Cancer Biology
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Alakananda Basu, Ph.D., Graduate Advisor
Research and Education Building 437
817-735-2487
E-mail: abasu@hsc.unt.edu
Graduate Faculty: S. Awasthi, Y. Awasthi, Basu, Cammarata, Das, Dimitrijevich, Eisenberg, I. Gryczynski, Z. Gryczynski, Jiang, Jones, Lacko, P. Mathew, L. Prokai, A. Sharma, R. Sharma, Siede, Singh, Singhal, Vishwanatha, Wordinger, Yang
The Cancer Biology program is an interdisciplinary program that offers both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The goal of this program is to provide students with rigorous education and training in biomedical sciences with a specialty in Cancer Biology. The students will receive training through original research, formal classroom education, problem-based learn, seminars and journal clubs. The program includes faculty members from several departments. Our faculty members are engaged in various aspects of cancer research, including signal transduction, apoptosis, cell poliferation and differentiation, cancer immunology, drug resistance, tumor invasion and metastasis, DNA damage and repair, gene delivery, cancer therapeutics, molecular carcinogenesis, and nanotechnology/imaging. The research projects employ state-of-the-art molecular, cellular and biochemical techniques that include genomics, proteomics, mass spectrometry, molecular cloning, gene targeting, FACS analysis, advanced fluoescence spectroscopy, and optical imaging.
A major advantage of this program is that the students will have the freedom to choose faculty advisors from any department according to their research interests. In addition, students will be able to utilize the resources and expertise of faculty members with diverse background from several departments. During the first year, the students will acquire sufficient backgroun in biological sciences, including biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics, cell biology, pharmacology, microbiology and immunology. The students will have the opportunity to rotate in research laboratores in any department prior to selecting their thesis advisors. In the second year, the students will take advanced courses, such as Molecular Aspects of Cell Signaling and Molecular and Cell Biochemistry of Cancer. The students will be able to select additional elective courses from any department based on their needs and interests. Ph.D candidates are admitted to candidacy after successful completion of their preliminary oral qualifying examinations and defense of an NIH-style research grant proposal. M.S. candidates are expected to graduate in 1.5 to 2 years whereas Ph.D. candidates may require 4 to 5 years to complete their degree.
Degree Plans
The following are typical degree plans for students in the cancer biology discipline. It is advantageous to the student to begin graduate study in the fall semester. These degree plans may vary depending upon availability of course offerings in a given semester and each student's progress toward thesis and dissertation research.
| M.S. Degree Plan for Cancer Biology | ||
| Year 1: Fall | ||
| BMSC 6301 | Integrative Biomedical Sciences I: Principles of Biochemistry | 4 SCH |
| BMSC 6302 | Integrative Biomedical Sciences II: Molecular Cell Biology | 4 SCH |
| BMSC 5135 | Introduction to Faculty Research | 1 SCH |
| BMSC 5150 | Laboratory Rotation | 2 SCH |
| BMSC 5160 | Biomedical Ethics | 1 SCH |
| 12 SCH | ||
| Year 1: Spring | ||
| At least two of the following | ||
| BMSC 6303 | Integrative Biomedical Sciences III: Physiology | 3 SCH |
| BMSC 6304 | Integrative Biomedical Sciences IV: Pharmacology | 2 SCH |
| BMSC 6305 | Integrative Biomedical Sciences V: Immunology / Microbiology | 3 SCH |
| And | ||
| BMSC 5135 | Introduction to Faculty Research | 1 SCH |
| MOLB 6250 | Molecular and Cell Biology of Cancer | 2 SCH |
| BMSC 5998 | Individual Research for MS Students | 1-4 SCH |
| 12 SCH | ||
| Year 1: Summer | ||
| BMSC 5400 | Biostatistics for Biomedical Sciences | 4 SCH |
| BMSC 5998 | Individual Research for MS Students | 2 SCH |
| 6 SCH | ||
| Year 2: Fall | ||
| BMSC 5998 | Individual Research for MS Students | 4-5 SCH |
| Electives* | 3-4 SCH | |
| Journal Club/Current Topics** | 1-2 SCH | |
| 9 SCH | ||
| Year 2: Spring | ||
| BMSC 5998 | Individual Research for MS Students | 3 SCH |
| BMSC 5395 | Thesis | 3 SCH |
| 6 SCH | ||
| TOTAL | 45 SCH | |
|
PhD Degree Plan for Cancer Biology |
|||
|
Year 1: Fall |
|||
|
BMSC 6301 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences I: Principles of Biochemistry |
4 SCH |
|
|
BMSC 6302 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences II: Molecular Cell Biology |
4 SCH |
|
|
BMSC 5135 |
Introduction to Faculty Research Programs |
1 SCH |
|
|
BMSC 5150 |
Lab Rotations |
2 SCH |
|
|
BMSC 5160 |
Biomedical Ethics |
1 SCH |
|
|
|
|
12 SCH |
|
|
Year 1: Spring |
|||
| At least two of the following: | |||
|
BMSC 6303 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences III: Physiology |
3 SCH |
|
|
BMSC 6304 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences IV: Pharmacology |
2 SCH |
|
| BMSC 6305 |
Integrative Biomedical Sciences V: Immunology / Microbiology |
