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Programs

Pathology

The PhD program in pathology trains students to understand the cell biological basis for human disease and to leverage those discoveries for better diagnosis and treatment options. Our program is housed in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, but our mentoring faculty come from myriad clinical and basic science departments at University of Rochester Medical Center.

The Pathology PhD program encompasses studies of the molecular, cell biological, and pathophysiological underpinnings of human disease. Students may choose the general knowledge pathway, Cell Biology of Disease, or may concentrate their studies in either Cancer Biology or Bioinformatics. Our trainees make discoveries about the underlying mechanisms of human disease on a path to developing new treatments or diagnostic tests. Graduates go on to rewarding careers in academic, medical, industrial, nonprofit, and government settings.

Our PhD program is multidisciplinary in nature, drawing on faculty expertise in all aspects of human biology, including molecular underpinnings of disease; examination of cell, tissue, and animal model systems; employment of “-omic” sciences and informatics, and design of therapeutic interventions. Core areas of research are diseases of the cardiopulmonary and sensory/neurological systems, the orthopaedic and musculoskeletal system, the hematopoietic and immune systems, and the biology of cancer.

Information about faculty and research can be found on the Pathology website.

AdmissionsLink to section

Applying to Doctoral ProgramsLink to section

Admission to the Pathology PhD program is highly competitive with less than 20 percent of applicants admitted each year. Successful applicants have a bachelor’s degree in the biological or biomedical sciences with previous laboratory research experience and a clearly stated motivation for choosing to pursue graduate studies in pathology (preparation for this field of study, related research interests, and future career plans). Many applicants have additional post-baccalaureate research experience or are pursuing a master’s degree in a biomedical field at the time of their application.

Prospective PhD students apply for admission through the School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD) online application. Application deadlines are set by SMD, generally due in the late fall. Based on written materials, applicants are invited for interviews, after which select candidates are offered admission. Admitted students are notified immediately following the interview period with a decision deadline in early spring. Students may arrive on campus for a summer rotation block, usually beginning on July 1, or the start of the fall semester, usually late August. Accepted students receive a full-tuition scholarship, paid individual health insurance, and an annual stipend.

AcademicsLink to section

Master's Degrees and RequirementsLink to section

The Pathology program awards an en passant Master of Science degree in Pathology to students upon successful completion of their qualifying examination, which must be taken by the second month of their third year. The program does not offer a stand-alone Master’s degree.

Doctoral Degrees and RequirementsLink to section

During the first year of study, students take foundational coursework covering fundamentals of molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, and human disease. Alternatively, students may choose a path that concentrates their studies in cancer biology or in bioinformatics, forgoing some of the general coursework for more focused courses later in their program of study. Students also conduct research for academic credit in multiple laboratories, usually three, to identify the mentor with whom they will conduct their thesis work. Through program activities and coursework, students also begin to grow their professional skills, such as writing and public speaking/scientific presentation.

At the start of the second year, students affiliate with a mentor’s laboratory and embark on the research that will comprise their dissertation. In addition, second-year students take elective coursework related to their scientific interests, including courses required by their chosen concentration, if any. With their mentor and thesis advisory committee, students write a proposed research plan, which they defend in an oral presentation as a two-step dissertation qualifying examination. After completing this milestone, students focus almost exclusively on their thesis research projects and dissemination of their results.

Pathology PhD students graduate in an average of 5.5 years, usually with multiple scientific publications. Trainees have the opportunity to travel and present at conferences and to gain additional professional skills, such as leadership, teaching, scientific communication, or bio-manufacturing through coursework and extracurricular activities. Some even conduct internships in industry or government settings as they move toward graduation.

Graduate Course TitlesLink to section

  • PHP 447: Signal Transduction
  • PTH 504: Current Topics in Experimental Pathology
  • PTH 507: Cancer Biology
  • PTH 509: Cell Biology of Human Disease I
  • PTH 510: Cell Biology of Human Disease II
  • PTH 595: PhD Research
  • IND 419: Introduction to Quantitative Biology
  • IND 431: Foundations of Modern Biology I
  • IND 432: Foundations of Modern Biology II
  • IND 484: Current Topics in Bioinformatics
  • IND 501: Ethics and Professional Integrity in Research
  • IND 507: Cancer Biology Seminar
  • IND 517: Clinical and Translational Oncology
  • BCH 521: Bioinformatics for Life Scientists
  • BST 467: Applied Statistics for the Biomedical Sciences
  • CVS 401: Cardiovascular Biology and Disease
  • GEN 506: Principles in Stem Cell Biology
  • GEN 508: Advanced Genetics and Genomics
  • MBI 473: Immunology