Quick Program Facts
Programs offered: PhD in Physiology
Total enrollment: 10-15 students
Time to degree: ~4.7 years
Early application deadline: December 15
Publications authored or co-authored: ~6 papers
The Department of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) has over 20 full-time faculty dedicated to cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases research. In addition, the department is home to National Institutes of Health-funded programs, including the Cardiorenal and Metabolic Disease Research Center, the Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research, and the Hypertension and Cardiorenal Diseases Research Training Program. Together, with the extramural support awarded to our individual faculty members, the UMMC Department of Physiology and Biophysics receives more than $12 million annually to support research activities and training. Our program is internationally recognized for its research and mentoring excellence.
The mentoring environment prepares students for successful careers in science with a deep understanding of physiology and medicine coupled with numerous opportunities to achieve their career goals. Students in Physiology & Biophysics have access to:
- cutting edge, NIH funded physiological research;
- opportunities to travel to national and international conferences;
- opportunities to teach;
- opportunities to take business courses;
- eligibility to apply for and earn competitive national fellowships and awards recognizing research accomplishments;
- opportunities to engage in professional societies; and
- Perform local and national service as well as scientific outreach.
Over the course of four years, students will complete coursework in physiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, pharmacology and endocrinology; participate in lab rotations; take a qualifying exam; and perform dissertation research. Students will also study biostatistics and science communication. See course catalog for details.
The UMMC graduate program in physiology offers students a wide array of opportunities that enhance their research training. This includes diverse research topics, and the opportunity to interact with basic and clinical researchers through several centers that are led by faculty members in the Department of Physiology & Biophysics.
Research areas of interest include:
- obesity, metabolic syndrome and hypertension;
- neurohormonal mechanisms for control of blood pressure and kidney function;
- pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia;
- sex differences in hypertension and renal disease;
- fetal programming of cardiovascular disease in the adult;
- inflammatory diseases;
- vascular endothelial function and mechanotransduction;
- chronic kidney disease and renovascular disease;
- heart failure and cardiac metabolism; and
- mathematical modeling of physiological functions.
PhD students receive a full tuition scholarship, an annual stipend of $28,000 and student healthcare coverage.
State-of-the-Art Research and Facilities
The Department of Physiology & Biophysics is located in the state-of-the-art Arthur Guyton Research Building on the UMMC campus in Jackson, Mississippi. The Department is home to the NIH-funded Center of Biomedical Research Excellence, the Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research and two NIH-funded training grants (Mississippi Diversity in Hypertension Cardiorenal Researchers Program and the Hypertension and Cardiorenal Diseases Research Training Program) that support graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and undergraduate students who are underrepresented minorities.
Several core facilities are run by faculty members in the Department including an Analytical and Assay core, Confocal Microscopy, Histology, Metabolic Phenotyping, Physiological Simulation and a Transgenic core.
Please visit the Graduate Program in the Department of Physiology & Biophysics.
Program Contact:
Eric George, PhD, Program Director or Josh Speed, PhD, Associate Program Director, Recruitment.