Programs
Toxicology
The Rochester Toxicology Training Program provides research training and career development support for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who are seeking careers in toxicological and environmental health sciences. This program trains future scientists to apply critical thinking, communication, and investigative skills to identify and characterize the negative impacts of chemicals and other environmental stressors on human health and to resolve strategies for improving overall well-being.
Information about faculty and research can be found on the Toxicology website.
AdmissionsLink to section
Applying to Doctoral ProgramsLink to section
The Toxicology Admissions Committee takes a holistic approach to assessing applicants. We recognize that the best way to achieve our mission of training the next generation of environmental health scientists is to harness the strengths of diversity in background, ability, and experience of all our trainees. The main criteria that we use to judge our applicants are research aptitude, experience, GPA range between 3 and 4, interpersonal skills, dependability, and leadership. We are specifically looking for applicants who have a commitment to the improvement of human health and well-being.
Graduate study at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry means engaging in research and training that informs and shapes the world around us.
All applications to University of Rochester PhD programs are submitted online via a centralized admissions process. It is not necessary for you to contact individual faculty, although faculty are available to answer any questions you may have.
Application requirements:
- Online admissions application
- Statement of purpose
- Transcript
- Three letters of recommendation
- English proficiency documents (for applicants whose native language is not English)
You may submit the following optional materials if you feel these will be helpful in the admissions process:
- Writing sample – research papers, publications, and other original works
- CV or resume
AcademicsLink to section
Master's Degrees and RequirementsLink to section
The Toxicology program awards an en passant MS degree in Toxicology to students upon successful completion of their qualifying examination, which must be taken by the second month of their third year.
Doctoral Degrees and RequirementsLink to section
The Toxicology graduate curriculum consists of required core courses, seminars, and elective courses, as well as experimental research. As such, the PhD degree is awarded only after a student has conducted an independent, hypothesis-driven research project and written a dissertation that demonstrates a high level of intellectual competence.
The program requires 96 credit hours of combined didactic and research credits for completion. At least 30 graduate credit hours must be accumulated before taking the qualifying exam. The Toxicology program offers two concentrations—in Cancer Biology and Bioinformatics—that require additional coursework.
Graduate Course TitlesLink to section
- IND 431: Foundations in Modern Biology I
- IND 432: Foundations in Modern Biology II
- PHP 403: Human Cell Physiology
- PHP 404: Principles of Pharmacology
- TOX 521: Biochemical Toxicology
- TOX 558: Toxicology Seminar
- BST 467: Applied Biostatistics in the Biomedical Sciences
- IND 501: Ethics and Professional Integrity in Research
- TOX 597: Introduction to Faculty Research in Toxicology
- TOX 501: Forensic Pathology for Toxicology
- TOX 502: Forensic Toxicology
- TOX 503/IND 403: Skin Toxicology and the Environment
- TOX 510: Toxicology in Risk Assessment
- TOX 527: Immunotoxicology
- TOX 528: Gene-Environment Interactions in Toxicology
- TOX 533: Neurotoxicology
- TOX 564: Pulmonary Toxicology
- IND 426: Science Communication for Diverse Audiences
- PM 470: Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
- TOX 530: Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology