| Division of Medical Sciences at Harvard Medical School (DMS) |
Programs and Disciplines BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology IMMUNOLOGY
The Division of Medical Sciences (DMS) at Harvard Medical School with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Harvard University offers four interdisciplinary programs leading to the PhD degree in the biomedical sciences: Biological and Biomedical Sciences (includes faculty from the Departments of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Cell Biology, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Genetics, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Pathology, and additional faculty from other departments, hospitals and research institutes), and three programs with faculty from the medical school and university: Immunology, Neuroscience, and Virology. These four programs share a common purpose: to foster a stimulating and supportive environment for research training in the biomedical sciences. The Division of Medical Sciences was established at Harvard University in 1908 and was designed to provide students wishing to pursue careers in research and teaching with a broad education in basic biomedical science fields and specialization in one of them. Classroom and laboratory instruction are conducted primarily by the 400 faculty members of the basic science departments and the affiliated hospital laboratories of Harvard Medical School (HMS) in Boston. The PhD degree is awarded by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) of Harvard University. For more than 100 years this fruitful collaboration between HMS and GSAS has spawned research achievements across the spectrum from basic science to experimental medicine. Since 1909 over 1,900 division graduates, including five Nobel Laureates, have gone on to distinguished careers in biomedical research, university teaching, and a growing number of increasingly diverse careers.
Research FacilitiesLocated in the Longwood Medical Area of Boston, the division brings together faculty in the biological sciences throughout Harvard University. The Medical Area, which includes Harvard Medical School, a cluster of affiliated hospitals and research institutes, the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and the Harvard School of Public Health, comprises one of the most concentrated areas of scientific research facilities in the United States. The interaction between the various programs in the division, through joint teaching and research as well as the contact with the affiliated hospitals investigating clinical problems enables the division to serve as a meeting place for the biological, medical, physical, and chemical sciences, providing students and faculty with a wider range of experience and techniques than can be found in any single discipline or department. Many of our faculty is based in the six preclinical departments on the Medical School Quadrangle: Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Cell Biology, Genetics, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics , Neurobiology, Pathology, and Systems Biology. Other faculty have their laboratories at: • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center The main Harvard University campus in Cambridge encompasses a wide variety of strong academic departments and facilities in the humanities and sciences. The division specifically interacts with the biological sciences programs in biophysics, chemical biology, molecular and cellular biology, organismic and evolutionary biology, biological sciences in public health, and systems biology.
Program of StudyThere are many areas of biomedical research excellence in the Division of Medical Sciences (DMS). These are described for each program, and some are available in more than one program. Along with other areas, research in cancer, developmental biology and HIV, are examples that are well represented in several DMS programs. Details on these and the other themes in biomedical sciences and biology are available on our Website: www.hms.harvard.edu/dms/. Academic programs fulfill needs and goals through core and advanced courses, seminars, rotations in laboratories, and a qualifying examination. Courses may be chosen from the offerings of Harvard University as well as from those of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Rotations are an integral part of each program; they allow students to investigate several types of research and laboratories before choosing a dissertation laboratory. Many students choose a dissertation laboratory by the end of the first year. Although individual programs vary, generally students take a qualifying examination at the end of their first year or during their second year. After successful completion of the qualifying examination, the dissertation advisor supervises the doctoral candidate’s research and study, with an advisory committee periodically reviewing progress. Typically, about four years of laboratory work are needed to complete the dissertation research, which is defended before three examiners. Students are expected to complete the degree in four to five years.
The Informal CurriculumOutside of the classroom, the division sponsors a variety of activities that bring together students and faculty with a broad range of research interests. Important elements of this “informal curriculum” are the seminars, journal clubs, and retreats organized by the programs. These sessions give students the opportunity to interact with faculty and postdoctoral fellows from laboratories throughout the Medical Area, and to learn about research in diverse fields. Student-run journal clubs and seminars provide opportunities to learn how to give talks, critically evaluate scientific literature, present data, and take part in group discussions. Each year students organize their own symposium with talks and poster sessions. City-wide seminars draw researchers from all area institutions into a larger scientific community. Many students serve for at least one term as teaching assistants for graduate and medical school classes, or for undergraduate courses taught in Cambridge. The Biomedical Graduate Student Organization plans various academic and social activities, and works with other student representatives in the Graduate School and at Harvard Medical School.
Combined Degree ProgramsThe division, in conjunction with Harvard Medical School, offers a combined MD/PhD program to train physician-scientists to work at the forefront of biomedical research and to provide an interface between the most basic and technical research and its clinical application at the bedside. The program seeks to provide students with the most thorough and up-to-date medical education and training for research careers. Students who are interested in working toward simultaneous MD and PhD degrees should complete the application for admission to Harvard Medical School and the MD/PhD Program.
