The Physiology PhD Graduate Program is one of the two tracks that are offered by the Department of Biochemistry and Physiology. Prospective students initially apply to the Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (GPiBS) program at the OU Health Campus and complete the 1st year GPiBS curriculum under this umbrella program. Students entering the Physiology track at the beginning of their 2nd year will take a 6-credit hour Human Physiology course and a seminar course and conduct research in the primary mentor’s lab. The student who passes the comprehensive exam (usually in the 3rd year) will be admitted to PhD candidacy and complete the dissertation research during the remaining years. Further information about the Physiology Program can be found in the Physiology Student Handbook.
Faculty serving as graduate mentors in the Physiology Program conduct research in the following areas: Geroscience and aging, neuroscience, diabetes and metabolic diseases, vision diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Please visit the Faculty page to learn more about the research focus of our faculty members.
All students in good standing in the Physiology PhD Program are supported as Graduate Research Assistants with an annual stipend (currently $36,000) plus medical insurance and full tuition waivers.