The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (IGP) supports graduate training in interdisciplinary approaches to biomedical research. More than 60 laboratories that participate in the program are headed by a distinguished group of faculty affiliated with 12 basic science and clinical departments.
Program investigators employ a wide range of instrumentation and experimental approaches, including:
- classical and molecular genetics.
- proteomics and genomics.
- X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance.
- digital imaging and laser confocal microscopy of single cells and tissues.
Specialized core facilities in gene chip analysis, mass spectroscopy, transgenics, DNA sequencing, analytical ultracentrifugation and biomedical imaging enhance the research capabilities of individual labs.
A streamlined and flexible graduate curriculum is tailored to the specific needs of individual students and encourages rapid initiation of full-time thesis research.
A weekly seminar series is sponsored by the Program in Molecular Medicine and features distinguished lecturers from around the world. Interdisciplinary Graduate Program students host one or two of these seminars each semester. Faculty, students and postdoctoral fellows also participate in weekly journal club and research forums.
Program Requirements
The IGP allows students the opportunity to become fully engaged in thesis research by the end of their first year. Students are encouraged to perform two laboratory rotations per semester in order to ensure that they are exposed to a variety of experimental approaches and laboratory environments. Optimally, rotations are completed and a thesis laboratory selected by the summer of a student's first year.
Advanced coursework, journal clubs and other enrichment activities beyond the graduate core course are tailored to the requirements of each student and are determined after discussion between the faculty advisor and student. In general, a minimum of two advanced topics courses is required. Advanced topics courses include the following:
- Advanced Topics in Nuclear Structure
- Eukaryotic Gene Regulation
- Molecular Biology of the Cell Cycle
- The Cytoskeleton and Disease
- Advanced Topics in Developmental Biology
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