Integrated Biomedical Sciences Ph.D.
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Pierre Neuenschwander, Ph.D., F.A.H.A.
HSC, Center for Biomedical Research, (903) 877-7593
Pierre.Neuenschwander@uttyler.edu; IBMS@uttyler.edu
PROGRAM MANAGER
Chris Holmquist, Ph.D.
HSC, Center for Biomedical Research, (903) 877-8555
christopher.holmquist@uttyler.edu
PROGRAM MISSION
The Ph.D. program in Integrated Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) is designed to prepare graduates to be independent scientists either at the academic university level or in the biomedical/biotech industry. Graduates of the program will be able to design and successfully execute scientific research that addresses a significant area of scientific inquiry. The program will also provide a multidisciplinary learning environment to foster the development of knowledge, skills, and creativity necessary to succeed as scientists in an increasingly complex research community. Therefore, graduates of the program will be expected to possess responsible conduct of research ethics as well as expertise in experimental design and analysis in the biomedical sciences.
PROGRAM GOALS
Graduates of the IBMS program will be able to:
- Appraise and identify gaps in knowledge in their respective fields of study.
- Develop new and significant hypotheses.
- Investigate the literature concerning these hypotheses.
- Pursue new knowledge through the utilization of multiple informational resources to gather and summarize information and data.
- Design studies/experiments to test specific hypotheses.
- Critically apply scientific theories and methods of experimental design and interpretation of data.
- Demonstrate advanced computer literacy and mastery of preparing and presenting scientific data in tabular or figure form.
- Demonstrate high ethical and moral scientific character.
- Interact productively with people from diverse backgrounds with skills to communicate science in the global scientific language (English) effectively in both oral and written forms.
PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES (PLO)
The Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) for the IBMS program are divided into five major categories: Knowledge, Research Methods and Analysis, Scholarship, Professionalism, and Independent Research.
Graduates of the program will be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge in biomedical sciences consistent with the focus of the program and sufficient to carry out independent research. (Knowledge
- Demonstrate understanding of core knowledge.
- Demonstrate understanding of knowledge related to the chosen focus area or area of expertise.
- Demonstrate quantitative and qualitative skills for conducting biomedical research. (Research Methods and Analysis)
- Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate research in biomedical sciences.
- Demonstrate the ability to understand how their learned research methods can be used to advance understanding of their research areas.
- Produce written and oral communications of quality consistent with their focus in the program and communicate effectively in various settings. (Scholarship)
- Demonstrate the ability to review and discuss relevant literature and its significance.
- Demonstrate the ability to write at a level consistent with that of high-quality biomedical science journals.
- Demonstrate the ability to adequately use styles of citing, referencing, & formatting that are used in high quality biomed science journals.
- Demonstrate the ability to present clear and logical oral presentations in the biomedical science community.
- Know and participate in the intellectual and organizational aspects of the profession in biomedical sciences. (Professionalism)
- Demonstrate the ability to write gripping abstracts for research conferences.
- Demonstrate the ability to present research at research conferences.
- Demonstrate the ability to prepare manuscripts that meet the high standard of biomedical science journals.
- Demonstrate the ability to write competitive grant/fellowship proposals.
- Demonstrate the ability to mentor students who are junior to them.
- Demonstrate the ability to make effective contributions to research teams/community.
- Conduct independent research resulting in an original contribution to knowledge in biomedical sciences. (Independent Research)
- Demonstrate the ability to develop their own research projects that has high standards of biomedical sciences in terms of significance and innovation.
- Demonstrate the ability to develop novel techniques/methods to address the questions in the proposed research.
- Demonstrate the ability to develop scholarship that is comparable in scope to research articles in high quality biomedical science journals.
PROGRAM ADMISSION PREREQUISITES
Students will be admitted once a year on a full-time basis, with coursework beginning in the fall semester. In addition to the general requirements for admission to doctoral study at The University of Texas at Tyler, the following must be met for consideration of admission into the program:
- A baccalaureate degree in a related field from a college or university recognized by a national accrediting body.
- Official transcripts reflecting a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on previous academic coursework.
