Ph.D. PROGRAM IN PHYSIOLOGY PROGRAM OBJECTIVES The goal of the Ph.D. program is to produce graduates who are well founded in the principles of organ system and cellular physiology, able to perform original research of high quality in specialized areas of physiology, and competent as teachers of physiology. STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM On-line application: http://www.smbs.buffalo.edu/rbe/igbps Admission requirements and student selection procedures: The candidate for graduate work in Physiology should have demonstrated above-average academic performance, especially in mathematics, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, physics and biology. Entry into the program is contingent upon award of the baccalaureate degree. Applicants generally enter the program after one year in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences. Applicants to the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program are required to submit the following: College transcripts Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores Three (3) letters of recommendation, and A statement of interest in becoming a physiologist. International applicants must also present: Financial data the results ofTOEFL - (Test of English as a Foreign Language) if English is not a native language. A TOEFL score of 575 is considered the minimum acceptable for admissions consideration. GRESubject Test The Interdisciplinary Admissions Committee evaluates these credentials, conducts interviews with promising candidates, and makes offers of admission. This offer normally carries with it financial support in the form of a graduate assistantship and tuition scholarship. During the one year Interdisciplinary Graduate Program applicants to the Physiology program are evaluated by the Physiology and Biophysics Graduate Affairs Committee, which, with the approval of the Graduate Faculty, makes offers of admission to the program. This offer normally carries with it financial support in the form of a research assistantship and tuition scholarship. Applicants may also enter the program without first entering the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, after evaluation by the Graduate Affairs Committee and with the approval of the Graduate Faculty. Requirements for the Ph.D.: Graduate School Requirements: A minimum of three years (72 credit hours) of graduate study A minimum residence of one year (24 credit hours) Continuous registration for a minimum of one semester hour each Fall and Spring term until all requirements for the degree are completed. A Ph.D. dissertation which is an original contribution, normally written in English. A Major Professor and a minimum of two members of the Department's Graduate Faculty and a third member from outside of the Department shall form the Thesis Advisory Committee. All should hold the rank of Assistant Professor or above in the University faculty. A qualified Outside Reader for each Ph.D. dissertation, who shall be from outside the Department. Program Requirements Curriculum For students entering the Physiology program from the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, the following courses are required: Year Course# Course Credits Yr 1 Fall BMS 501 Cell Biology I 4 BMS 503 Principle of Biochemistry 4   BMS 509a IGBPS Lab Rotation 2 BMS 511 Interdisciplinary Seminar 2 Yr 1 Spring BMS 505 (or) BMS 506 Dynamic Cell Interactions ( 1st 1/2 sem ) (or) Cell growth, Differentiation & Transformation ( 2nd 1/2 sem ) 2 (or) 2   BMS 510a Laboratory rotations 2 BMS 510b Laboratory rotations 2 BMS 512 Interdisciplinary Seminar 1 BCH 507 (or) BCH 508 Protein structure and Function (or) Gene Expression 2 (or) 2  * PGY 505 Cell & Memb Physiology 4 * elective required for physiology program Matriculation into the Physiology Program: Year/Sem Course Credits Yr 1, Summer Research   Yr 2, Fall IMC xxx Organ System Module (or Spring module) 6-10 PGY 507 Research 2-6 Yr 2, Spring IMC xxx Organ System Module (or Fall module) 6-10 PGY 508 Research 2-6 Yr 2, Summer Preliminary Examination and Research   Yr 3, Fall PGY 701 Thesis Research 1-9 PGY 599 Supervised Teaching 3 Yr 3, Spring PGY 702 Thesis Research 1-12 Yr 3 Summer Research   Yr 4, Fall PGY 701 Thesis Research 1-9 Yr 4, Spring PGY 702 Thesis Research 1-9 Yr 4, Summer Research   Yr 5, Fall PGY 701 Thesis Research 1-9 Yr 5, Spring PGY 702 Thesis Research 1-9 Elective courses can be taken to provide opportunities for advanced education in specialized areas relevant to the student's thesis research and advanced general education. Courses offered by the Department of Physiology and Biophysics include advanced topics in physiology or biophysics, research seminars, and colloquia. Courses in other disciplines may be elected by the student in consultation with the student's Major Professor:           PGY 503 Advanced Topics: Physiological Measurements in Small Animals 3 hrs PGY 503 Advanced Topics: Physiology of Aging 3   PGY 509 Neurobiology (advanced)  4 PGY 514 Vision 4 PGY 520 PGY 521 Applications of Computers to Physiological Problems 4/sem PGY 524 Developmental Neurobiology  3 PGY 527 PGY 528 Neurophysiology/Laboratory 4/sem PGY 605 PGY 606 Advanced Topics in Cardiovascular Physiology 2/sem BPH 505 Biophysical Basics: Processes  3   BPH 510 Modeling and Systems Theory Biophysics 3   BIO 502 Advanced Cell Biology 4   BIO 608 Advanced Topics in Macromolecular Structure 3 Teaching: In order to develop communication and teaching skills, it is expected that during the period of supervised teaching, the student will prepare and deliver a block of at least six lectures, will participate in the development and presentation of student laboratories, will prepare appropriate examination questions, and will assist in the evaluation and counseling of students. A minimum of three credit hours in supervised teaching is required. Grading and Promotion Standards The Department requires a grade of at least 'B' in all required course work in Physiology. Failure to meet this requirement in a single course results in a probationary period; multiple failures may lead to dismissal from the program. A grade of 'C' in courses outside the Department is acceptable provided that it represents passing performance in the view of the department concerned. The Graduate School also requires that the student's overall average be maintained at least at the 'B' level. The Department does not accept the grade of Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory and discourages the use of "Incomplete" for graduate courses. Preliminary Examination: Successful passing of the Preliminary Examination is required before a student is formally admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. Eligibility for the Preliminary Examination requires the successful completion of all courses included in the first two years of the Curriculum, a commitment from a member of the faculty willing to serve as Major Professor and Director of Thesis Research, and approval by the Graduate Affairs Committee. The Preliminary Examination is conducted by a Preliminary Examination Committee appointed by the Director of Graduate Studies and comprised of five or six members of the Graduate Faculty. The chairperson of the Examination Committee is designated by the Director of Graduate Studies. The Preliminary Examination consists of a written research proposal on a topic selected by the student in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies. The topic will not be the topic that will become the student's thesis research area, but it can be related. The written proposal will be evaluated by the Preliminary Examination Committee. If the proposal is found to be acceptable, the proposal is then presented to the Preliminary Examination Committee in a seminar followed by an oral defense. Thesis Research, Thesis Preparation, Thesis Reviews: When the student successfully passes the Preliminary Examination, the student and his/her Major Professor recommend a minimum of two members of the Department's Graduate Faculty and a third member from outside the Department for the Thesis Advisory Committee. The committee is to be appointed by the Director of Graduate Studies and chaired by the Major Professor. The thesis research is conducted by the graduate student under the tutelage of his/her Major Professor and Thesis Committee. Thesis preparation is critically monitored and supervised by the Major Professor and the Thesis Committee, both of whom must approve the thesis prior to the oral defense. The oral defense of thesis is scheduled after the candidate's Thesis Committee, the Department and the Outside Reader have approved the thesis. The thesis is presented to the Graduate Faculty in a seminar followed by an oral defense.