Graduate Research
Educating students in the biomedical sciences and pursuing advancements in animal and human health and disease that translate into useful applications.
Molecular Biomedical Sciences Graduate Programs
The Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences offers a Ph.D. through the College of Veterinary Medicine and through interdepartmental graduate programs at NC State. Students entering the program should have a bachelor’s degree in a life sciences field (biology, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics or related field), and students holding a DVM are especially encouraged to apply to our Ph.D. programs. The graduate program in the Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences is designed to provide the training necessary to pursue a career in research and/or teaching at an academic institution, or to pursue a research career in the biotechnology industry.
Through the department, students in the Comparative Biomedical Sciences graduate program can concentrate in one of several tracks, including cell biology, immunology, infectious diseases, or pharmacology. Students can also pursue a Master of Science or Ph.D. in physiology or functional genomics.
Graduate Studies and Benefits
Graduate students who matriculate in a graduate program affiliated with the department are expected to concentrate on core coursework during their first year of study, with this coursework based on the specific graduate program requirements. Students may choose to rotate through individual laboratories during the first year of study and can then anticipate an additional three to four years of study once a major adviser has been selected. Graduate students in the department are provided a stipend, health benefits, and usually tuition remission. Total compensation for our students usually exceeds $20,000 a year. Stipends are available via both research and teaching assistantships, with teaching opportunities available in gross anatomy and related areas.
Research Opportunities
Research opportunities are available with a number of research institutions (NIEHS, EPA, UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke) in the Research Triangle area, as many departmental faculty have ongoing research collaborations with laboratories at these institutions. The program of study for a graduate student will include the successful completion of a preliminary examination to test general knowledge in the second or third year of study and the successful completion and defense of an approved research thesis.