Graduate Faculty: Caffrey, Carroll, Dimitrijevich,
Downey
,
Grant, Gwirtz, Mallet, Potts, Ma, Raven, Shi,
Smith
Physiology is an essential foundation for clinical and experimental medicine.
The physiologist seeks an understanding of the physical and chemical mechanisms
of biological processes. Thus, physiology is the study of the function
of living organisms and their various components. It encompasses normal
and abnormal function and ranges in scope from an understanding of basic
molecular and cellular functions to a cognizance of biological control
systems and of the integration of bodily functions among multiple organ
systems.
The Department of Integrative Physiology maintains an active and productive
research program with special emphasis on cardiovascular physiology. Research
interests of the faculty include cardioprotection, myocardial energy metabolism,
cardiac endocrinology, coronary flow and flow regulation, cardiovascular
responses to exercise, and mechanisms of blood pressure and blood volume
regulation. Faculty programs are funded by extramural
sources including the American Heart Association, the National Institutes
of Health and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Students may enter the program with a variety of academic backgrounds,
providing that they have fulfilled prerequisite courses in biology, chemistry,
physics, and mathematics. The graduate training program involves basic
courses in physiology, neurobiology, pharmacology, molecular biology and
biochemistry, and advanced courses in selected topics. The program is
designed to integrate the fundamental processes of molecular biology
with organ system functions. Students participate in teaching and seminars
and receive extensive training in techniques of contemporary physiological
research. Doctoral students and Master of Science students selecting the
thesis option perform original, publishable research and present their
research findings at national scientific meetings. At the end of the first
year, all graduate students must pass an oral physiology progress examination.
One to two years are required to complete the Master of Science degree
requirements. Three to five years are required to complete the Doctorate
of Philosophy degree requirements.
It is expected that, prior to the awarding of the doctorate, the student
will have published, have on press, or have submitted two first-author
publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Graduates with advanced degrees find employment in higher education,
industry and government agencies.
Degree Plans
The following are typical degree plans for students in the integrative
physiology subdiscipline. It is advantageous
to the student to begin graduate study in a fall semester. This degree
plan may vary depending upon availability of course offerings in a given
semester and each student's progress toward thesis and dissertation research.