3 SCH | |
| And | |||
|
BMSC 5135 |
Introduction to Faculty Research Programs |
1 SCH |
|
| BMSC 6998 | Individual Research | 1-3 SCH | |
| MOLB 6250 | Molecular and Cell Biology of Cancer | 2 SCH | |
| 12 SCH | |||
|
Year 1: Summer |
|||
|
BMSC 5400 |
Biostatistics for Biomedical Sciences |
4 SCH |
|
|
BMSC 6998 |
Individual Research |
2 SCH |
|
|
|
Qualifying Exam |
0 SCH |
|
|
|
|
6 SCH |
|
|
Year 2: Fall |
|||
|
MOLB 6435 |
Molecular Aspects of Cell Signaling (offered alternate years) |
4 SCH |
|
|
BMSC 5310 |
Scientific Communication |
3 SCH |
|
| BMSC 6998 | Individual Research | 4-6 SCH | |
|
Electives* |
2-4 SCH | ||
|
|
Journal Club/Current Topics** |
1-2 SCH |
|
|
|
|
12 SCH |
|
|
Year 2: Spring |
|||
|
BMSC 6310 |
Grant Writing |
3 SCH |
|
|
BMSC 6998 |
Individual Research |
4-6 SCH |
|
|
Electives* |
2-4 SCH |
||
|
|
Journal Club/Current Topics** |
1-2 SCH |
|
|
|
|
12 SCH |
|
|
Year 2: Summer |
|||
|
BMSC 6998 |
Individual Research |
6 SCH |
|
| 6 SCH | |||
|
Year 3: Fall |
|||
|
BMSC 6998 |
Individual Research |
3-5 SCH |
|
|
|
Electives* |
0-3 SCH |
|
|
Journal Club/Current Topics** |
1-2 SCH | ||
|
|
|
6 SCH |
|
|
Year 3: Spring |
|||
|
BMSC 6998 |
Individual Research |
4-5 SCH |
|
|
Journal Club/Current Topics** |
1-2 SCH | ||
|
|
|
6 SCH |
|
|
Year 3: Summer |
|||
|
BMSC 6998 |
Individual Research |
6 SCH |
|
|
|
|
6 SCH |
|
|
Year 4: Fall |
|||
|
BMSC 6998 |
Individual Research |
3 SCH | |
|
BMSC 6395 |
Doctoral Dissertation |
3 SCH |
|
|
|
|
6 SCH |
|
| Year 4: Spring | |||
|
BMSC 6395 |
Doctoral Dissertation |
6 SCH |
|
| 6 SCH | |||
| TOTAL | 90 SCH | ||
| *Elective Courses (6-8 SCH) | ||
| MOLB 6220 | Cellular and Molecular Fluorescence | 2 SCH |
| BMSC 5203 | Regulation of Human Subject Research | 2 SCH |
| CBAN 6341 | Functional Genomics and Proteomics | 3 SCH |
| CBAN 6440 | Methods in Molecular Biology | 4 SCH |
| MOLB 6200 | Advanced Molecular Biology: Transcriptional and Translational Regulation - offered every other fall (even years) | 2 SCH |
| MOLB 6202 | Advanced Molecular Biology: Techniques and Principles - offered every other fall (odd years) | 2 SCH |
| **Journal Club Courses | ||
| MOLB 5160 | Current Topics in Cancer Biology | 1 SCH |
| MOLB 5210 | Signal Transduction | 2 SCH |
| BMSC 5220 | Novel Macromolecules that Regulate the Cell Cycle | 2 SCH |
Advancement to Doctoral Candidacy
Qualifying Examination
The qualifying examination is to ensure a doctoral student has sufficient mastery of fundamental principles of cancer biology and biomedical sciences, including biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology to be successful as a Ph.D. candidate and independent researcher. A list of major topics to be examined will be distributed to the student after the completion of the first year. The student is expected to become knowledgeable in each of these topics through coursework, individual reading, or discussions with faculty members. The qualifying examination will be administered by faculty members of the cancer biology program, and will consist of an oral examination. A student will answer a given set of questions within a given time. The student must demonstrate an ability to discuss and apply concepts of cancer biology. Two attempts to successfully pass the qualifying examination are allowed. Failure of the student to pass the qualifying examination results in dismissal of the student from the doctoral program. In this case, a student may be allowed to complete the requirements for a Master of Science degree.
Grant Writing (BMSC 6310)
This stage of the advancement to doctoral candidacy will evaluate a student's aptitude for independent thought and scientific writing. The student is required to (a) prepare an NIH-style research proposal without the assistance of his/her major professor, (b) present the proposal in a public seminar, and (c) address specific questions of an examination committee. The proposal should be based on an original hypothesis that could be related but should be distinct from the major professor's funded research, and should describe specific experimental approaches to address the hypothesis. The student will present this proposal in the form of a public seminar and then privately address specific questions of an examination committee. The examination committee will consist of cancer biology faculty (4 members) appointed by the graduate advisor. The chairperson of the committee (appointed by the graduate advisor) will serve as coordinator and will meet with the student at the beginning of the semester to review guidelines and answer relevant procedural questions. The grant proposal and the student's oral presentation and defense will be evaluated on the basis of originality and ability to communicate the proposal content. Upon successful completion of this course, the student is advanced to doctoral candidacy. Two attempts to successfully pass Grant Writing (BMSC 6010) are allowed. Failure of the student to pass Grant Writing (BMSC 6010) results in dismissal of the student from the doctoral program. In this case, a student may be allowed to complete the requirements for a Master of Science degree.
This page last updated Aug 11, 2009
