Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Overview
The College was established in 1913 as the Marquette University School of Medicine. It was reorganized in 1967 as an independent institution and was renamed the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1970. The faculty includes approximately 900 full-time members. The College has attracted more than $100 million a year in research and training funding and ranks in the top half of U.S. medical schools in NIH funding.
More than 400 graduate students are enrolled at the College. The Medical College also enrolls approximately 800 medical students, some of whom study for the combined M.D./Ph.D. degree. A large M.P.H. program is also a part of the MCW education mission.
The majority of graduates from the participating programs accept postdoctoral fellowships. Other students have taken advantage of opportunities to go directly into teaching positions at the assistant professor level and into positions in biomedical-related industries.
The Location and Community
Milwaukee, which provides some 14,000 acres of parks and areas of urban development, is located on Lake Michigan, approximately 90 miles from Chicago. Students enjoy Wisconsin's many inland lakes, state parks, and national forests; these provide a wealth of year-round outdoor opportunities. The campus of the Medical College is located in a safe, attractive suburban area that is minutes from downtown Milwaukee.
Programs of Study and Degree Requirements
The Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is a multidisciplinary doctoral training program that is designed to prepare students for a research career in cellular, molecular, and integrative biology. Areas of concentration within the program include molecular biology and genetics, cell biology, developmental biology, immunology and microbial pathogenesis, virology, neurobiology, enzymology, pharmacology and toxicology, structural biology, free radical biology, and biochemistry. Students are admitted only to a course of study leading to a Ph.D.
The integrated program is newly established, with the first group of students having entered for the 1999-2000 school year. It is designed to provide graduate students with the broadest possible range of research training opportunities by permitting them to select a research adviser from among all graduate faculty members in the program, regardless of departmental affiliation. Participating faculty members are drawn from the Departments of Biochemistry; Biophysics; Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy; Microbiology and Molecular Genetics; Pathology; and Pharmacology and Toxicology.
During the first two semesters, Ph.D. trainees participate in a core curriculum that integrates molecular, cellular, and systems biology classes. Courses include lectures and problem solving and discussion sessions that focus on current research problems. Through faculty member interaction and laboratory rotations, students select a dissertation adviser from the large and diverse graduate faculty and, at the end of the first year, matriculate into one department for advanced training. Advancement to Ph.D. candidacy occurs after successful completion of a qualifying examination and acceptance of a research plan.
Facilities & Resources
The participating faculty members occupy modern laboratories that are well equipped for research in their areas of interest. There are campuswide facilities, such as a transgenic mouse facility, a state-of-the-art biotechnology center with the latest nucleic acid and protein sequencing and synthesizing instrumentation. Hardware and software components for protein structure/function, X-ray crystallography, and protein interaction analysis are available. A core microscopy facility includes transmission electron, scanning electron, and confocal laser microscopes. Image processing facilities provide computer enhancement and analysis allowing three-dimensional analysis of subcellular structures.
Expenses and Aid
Tuition is covered for all students in the Ph.D. program.
Financial Aid:
All eligible students are provided with a tuition scholarship and a competitive stipend. The 2004-05 stipend is $21,879 per annum. Health insurance is provided.
Housing/Living Expenses:
A wide variety of affordable living accommodations are available near the campus.
How to Apply
Applicants should have completed 8 semester hours each of biology, general chemistry, and physics as well as courses in college-level mathematics and statistics. Some experience in laboratory research, as might be obtained from employment or participation in undergraduate science projects, is highly desirable. The General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is required. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). For students whose native language is not English, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required.
