Physiology investigates how organs and systems function to maintain human health and how disruptions in these processes contribute to disease. The PhD program provides a research environment where students join faculty mentors studying major areas of human physiology, including geroscience and aging, neuroscience, diabetes and metabolic disease, vision science, and cardiovascular physiology. This breadth gives students the opportunity to work on projects that address pressing biomedical challenges and contribute to discoveries that advance human health.
Training in the Physiology PhD program emphasizes the experimental study of organ and system function. Students learn modern approaches for investigating physiological mechanisms and apply these tools to understand how biological processes change in aging, chronic disease, and injury. The department’s active research community supports collaboration across laboratories and provides opportunities for scientific development through seminars and interactions with faculty and peers.
The Physiology program builds on this foundation by giving students a focused research home where they can deepen their expertise and grow as independent investigators. All students in good standing are supported as Graduate Research Assistants, which includes a stipend, medical insurance, and full tuition waivers.