Graduate Program

The Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology recruits highly motivated individuals from undergraduate biomedical backgrounds who wish to pursue a rewarding career in biomedical research. Our PhD program provides individualized training for each student to successfully fulfill the requirements leading to the attainment a PhD degree. This provides highly skilled graduates with the investigative tools necessary for an intellectually challenging and rewarding career in an ever-evolving field at academic, industrial or government institutions.

The graduate program consists of lecture courses, seminar presentations and independent research. Our program emphasizes the need for a strong, knowledgeable background of reviewed literature, a well-planned experimental approach to problem solving, and skilled interpretation of results. In addition, students will be guided in the development of superior written and oral communication skills.

PhD Program

The first emphasis of the doctoral training program will be formal coursework. Every student is expected to have knowledge in and a firm understanding of current concepts, experimental approaches, and recent developments in the major field of Physiology. To obtain this foundation, the student is required to complete a core curriculum of graduate courses and to supplement this core with other courses recommended by his/her major professor and/or the Advisory Committee.

Qualifying for our PhD Program

Competencies

A student must obtain at least an average grade of "B" in the Foundations of Biomedical Sciences courses to qualify for the PhD degree. In addition, the student must demonstrate that he/she is competent in a broad segment of Physiology. Although a student may be working in one area of Physiology such as Cell, Cardiovascular or Renal Physiology, he/she is expected to have an understanding of the concepts, experimental approaches, and major developments in the major field of physiology covered in the core curriculum of the PhD program.

To demonstrate this competence, the student must pass the Qualifying Examination that is composed of two (2) parts: a) Written, and b) Oral. The content of the (a) Written part of the qualifying examination will be determined by the performance of the student in the IDSP courses in the first year. The content of the (b) Oral part of the qualifying examination will be determined by the performance of the student on the Written examination. This Qualifying Examination will usually be administered sometime during the summer months prior to the start of the second academic year.

Written Exam

The Written Examination is divided into six (6) equal sections:

1. Cell Physiology
2. Cardiovascular Physiology
3. Renal Physiology
4. Respiratory Physiology
5. Gastrointestinal Physiology
6. Endocrine Physiology

A student who receives a grade of "A" or "B' in all six sections is considered to have passed the written section of the Qualifying Examination. In addition, a student may receive a grade lower than "B" in one of the six sections and still pass the written portion of the Qualifying Examination.

A student who receives a grade below "B" in only two sections is considered to have failed the Written Examination and will not be allowed to take the Oral Examination at this stage. A remedial examination covering these two sections will be scheduled within 2 weeks after the first Written Examination. A student must receive a passing grade (i.e. 80% or better) on both sections to pass the remedial exam. If the student passes the remedial examination, he/she will then be allowed to take the Oral Examination. If the student fails the remedial exam, he/she is subject to dismissal from the PhD Program. If a student fails three of the six sections on the written portion of the first Qualifying Examination, he/she will be dismissed from the PhD Program.

Oral Exam

Once a student has successfully completed the Written Examination he/she becomes eligible to take the Oral Examination. The Oral Examination will cover all of the six (6) sections of Physiology listed above.
Students who have remediated the written portion of the Qualifying Examination will only be allowed one Oral Examination. If the student fails the Oral portion of the Qualifying Examination, he/she will be dismissed. Students who pass the Written Examination but fail the Oral Examination will be re-examined only by Oral Examination. This second examination must be administered within one (1) week of the original Oral Examination. Failure to pass this remedial exam will result in dismissal of the student from the program.

Students who pass the Qualifying Examination are nominated to become a "Doctoral Candidate".

Preparation for the Qualifying Exam

Preparation for the Qualifying Examination is a constant, ongoing process in which the student uses free time during the first year to read, study and review information from courses and the literature. Students are expected to maintain their coursework and lab rotations while preparing for the Qualifying Examination. The student is expected to consult with each faculty member regarding resource material to be utilized in preparation.

TRAIN WITH US

CONTACT US

Christopher Pattillo, PhD
Associate Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology
Email: christopher.pattillo@lsuhs.edu
Phone: (318) 675-6974

Diana Cruz-Topete, PhD
Associate Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology
Email: diana.cruz@lsuhs.edu
Phone: (318) 675-5128

Expectations & Opportunities

Grade Requirements

Attendance and Promptness

Other Scholarly Activities

Teaching

Grade Requirements

To receive a graduate degree, a student must have at least a "B" average on all work taken as a graduate student. A student will be dropped from the rolls of the School of Graduate Studies if the student's cumulative average is below a "B" for three (3) consecutive semesters. Credits received in thesis or dissertation research are not used in computing the grade point average. A Summer term is counted as a semester. Students in serious scholastic difficulties may be dropped from the rolls at the end of any semester if the Department and Dean feel that the student is not qualified to continue.

Physiology students in lab — Graduate Program

Molecular and Cellular Physiology

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