Who to Contact
Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences
Graduate School of the Biomedical Sciences
Medical College of Wisconsin
8701 Watertown Plank Road
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226
414-456-8218
E-mail: gradschool@mcw.edu
Faculty and Research
Biochemistry
• John E. Baker, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Role of nitric oxide and KATP channels in myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury. Nancy M. Dahms, Professor; Ph.D. Role of carbohydrate signals and receptors in the targeting of lysosomal enzymes to lysosomes. Robert Deschenes, Professor and Chairman; Ph.D. Eukaryotic signal transduction; ras oncogene structure-function; subcellular localization of protein complexes. Albert W. Girotti, Professor; Ph.D. Membrane-damaging effects of activated oxygen species; mechanism of antineoplastic photosensitizing agents. George J. Giudice, Professor; Ph.D. Epidermal cell biology; molecular biology of desmosomes and hemidesmosomes. Owen W. Griffith, Professor; Ph.D. Study of enzyme mechanisms; amino acid metabolism; nitric oxide biology; cancer chemotherapy. Vaughn E. Jackson, Associate Professor, Ph.D. DNA replication and transcription through nucleosomes; regulation of gene expression. Jung-Ja P. Kim, Professor; Ph.D. Structure and function of enzymes; protein-nucleic acid interactions. Ravi P. Misra, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Regulation of gene expression during early development; molecular mechanisms of cardiac hypertrophy. Richard L. Sabina, Associate Professor; Ph.D. N-domain diversity of AMP deaminase isoforms; regulation of human AMP deaminase gene family. Bellur Seetharam, Professor; Ph.D. Molecular and cell biology of cobalamin binding and transport proteins. Sally S. Twining, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Proteases and protease inhibitors in eye diseases. Brian F. Volkman, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. Structural biology of signaling proteins and NMR spectroscopy in structural genomics.
Biophysics
• William E. Antholine, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Uptake studies of metal antitumor agents; development of radiosensitizing agents. Brian Bennett, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. Metalloenzymes in cancer, AIDS, nerve gas detoxification and toxic insult. Jimmy B. Feix, Professor; Ph.D. Electron spin resonance studies of membrane proteins and peptide-membrane interactions. Neil Hogg, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Biological chemistry of nitric oxide and its oxidation products in pathophysiology. Balaraman Kalyanaraman, Professor and Chairman; Ph.D. Free-radical metabolites in the biological system. Candice S. Klug, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. Protein structure and functional dynamics studies using site-directed spin labeling EPR spectroscopy. Witold K. Subczynski, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. Spin label studies on membrane dynamics and organization, spin-label oximetry and NO-metry. Jeannette Vasquez Vivar, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. Mechanisms regulating superoxide and nitric oxide formation from nitric oxide synthase.
Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy
• Joseph C. Besharse, Professor and Chairman; Ph.D. Cellular and molecular basis of circadian rhythmicity; retinal photoreceptors. Janice M. Burke, Professor; Ph.D. Morphogenesis and cellular aging of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Lisa A. Cirillo, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. Role of chromatin structure and its modification on transcriptional regulation of genes in liver. Maria J. Crowe, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. Behavioral, cellular, and molecular analysis of spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. Stephen A. Duncan, Associate Professor; D.Phil. Molecular mechanisms underlying mammalian development. Carol Everson, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Physical health effects of sleep deprivation with a focus on neuroendocrine and immune systems. Claudia S. Huettner, Assistant Adjunct Professor; Ph.D. In vivo targeting of hematopoietic stem cells; mouse models of human leukemias. Yoshiki Iwamoto, Assistant Professor; M.D., Ph.D. Molecular basis of hormone-resistant (androgen-independent) prostate cancer cell growth. Brian A. Link, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. Genetics of ocular development and maintenance in zebrafish. John W. Lough, Professor; Ph.D. Cell and molecular biology of early heart development. Alan N. Mayer, Associate Professor; M.D., Ph.D. Molecular genetics of digestive organ development. Jay Neitz, Professor; Ph.D. Biological basis of visual perception; molecular biology and genetics of the retina. Maureen Neitz, Professor; Ph.D. Biological basis of visual perception; molecular biology and genetics of the retina. Danny A. Riley, Professor; Ph.D. Spaceflight unloading of skeletal muscle, vibration injury of arteries and nerves, and muscular dystrophy. D. J. Sidjanin, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. Molecular genetics of hereditary eye diseases. Fritz Sieber, Professor; Ph.D. Photochemotherapy; development of merocyanine dyes as fluorescent probes. Maya Sieber-Blum, Professor; Ph.D. Mechanisms of differentiation of neural crest cells into neurons, smooth-muscle cells, and pigment cells. Cheryl L. Stucky, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying pain. Margaret Wong-Riley, Professor; Ph.D. Metabolic and neurochemical plasticity in the adult primate visual system.
Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
• Joseph T. Barbieri, Professor; Ph.D. Mechanism of action of bacterial toxins and their interaction with eukaryotic cells. Bonnie N. Dittel, Assistant Adjunct Professor; Ph.D. Immune regulation of inflammation in immunity and autoimmunity. Michael B. Dwinell, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. Pathogenesis of mucosal immunity signaling, function of chemokines and chemokine receptors. Dara W. Frank, Professor; Ph.D. Molecular analysis of type III toxin synthesis and translocation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Jack Gorski, Associate Adjunct Professor; Ph.D. Molecular immunology; immune system memory; thymic maturation and function of MHC class II. Amy W. Hudson, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. Viral immunoevasion strategies: disruption of MHC presentation by human herpesviruses. Ming Lei, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. Regulation of DNA replication initiation in eukaryotes. Roy M. Long, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Intracellular transport and localization of mRNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Subramaniam Malarkannan, Assistant Professor, Ph.D. Minor histocompatibility antigens, CD8+ T cells in transplant rejection and tumor clearance. Mark T. McNally, Associate Professor; Ph.D. RNA processing in Rous sarcoma virus; role of cis- and trans-acting factors in splicing control. Debra K. Newman, Assistant Adjunct Professor; Ph.D. Structural and functional aspects of T-cell receptor-mediated antigen recognition. Rimas J. Orentas, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Epstein-Barr virus; neuroblastomas; bone marrow transplantation and tumor immunology. Nita H. Salzman, Assistant Professor; M.D., Ph.D. Role of defensins in innate mucosal immunity. Andrey Sorokin, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Mechanisms and consequences of signal transduction: endothelin-mediated signaling through small GTPases; cycloxygenase-2 and the prevention of apoptosis. Jerry L. Taylor, Professor; Ph.D. Regulation of herpesvirus gene expression by interferons. Paula Traktman, Professor and Chairman; Ph.D. Molecular, genetic, and biochemical analysis of vaccinia virus. Robert L. Truitt, Professor; Ph.D. Experimental bone marrow transplantation; GVL/GVH reactivity transplant tolerance; immunoregulation. Demin Wang, Assistant Adjunct Professor; Ph.D. Function of signal transduction pathways of cytokine and B cell receptors. Calvin B. Williams, Associate Professor; M.D., Ph.D. T cell tolerance; thymocyte selection and maintenance of the peripheral repertoire. Thomas C. Zahrt, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. Host-pathogen interactions of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Pharmacology and Toxicology
• John A. Auchampach, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Cardiovascular pharmacology; adenosine receptors; myocardial ischemia. Alan S. Bloom, Professor; Ph.D. Biochemical neuropharmacology of aging and dementia; drugs of abuse; functional MRI. William B. Campbell, Professor and Chairman; Ph.D. Cardiovascular pharmacology; vascular tone and adrenal steroidogenesis. Paulo A. Ferreira, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Molecular neurotoxicology; molecular components of neurosensory cell function. Garrett J. Gross, Professor; Ph.D. Cardiovascular pharmacology; ischemia-reperfusion inquiry. Cecilia J. Hillard, Professor; Ph.D. Biochemical neuropharmacology of drugs of abuse. Ronald N. Hines, Professor; Ph.D. Molecular toxicology; genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism; cytochromes P450. Judy Kersten, Professor; M.D. Cardiovascular pharmacology; regulation of coronary blood flow; diabetes. Ashwani Khanna, Associate Professor, Ph.D. Immunopharmacology; transforming growth factor in inflammation. Wai-Meng Kwok, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Cardiovascular pharmacology; ATP-regulated potassium channels, anesthetics. Pin-Lan Li, Professor; M.D., Ph.D. Regulation of ion channels in vascular smooth muscle by drugs and endogenous compounds. Marilyn P. Merker, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Metabolic functions of normal and injured pulmonary endothelium in the intact lung. Charles R. Myers, Professor; Ph.D. Molecular toxicology; toxicology of metals; biotransformation of xenobiotics. Peter J. Newman, Professor; Ph.D. Cell and molecular biology of human platelet and endothelial cell adhesion molecules. Kasem Nithipatikom, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Spectroscopic methods and trace analyses of drugs and endogenous hormones. Sandra L. Pfister, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Cardiovascular pharmacology; role of eicosanoids in the regulation of vascular tone. Kirkwood A. Pritchard, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Biochemical pharmacology; mechanism of nitric oxide synthase regulation. Nancy J. Rusch, Professor; Ph.D. Cardiovascular pharmacology; vascular smooth-muscle ion channels; expression and function. David C. Warltier, Professor; M.D., Ph.D. Cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology; myocardial ischemia and infarction. Carol L. Williams, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Cardiovascular pharmacology; GTPases in vascular smooth muscle cell growth.