, MCBP
710-711 - Molecular and Cellular Biology Workshop; or NSIP 604 - Trends in
Neuroscience. These courses are designed to give students training in literature
search, critical evaluation of scientific papers and oral presentation.
4.
Elective Courses
 A
number of courses are offered in the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
and in other departments on the Tulane University uptown campus and at the
Tulane Health Sciences Center that may be appropriate for individual student interests.
Departments on the uptown campus include Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (EBIO),
Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Psychology and Physics. Departments at the
Health Sciences Center and the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine include
Biochemistry, Human Genetics, Microbiology and Immunology, Parasitology,
Pathology, Pharmacology, Physiology, and Structural and Cellular Biology
(previously the Anatomy Department). In addition, students are encouraged to
participate in courses offered in association with interdisciplinary graduate programs
such as the Neuroscience and Molecular and Cellular Biology programs. Students
who have the biochemistry core course requirement waived will be expected to
take an additional 6 credits of elective courses.
5.
Research Courses
All
Ph.D. students are expected to be engaged in laboratory research from the first
semester until they leave the program. Research courses include BIOL 709 (fall)
and 710 (spring) - Research Rotations, taken in the first year, and BIOL 799
(fall and spring semesters) - Research, taken each semester during the
second year. BIOL 799 can be taken for 1-10 credits. Students must register for BIOL 799 - Research beginning with their second year and terminating when the
Tulane University requirement of 48 credits is reached (generally at the end of
the second year).
6.
Dissertation Research
Following
completion of the 48 credits required for a Ph.D. (generally after two years),
students are expected to devote themselves to the completion of their
dissertation research. During the third and subsequent years, students should
register for Dissertation research (BIOL 999, no credit hours) in order to
maintain continuous registration. The time required to complete a Ph.D. is
generally a total of 4-6 years.
C.
Examination Requirements
The
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology requires that all Ph.D. students
successfully pass two exams in addition to completion of the required and
elective course work.
1.
Qualifying Examination
This
is an exam that the student must take to qualify for advancement to the Ph.D.,
consisting of a written and an oral component normally taken no later than the
5th semester. The purpose of the exam is to determine whether the student has sufficient
knowledge of those areas that are considered essential for successful completion
of the dissertation research. The exam will be given by the student's
dissertation committee, which will be selected by the student and his/her
dissertation advisor. The committee will be composed of a chair (i.e., the
advisor), 2 to 3 members within the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and
1 to 2 outside members. The charge of the dissertation committee is not only to
examine the student, but also to provide him/her with guidance (in addition to
the dissertation advisor) during the course of the dissertation research. The
dissertation committee must be submitted to the department no later than the end
of the fourth semester of the graduate program.
The
written part of the qualifying exam will consist of a proposal that describes
the dissertation research. The format of the proposal will follow the Research
Plan section of a current grant application for the National Science Foundation
(Form 1207) or for the National Institutes of Health (form PHS 398). The purpose
of the written proposal is to allow an assessment of the student's writing
skills and to provide experience with the art of grant writing. The proposal
should be approximately 20 pages in length and will be submitted to the
dissertation committee at least two weeks prior to the oral component of the
exam. The dissertation committee must approve the written component of the exam
prior to proceeding with the oral component.
The
format of the oral component of the exam will be decided by the examining
committee. It may begin with a 30-minute presentation of the
research proposal, including an overview of the background in the field, results
of preliminary experiments, the proposed experimental approach, and the
significance of the anticipated results. Alternatively it may be decided that
questions can take place during the presentation. The
questioning period is intended to evaluate if the student has thoroughly thought out the
implications of the proposed research and is prepared to intelligently
address questions from multiple disciplines. Students are advised to discuss
their research directions with each individual member of their dissertation
committee prior to the oral examination and to receive suggestions from each
member concerning the preparation of the exam.