AdmissionsEach year, nearly 90 students begin graduate study. Total enrollment for 2007-2008 was over 1,100, with affiliated faculty numbering approximately 400. Our students come from a variety of undergraduate institutions throughout the United States and from many foreign countries. Women account for almost one-half of the enrollment. To qualify for admission, applicants must demonstrate strong enthusiasm and ability for the vigorous pursuit of scientific knowledge. Minimal requirements include a bachelor’s degree and undergraduate preparation in calculus, physics, biology, and chemistry, both physical and organic. Strong consideration is given to letters of recommendation, particularly to comments from individuals who have firsthand knowledge of the applicant’s research experience. Some programs may request a personal interview. Applicants should apply to only one of the four DMS programs. Once enrolled, degree candidates may arrange rotations in laboratories affiliated with other programs. Transfer between programs may be accommodated if justified. We welcome discussion with applicants who would like assistance in determining the most appropriate program for their interests. The application deadline is December 8, 2008. A completed application includes the online application, fee, statement of purpose, curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation, scores from the Graduate Record Examination (General), and transcripts. Subject test is optional in the subject of your choice. Applicants whose native language is other than English can satisfy the English proficiency requirement by having the bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a university whose language of instructions is in English or by taking the TOEFL examination and receiving a score of 600 on the paper test, 250 on the electronic version or 100 on the Internet-based test (IBT). Applicants having only the master’s degree from a university whose language of instructions is in English will need to present scores for the TOEFL test. All materials, including online letters of recommendation and official reports of the GRE, must be received by the December 8 deadline. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) tests should be taken no later than October 2008 for official scores to arrive in time. Applicants wishing to do research in biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, human biology and translational medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, molecular pharmacology, and pathology usually apply through the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS) Program. Applicants wishing to do research in Immunology, Neuroscience, or Virology should apply directly to the program of that name. In addition to the programs described here for the Division of Medical Sciences at Harvard Medical School, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University offers other graduate programs in the biological sciences: Biological Sciences in Public Health (BPH) and Biostatistics at the Harvard School of Public Health, Biological Sciences in Dental Medicine (BSDM) at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Chemical Biology and Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School; and Biophysics, Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB), and Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) in Cambridge. For more application information on any of these programs, please contact the programs directly. Online submission of the application only. See www.gsas.harvard.edu. Harvard University’s policy is to make decisions on the basis of the individual’s qualifications to contribute to Harvard’s educational objectives and institutional needs. It is unlawful, and contrary to Harvard University policy, to discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status, or disability unrelated to job or course of study requirements.
Financial Aid and Cost of StudyDivision of Medical Sciences students receive full tuition and stipend support while they are enrolled and making satisfactory progress toward the PhD degree. The division strongly encourages applicants to apply for support from extramural agencies. Students who receive competitively funded extramural fellowships, which will be used toward our student support upon matriculating to our programs, may be eligible to receive an additional educational allowance from the division.
The Longwood Medical AreaImmediately adjacent to the Medical School are the Harvard Dental School, the Harvard School of Public Health, the Countway Medical Library, one of the most complete biomedical research collections in the country, and the research laboratories of seven affiliated hospitals and institutes. A free shuttle bus links the area with MIT and Harvard Square in Cambridge. Many students live near the Medical School or in neighboring Brookline; others find affordable housing elsewhere in Boston or in Cambridge. Harvard University provides dormitories for married students and graduate students in Cambridge. Harvard @ Trilogy is a new residential housing facility adjacent to the Longwood Medical Area offering apartments to graduate students. University housing is also available for single students in Vanderbilt Hall at the Medical School, along with athletic facilities and a branch of the Harvard University Health Services. The Tosteson Medical Education Center houses the Division of Medical Sciences offices as well as a graduate student lounge and computer facilities.
Programs and DisciplinesThe four interdepartmental programs of the Division of Medical Sciences are described briefly below. Interested applicants can obtain more information on the programs in which they are interested from the Division of Medical Sciences.
Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS)The PhD Programs in Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS) at Harvard Medical School combines faculty and affiliates from seven basic science departments (Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Cell Biology, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Genetics, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, and Pathology) with additional faculty from other departments at Harvard Medical School, hospitals and research institutes. A rigorous curriculum covering the fundamentals of cell and molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms is at the heart of the program. In the first year, students can take core courses covering this material. In addition, students take upper-level courses designed to teach reading skills for in-depth analysis of the literature. Rotations form an integral part of the program and allow students to investigate several research areas before choosing a dissertation laboratory. In addition to formal instruction, BBS also offers dinner seminars, rotation and data clubs, poster sessions, and a yearly retreat. The Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology offers a broad range of medical and basic research topics using the analytical tools of biochemistry and molecular biology. The research interests of the faculty include the structure and function of proteins, the structure and control of viral and eukaryotic genes, the biosynthesis of membrane lipids and cell surface carbohydrates, the mechanisms of DNA replication and recombination, and the induction of morphological and biochemical differentiation of cells. For students interested in pharmacology, there are courses and research opportunities in molecular, cellular, and neuropharmacology. Specific research interests include molecular mechanism of drug- receptor and drug-enzyme interaction; mechanism of action of antiviral, antibacterial, and antitumor drugs; molecular aspects of receptor cell membrane function; the molecular basis of regulation of cell growth; DNA replication and cell differentiation; endocrinology; and toxicology. The Department of Cell Biology seeks to understand mechanistically all the processes that drive individual cells and their interactions with other cells during development and adult life. In effect, cell biology is defined operationally by the questions asked rather than by the methods used to answer them. Thus, the experimental approaches used range widely from experimental morphology to biophysics. The diversity of the department reflects the research interests of more than 25 faculty members. Topics include signal transduction, cell cycle regulation, early embryonic and germ cell development, protein turnover, and extracellular matrix. The new program in Developmental and Regenerative Biology (DRB) focuses on providing rigorous training in the general area of developmental biology and aims to give students a comprehensive understanding of the basic principles guiding development as revealed by different experimental models and methodological approaches, as well as evolutionary and physiological considerations. The aim is also to provide the opportunity for DRB participants to explore, reflect, and apply this basic knowledge to the role stem cell biology can play in medicine. DRB integrates the substantial intellectual and physical resources related to developmental biology throughout Harvard. Therefore, DRB faculty come from the basic science departments at Harvard Medical School (HMS), the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and HMS-affiliated hospitals. The Department of Genetics provides training in the major areas of modern genetic research by using a variety of systems with which to investigate fundamental genetic processes . These systems range from the complex immunoglobulin loci of humans to the nitrogen-fixing genes of plant-associated bacteria. The department’s focus on molecular genetics and molecular biology provides a unique approach to fundamental problems in the operation and regulation of genes. The Department of Human Biology and Translational Medicine (HBTM) builds on and enhances current efforts in human biology and disease-oriented translational research at Harvard Medical School, at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and at Harvard-affiliated hospitals and research centers, and provides a structure for the integrated training of students in the translation of advances in basic investigation to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human disease. This new BBS initiative facilitates integration of the academic efforts of Harvard teaching hospitals across the university, and includes new courses in human metabolism, pathophysiology, pharmacology, genomics/proteomics, biostatistics/ clinical trial design, and the biology of specific human diseases. HBTM faculty and students pursue human disease-oriented translational research using the experimental paradigms of genomic/proteomic, cellular, organismal, and populations-based approaches to the study of clinical therapeutics and disease prevention. The HBTM curriculum provides rigorous training in the fundamental mechanisms and essential methodologies of human biology and disease-oriented translational research. The Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics offers opportunities for advanced study in the genetics, physiology, and biochemistry of bacteria and viruses. Faculty research interests include bacterial and viral genetics, the molecular mechanisms of gene replication and expression, and the molecular biology of bacterial and viral pathogenesis. To analyze these fundamental microbiological processes, department members employ classical approaches in genetics, biochemistry, and cell biology, as well as structural biology, computational biology, proteomics, and combinatorial chemistry. Department members also have access to the extensive clinical resources of Harvardaffiliated teaching hospitals. The Department of Pathology provides research training opportunities in a broad range of basic and medical sciences and in areas directly relevant to human diseases and pathogenesis. The major areas of research interest include cancer biology, cardiovascular research, virology, and immunology. The department’s focus on the mechanisms of pathogenesis provides a unique opportunity to study the cell biology, physiology, molecular biology, and genetics underlying disease processes. ImmunologyAdvanced study and research in immunology are offered in the Immunology Program, which has members from the Departments of Biological Chemistry, Molecular Pharmacology, Genetics, Medicine, Pathology, and Pediatrics of the Faculty of Medicine, and from the Department of Biology of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Recent rapid advances have transformed immunology from an adjunct to the diagnosis and control of infection into a major field of biology and medicine. The problems posed by studying the immune response and its role in inflammation and resistance to malignancy and infection attract scientists from every discipline. The Immunology Program offers education and research in a wide range of areas, including molecular genetics, cell activation, immunochemistry, cellular immunology, tumor immunology, allergic inflammation, immunogenetics, immunoparasitology, and immune deficiency and autoimmunity. Programs of study take into account the interests and goals of the individual student and may stress either the more chemical aspects of proteins, their synthesis, structure, and interaction, or the more biological aspects such as cell growth, cell control, and cell interaction. Students take courses and at least three laboratory rotations. Students are expected to participate in weekly research seminars, monthly dinners with faculty, an annual program retreat, regular lunch meetings with upper-level graduate students, and a student research forum. Students select their dissertation lab by September of their second year. An oral qualifying exam is taken during the middle of year two, followed by three to threeand-one-half years of dissertation research. Students’dissertation research can be carried out in a number of fields, including, but not limited to, the analytical study of lymphocyte receptors, activation and differentiation, cytodynamics of antibody formation, the mechanisms underlying methods of altering the immune response, the reactions and chemical mediators of immediate and delayed immune responses, and the immunogenetics of tissues and tumors.
