Pharmacology Graduate Program
The mission of the Pharmacology Graduate Program is to prepare students for careers as independent investigators, scientists, scholars, and in other science-related pursuits. Working closely with the Department of Pharmacology, chaired by Dr. Mark Lemmon, the program strives to create an inviting academic environment with an institutional culture of inclusivity that values and respects the unique and diverse characteristics of every individual. The richness of our program is sustained by recruiting and retaining trainees, staff, and faculty from diverse backgrounds and talents.
The research areas in Pharmacology Gradate Program align closely with those of the Department of Pharmacology, included drug discovery, neuroscience, metabolism, signal transduction and structural biology and there are a wide range of laboratories to choose from.
To enter the Pharmacology Graduate Program, students apply to the Yale Combined Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS) and will most likely select one of two interest-based tracks, in Translational, Molecular Medicine, Pharmacology and Physiology (TMMPP) or Biochemistry, Quantitative Biology, Biophysics and Structural Biology (BQBS). A strong background in basic biological sciences is recommended for admission though either of these tracks, with full details on the BBS website. These tracks are the students’ academic home for the first year, during which time they take course work and perform laboratory rotations. The single most important decision made by a graduate student is the selection of a laboratory in which to conduct their Ph.D. research under the guidance of their dissertation advisor. The best way to assess and choose a laboratory that is the best fit for you is to carry out “rotations” in at least three laboratories. The Directors of Graduate Studies (DGS), advanced students and other faculty are valuable resources in guiding selection of rotations and ultimately your dissertation laboratory.
At the end of the first year all BBS students select a dissertation laboratory to join. This marks the passage of a student from their BBS track to their academic Graduate Program, which will typically be the program most closely associated with primary Department of their dissertation advisor.
The Pharmacology Graduate Program emphasizes an integrated view of pharmacology and disease built upon a rigorous foundation of basic sciences. The program of study is flexible to reflect the wide range of disciplines encompassed by the field of Pharmacology, and to accommodate the requirements of the different tracks from which our students enter the program. Each student's curriculum will be designed according to their interests and background. Students prepare for and defend a qualifying exam in the spring of their second year. Additional educations activities, seminars and retreats continue during years three and beyond, as described in the pages at this site and the Pharmacology Graduate Program Handbook.