Based
on the outcome of the examination, students will either proceed with their
dissertation research (pass), undertake specific readings or course work to make
up deficiencies and be reexamined at a later date (incomplete) or be asked to
leave the program (fail). Those asked to leave the program may receive a
terminal (i.e., non-dissertation) masters degree if they have satisfactorily
completed the course requirements for the first two years of the Ph.D. program
and upon approval by the dissertation committee. Students who receive an
incomplete must retake the exam within 6 months from the date of the first exam.
A date for the reexamination must be set with the advisor no later
than 3 months following the date of the first exam. Students are only allowed to
retake the advancement to candidacy exam once.
2.
Dissertation Defense
After
a student has completed a research program and written a dissertation, the
dissertation must be approved and the student examined by the dissertation
committee. It is the job of the dissertation committee to approve the general
content and form of the written thesis. The research dissertation must be of
sufficient caliber, as a whole or in part, to be published in the scientific
literature. The student will give a public seminar that describes the
dissertation research, which is followed by an oral examination of the student
by the dissertation committee in private on the subject of the dissertation
project. The dissertation defense cannot be scheduled until the written
dissertation has been reviewed and generally approved by the dissertation
committee. The date of the dissertation defense must be approved by all members
of the dissertation committee and scheduled 2 weeks
prior to the defense. This is to allow adequate time for the distribution of
announcements to relevant departments at Tulane. The Ph.D. degree is
subsequently awarded by the Graduate School of Tulane University upon the
recommendation of the Chairman of the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
and the Dissertation Committee.
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TYPICAL PH.D. CURRICULUM - 2005-2006
Incoming
graduate students will meet with the graduate director prior to the start of the
fall semester so that he/she may evaluate and advise each student regarding the
graduate program and their required coursework. At this time, a temporary
faculty advisor will be assigned to each student. A set of core courses will be
required of all CMB graduate students. The graduate director/faculty advisor
will decide whether any undergraduate courses will need to be taken to remedy
deficiencies in the student's background. Excluding remediation courses, the
following is a list of recommended courses that fulfill the requirements for the
Ph.D. degree in Cell and Molecular Biology. The curriculum is divided into two
general tracks, Developmental Biology and Neurobiology.
Core
Courses:
Common
CELL 601 - Cellular Biochemistry (3, fall) OR CHEM 683, 684 - Introduction to
Biochemistry (3, fall and spring)
BIOL
709/710 - Research Rotations (3, fall and spring - taken in Year One)
CELL 786/787 - Seminars in CMB (1, fall and spring, Year One and Year Two)Developmental
Biology
CELL
608 - Advanced Developmental and Cell Biology II (3, spring) OR CELL 678
- Developmental Genetics (3, spring)
CELL
684 - Current Topics in Developmental Biology (2, fall and spring, Year One and
Year Two)
Neurobiology
NSIP
711/712 - Graduate Neuroscience I and II (3, fall and spring, Year One)
CELL
636 - Topics in Neurophysiology (2, spring, Year One and Year Two)
Two
additional semesters of a journal club course
Electives
offered by the Cell and Molecular Biology Department:
CELL 600 - Biomedical Ethics (3)
CELL 608 - Advanced Developmental and Cell Biology II (3)
CELL 613 - Embryology (4)
CELL 616 - Developmental Biology (3)
CELL 621 - Cellular Physiology (3)
CELL 631 - Cellular Neuroscience (3)
CELL 632 - Systems Neuroscience (3)
CELL 634 - Neurobiology of Disease (3)
CELL 635 - Developmental Neurobiology (3)
CELL 637 - Molecular Neurobiology (3)
CELL 644 - Advanced Molecular Biology (3)
CELL 649 - Gross Anatomy (4)
CELL 655 - Synaptic Organization of the Brain (3)
CELL 663 - Cellular Neurophysiology (3)
CELL 671 - Molecular Biology of Cancer (3)
CELL 678 - Developmental Genetics (3)
CELL 734 - Neuroanatomy Laboratory (1)Note: Graduate courses offered by
other departments on the uptown campus and at the Tulane Health Sciences Center
may also be taken as electives with the approval of the graduate committee.
