VCU’s Ph.D. in physiology and biophysics empowers students to seek creative answers to difficult questions through biophysical approaches at the molecular, cellular and organ system levels.
Our faculty are committed to training the next generation of scientists, clinicians and academics. Alumni of our program enjoy a broad range of successful careers in academia, medicine, government and private sector industries such as biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
We are proud to provide individualized support for each student, and our diverse, tight-knit cohorts foster a collaborative and congenial learning environment for everyone. Over the course of five to six years, doctoral students develop the ability to design, implement and interpret scientific approaches to address questions across a broad spectrum of research areas, including:
Ph.D. students enter through the Biomedical Sciences Doctoral Portal, or BSDP, VCU's entry point for students interested in doctoral training in the biomedical sciences. The program guides students through the first year, during which they complete coursework and rotate through three laboratories to explore different areas of research. By the end of year one, students are expected to select a faculty mentor as their dissertation adviser and formally join the Ph.D. program.
The first stage of the Ph.D. program focuses primarily on coursework, to develop a solid background in biomedical sciences and laboratory research in areas such as the following:
Students must complete a minimum of 66 credit hours, and the curriculum also includes journal clubs and seminars.
After choosing a mentor, students identify additional faculty members to serve on their graduate advisory committees and shift their attention to an original research project. Upon completion of the project, students prepare a written dissertation based on their findings, which they present in a public seminar and defend to their graduate advisory committee.
In addition to research space provided by the department, students and trainees also have access to state-of-the-art facilities and core laboratories across the MCV Campus.
Full-time doctoral students typically receive financial support that includes a stipend and health insurance, plus tuition and fees for the duration of their training as long as they are making satisfactory academic progress. Students are eligible for travel grants through the VCU Graduate School.
Supporting our students is at the core of the School of Medicine's mission. We provide a wide variety of resources to help enhance our graduate students' experience and ensure their safety, as well as resources to support our faculty.
Prospective students must apply through the BSDP. After creating an account with the Graduate School at VCU, select "Application for all other graduate programs," then select "Biomedical sciences – undifferentiated – Doctoral Portal," before completing the application.
After completing the online applications, documents that cannot be submitted electronically, such as official transcripts, should be mailed to the following address:
Virginia Commonwealth University
Office of Admissions
Box 843051
Richmond, Virginia 23284-3051
For more information about the Physiology and Biophysics Ph.D. program, please contact:
Roland N. Pittman, Ph.D.
Graduate program director
roland.pittman@vcuhealth.org
Carlos R. Escalante, Ph.D.
Assistant graduate program director
carlos.escalante@vcuhealth.org