- Submission of satisfactory Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores taken within the past five years. To be competitive, applicants should have an overall GRE of > 300, with scores above 150 for each section.
- A personal statement (in essay format) addressing each of the following within the narrative:
- Describe any undergraduate summer, clinical, industrial research and/or any teaching experiences, indicating how these experiences sparked your passion for research.
- How will obtaining a graduate degree in biomedical sciences help you achieve your long-term career goals? Specifically link your professional goals and interests to concepts emphasized in this program.
- Describe what you are passionate about and how this has led to an interest in our graduate program.
- Identify up to 3 of our faculty members whose research you are particularly interested in and briefly tell us why they interest you.
- Three academic and/or professional letters of reference from individuals who can speak to the applicant’s motivation and ability to be successful in doctoral study. Letters should be from individuals who have information regarding academic, research, and personal accomplishments of the applicant that are predictive of success in graduate school. The most valuable letters of recommendation are from individuals who can provide insights that expand upon and enhance information found in official academic documents.
- A current resume or curriculum vita.
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS
Each student admitted into the IBMS program receives a graduate stipend in the amount of $32,000 per year plus benefits. Tuition is waived for the first year of the program and is thenceforth sponsored by the lab in which the student chooses to perform their dissertation work.
SCHEDULE OF IBMS COURSE OFFERINGS
All course information, including syllabi and faculty curriculum vitae, can be found online.
FALL SEMESTER OFFERINGS:
- IBMS 6401 - Cellular and Molecular Basis of Biomedical Sciences and Technology I
- IBMS 6198 - Seminar I
- IBMS 6199 - Seminar II
- IBMS 6300 - Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
- IBMS 6200 - Laboratory Rotations (2-minimum 150 clock hours)
- 2 Elective courses offered on a rotating basis.
SPRING SEMESTER OFFERINGS:
- IBMS 6402 - Cellular and Molecular Basis of Biomedical Sciences and Technology II
- IBMS 6198 - Seminar I
- IBMS 6199 - Seminar II
- IBMS 6100 - Ethics of Scientific Research
- IBMS 6200 - Laboratory Rotations (2-minimum 150 clock hours)
- 2 Elective courses offered on a rotating basis.
SUMMER SEMESTER OFFERINGS:
- IBMS 6410 - Pre-candidacy Research
- 1 Elective course offered on a rotating basis.
COURSES OFFERED EVERY SEMESTER:
IBMS PROGRAM CURRICULUM
A student in the IBMS program must enroll in a seminar course (IBMS 6198 or IBMS 6199) each regular semester but will only receive credit for each of these two courses one time. A student who has achieved Ph.D. candidacy must register for IBMS 6499 each semester (fall, spring, summer) until the dissertation is completed (for a minimum of 60 CH total performing research). IBMS students must take at least five electives as part of the degree.
Typical Four-Year Degree Plan for the Ph.D. in Integrated Biomedical Sciences (97 SCH minimum for degree)
Year 1 - Fall
Year 1 - Spring
Year 1 - Summer
| IBMS 6410 | Pre-Candidacy Research | |
| | Take Part I (didactic portion) of the Qualifying Exam in August | |
Year 2 - Fall
| IBMS 6410 | Pre-Candidacy Research | |
| IBMS 6198 | Seminar I | |
| | IBMS XXXX Elective 1 | |
| | IBMS XXXX Elective 2 | |
| | Take Part II (proposal portion) of the Qualifying Exam in December | |
| | Enter Ph.D. Candidacy | |
Year 2 - Spring
Year 2 - Summer
Year 3 - Fall
Year 3 - Spring
Year 3 - Summer
Year 4+ - Fall
Year 4+ - Spring
| IBMS 6499 | Dissertation Research | |
| IBMS 6199 | Seminar II | |
| | Earliest opportunity to defend dissertation | |
Year 4+ - Summer
Courses
Core Courses
Elective Courses
Students will be required to take and pass a minimum of five electives of their choice over the course of the IBS program (15 CH total). Students who choose at least three courses within a single area of expertise will have that area of expertise indicated on their transcripts.
Cellular and Molecular Biology Area of Expertise
Immunology and Infectious Disease Area of Expertise
Pulmonary Physiology Area of Expertise