Journal
club and Seminar-type courses:
CELL
636 - Topics in Neurophysiology (journal club - core requirement for
Neurobiology track)
CELL
684 - Current Topics in Developmental Biology (journal club - core requirement
for Developmental Biology track)
CELL
786/787 - Seminars in Cell and Molecular Biology (seminar series - core
requirement for both tracks)
NSIP 604 - Trends in Neuroscience (journal club)
Suggested
Curricula
|
Developmental and Molecular Biology |
Neurobiology |
|
|
|
|
YEAR
ONE |
|
Fall (12 credits): |
Fall (11 credits): |
|
CELL
684 - Current Topics in Developmental Biology (2) |
NSIP
604 - Trends in Neuroscience (1) |
|
CELL
786 - Seminars in CMB (1) |
CELL
786 - Seminars in CMB (1) |
|
BIOL
709 - Research Rotations (3) |
BIOL
709 - Research Rotations (3) |
|
CELL 601 - Cellular Biochemistry (3) |
NSIP
711 - Graduate Neuroscience I (3) |
|
Elective
(3) |
Elective
(3) |
|
|
|
|
Spring (12 credits): |
Spring (12 credits): |
|
CELL
684 - Current Topics in Developmental Biology (2) |
CELL 636 - Topics in Neurophysiology (2) |
|
CELL
787 - Seminars in CMB (1) |
CELL
787 - Seminars in CMB (1) |
|
BIOL
710 - Research Rotations (3) |
BIOL
710 - Research Rotations (3) |
|
CELL
608 - Advanced Developmental and Cell Biology II (3) |
NSIP
712 - Graduate Neuroscience II (3) |
|
CELL 644 - Advanced Molecular Biology (3) (Elective) |
Elective
(3) |
|
|
|
YEAR
TWO |
|
Fall (13 credits): |
Fall (13 credits): |
|
CELL
684 - Current Topics in Developmental Biology (2) |
NSIP 604 - Trends in Neuroscience (1) |
|
CELL
786 - Seminars in CMB (1) |
CELL
786 - Seminars in CMB (1) |
|
BIOL
799 - Research and/or Elective (totaling 7 credits) |
BIOL
799 - Research and/or Elective (totaling 8 credits) |
|
MCBP
607 - Advanced Cell Biology I (3) |
CELL 601 - Cellular Biochemistry (3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spring (12 credits): |
Spring (12 credits): |
|
CELL
684 - Current Topics in Developmental Biology (2) |
CELL
636 - Topics in Neurophysiology (2) |
|
CELL
787 - Seminars in CMB (1) |
CELL
787 - Seminars in CMB (1) |
|
BIOL
799 - Research and/or Elective (totaling 9 credits) |
BIOL
799 - Research and/or Elective (totaling 8 credits) |
Graduate
courses offered by other departments on the uptown campus and at the Tulane
Health Sciences Center may also be taken as electives with the approval of the graduate
committee. In some exceptional cases, upper level undergraduate courses may be
taken for graduate credit, but the student must obtain the approval of the
graduate committee and the consent of the instructor. A total of 48 credits is
necessary to qualify for candidacy for the Ph.D.
During
year 2, the graduate student, with his/her advisor, will select a dissertation
committee composed of a chair (i.e., the advisor), 1 to 2 members within the
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and 1 to 2 outside members. The written
and oral portions of the qualifying exam are to be completed by the end of the
second year. The dissertation committee will then work with the Ph.D. candidate
in the preparation of a written dissertation proposal or prospectus. During year
3, the Ph.D. candidate is expected to submit a written version of the
dissertation proposal to his/her dissertation committee, which he/she will
present orally before the dissertation committee.
Questions
about the Ph.D. can be directed to Dr.
Peter Cserjesi.
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