To increase opportunities for interdisciplinary education and research training in the graduate biomedical sciences, UAB has reorganized its Joint Health Science-affiliated programs to better align them with approaches to modern research and postgraduate employment opportunities.

Beginning in fall 2010, applicants will be reviewed and selected by the Graduate Biomedical Sciences (GBS) Admissions Committee to enter Ph.D. graduate training through one of eight themes (directors in parentheses):

•    Biochemistry and Structural Biology (Tim Townes, Ph.D., interim)
•    Cancer Biology (Dan Welch, Ph.D.)
•    Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology (Brad Yoder, Ph.D.)
•    Genetics and Genomic Sciences (Dan Bullard, Ph.D.)
•    Immunology (Pete Burrows, Ph.D.)
•    Microbiology (Janet Yother, Ph.D.)
•    Neuroscience (Lori McMahon, Ph.D.)
•    Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine (Ralph Sanderson, Ph.D.)

Students will participate together in a concentrated core course followed by access to a menu of elective theme courses tailored to their individual interests and consistent with broad areas of training in the current doctoral programs.

“Approximately 300 of the university’s most outstanding faculty have agreed to participate as training faculty with themes related to their research interests,” said Provost Eli Capilouto. “Faculty who will consider coming to UAB in the future undoubtedly will find the opportunities to work with students in these interdisciplinary settings quite appealing, as of course will prospective students.”

Students will receive one of the existing Ph.D. degrees at the completion of their training. For example, students who participate in the Cancer Biology theme may be granted a Ph.D. from Pharmacology, Pathology or other existing programs depending on the focus of their research.

The restructuring was recommended by the Graduate Education Subcommittee of the 2006 School of Medicine Research Strategic Plan, chaired by Tika Benveniste, Ph.D., chair of Cell Biology, with Graduate School approval, and has been guided since June 2008 by the university-wide Graduate Biomedical Sciences Steering and Oversight Committee, chaired by Stuart Frank, M.D., professor, Departments of Medicine and Cell Biology and director of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism.

For more information, visit www.uab.edu/gbs.