NeuroscienceStudents in the Neuroscience Program have access to a large group of clinical and basic science faculty at Harvard Medical School, the Harvard-affiliated hospitals and research centers, and the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The faculty has diverse research interests which include neurophysiology and biophysics, neurochemistry, neuroanatomy, genetic and molecular biological approaches to the nervous system, immunology, psychiatry, diseases of the human nervous system, and related areas. The Program in Neuroscience is housed in the Department of Neurobiology and graduates of the Neuroscience Program obtain their PhDs in neurobiology. The 12 to 18 students admitted each year to the program take a sequence of courses offered by the Program in Neuroscience faculty as well as appropriate courses in related fields. Students take part in an annual retreat in the fall and organize a scientific symposium in the spring. They also participate in a variety of journal clubs and seminars. Students usually complete rotations in three laboratories during their first year in order to obtain appropriate experience to guide the selection of a dissertation advisor. Students are expected to have selected a dissertation advisor by the start of their third term and to have completed a preliminary exam by March 31 of their second year of study.
VirologyNew viruses, such as the sudden acute respiratory syndrome or SARS virus, have emerged around the world; the AIDS epidemic continues to sweep across sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia. New vaccines for HIV, smallpox, avian influenza, and genital herpes are direly needed. Researchers at Harvard University are working on all of these biomedical problems as well as conducting basic research that is defining new molecular structures of viruses and virus-encoded enzymes, new mechanisms within cells for molecular and organelle trafficking and function, and new mechanisms that control cell growth. Harvard researchers are among the world leaders in the design and testing of AIDS, genital herpes, and small pox vaccines. The Harvard Program in Virology provides extraordinary opportunities to conduct graduate study for the PhD degree in these exciting areas of biomedical science. The program is a joint effort of 49 faculty from throughout Harvard University. Specific research areas include: the molecular genetics, molecular biology and molecular pathogenesis of latent, persistent, or cytolytic virus infections, the characterization of virus-receptor interactions and the mechanisms of cell entry, structural studies of viruses and viral proteins, mechanisms of cell growth control, transformation, signal transduction, and transcriptional regulation, the use of viruses vectors for heterologous gene expression and for gene therapy, the interaction of viruses with innate immunity, the pathogenesis of viral infection and rational antiviral drug design. Applicants for graduate training in virology should have a firm background in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. In their first and second years, students are advised by the Student Advisory Committee. This committee meets with the student at the beginning of each of the first three terms to discuss courses and laboratory research rotations or other academic matters of concern to individual students. Students are expected to attain graduate-level competence in biochemistry, cell biology, molecular genetics, and animal virology. Students frequently take additional coursework in immunology and developmental biology. Students also do research in laboratories of their choice. By the end of the third term, students will have completed three substantive research rotations, passed qualifying examinations, selected a dissertation laboratory, and begun dissertation research. For the remainder of the graduate program, students are engaged full-time in dissertation research. We anticipate student completion of dissertation research within four years.
Important Addresses and Numbers Information, program brochures, and applications may be requested from: Admissions Office Program Addresses Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program (BBS) Immunology Program Neuroscience Program Virology Program MD/PhD Program Additional, Related Programs at Harvard University For PhD in Biophysics For PhD in Biological Sciences in Dental Medicine For PhD in Biological Sciences in Public Health For PhD in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology For PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology Outside Harvard Information
Division of Medical Sciences Faculty A-L |