Overview
The University of Florida, located on 2,000 acres, is among the nation's leading research universities as categorized by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education. UF is a member of the Association of American Universities, the nation's most prestigious higher education organization. UF is also one of the nation's top three universities in the breadth of academic programs offered on a single campus. It has twenty colleges and schools and 100 interdisciplinary research and education centers, bureaus, and institutes. The College of Medicine, opened in 1956, has become a nationally recognized leader in medical education and research.

Enrollment at the University of Florida is both culturally and geographically diverse and numbers about 48,000, including about 9,500 graduate students. There are about 280 graduate students in the College of Medicine.

The Location and Community
Situated in north-central Florida, midway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, Gainesville is a nationally recognized academic and research center, and was rated the number one place to live in the U.S. in a 1995 Money magazine survey. There are about 200,000 residents in the Gainesville metropolitan area, excluding University of Florida students. The climate is moderate, permitting outdoor activities the year around. The University and the Gainesville community also host numerous cultural events, including music, dance, theater, lectures, and art exhibits. Many of the men's and women's athletic programs are considered to be in the top ten programs in the country.

Programs of Study and Degree Requirements
The College of Medicine at the University of Florida (UF) offers graduate training in biomedical research leading to a Ph.D. degree through the Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences. The goal of the Interdisciplinary Program is to prepare students for a diversity of careers in research and teaching in academic and commercial settings. The program provides a modern, comprehensive graduate education in biomedical science while providing both maximum program flexibility as well as appropriate specialization for graduate students. It represents a cooperative effort among six interdisciplinary graduate programs with a total membership of almost 250 faculty members. The six programs are Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Genetics, Immunology and Microbiology, Molecular Cell Biology, Neuroscience, and Physiology and Pharmacology. During the first year of study, incoming graduate students undertake a common, comprehensive interdisciplinary core curriculum of classroom study developed in a cooperative effort by all of the graduate programs in the College of Medicine. In addition, students select from any of the College of Medicine faculty members for participation in several laboratory rotations conducted throughout the first year, concurrent with the core curriculum. By the end of their first year, students select a laboratory in which to conduct their dissertation research and, once again, they may choose from any of the graduate faculty members in the College of Medicine. At that time, students also elect an affiliation with any one of the six graduate programs for their advanced training. Formal selection of a graduate program and mentor is made after completion of the core curriculum to maximize flexibility and facilitate an informed decision; however, students may make an informal commitment to a program or lab at any time. Through the individual graduate programs, students have access to advanced courses and seminars in their chosen specialty, which can be undertaken along with their dissertation laboratory research.

Facilities & Resources
The College of Medicine houses state-of-the-art research facilities maintained by the Interdisciplinary Center for Biomedical Research (ICBR), the McKnight Brain Institute, the Clinical Research Center, several other University of Florida Research Centers, and individual research laboratories. Together these facilities provide services for DNA and protein synthesis and sequencing, hybridoma production, confocal and electron microscopy, NMR spectroscopy, computing and molecular modeling, flow cytometry, transgenic mouse production, and gene therapy vector construction. The University of Florida libraries, including the Health Center library, form the largest information resource system in the state of Florida, and support up-to-date computer-based bibliographic retrieval services.

Expenses and Aid
Florida residents pay fees of approximately $940 per year and out-of-state or international students pay fees of approximately $1670 per year. Books and supplies cost about $1600.

Financial Aid:
Students accepted into the Interdisciplinary Program receive a stipend of $20,000 per annum. Students also receive a waiver that covers tuition.

Housing/Living Expenses:
Married student housing is available in six apartment villages operated by the University; dormitories for single students are available in limited quantities. The cost of housing for a single graduate student is approximately $1600 per semester. Most graduate students live in abundant and comfortable off-campus housing that is near the University; rents vary but are low on a national scale.

How to Apply
The Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences seeks promising students with undergraduate training in chemistry, biology, psychology, or related disciplines in the life sciences. Applicants are selected on the basis of previous academic work, research experience, GRE General Test scores, letters of recommendation, and a personal interview. Students are admitted for the fall semester, which begins in late August. Early application is recommended and should be completed by February 1.

Who to Contact
Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences
Associate Dean for Graduate Education
University of Florida College of Medicine
P.O. Box 100215
Gainesville, Florida 32610-0215
Telephone: 352-392-5461

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E-mail: idp@ufl.edu

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