University of Vermont
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Burlington, Vermont
Overview
The University of Vermont, founded in 1791, is a comprehensive university that offers a wide variety of degree programs and research opportunities. Its moderate size promotes an environment in which students can work side-by-side with leading scientists in their field of choice.
There are approximately 120 highly motivated and well-qualified doctoral students in the biological and biomedical sciences at the University of Vermont, plus an additional 400 students enrolled in the medical degree program. Overall, the student body is geographically, ethnically, and culturally diverse.
Graduates from the degree programs in the biological and biomedical sciences at the University of Vermont are well prepared for research and teaching careers in both academic and industrial settings. Many alumni have competed very successfully for positions at the top research and academic institutions in the country and have established themselves as leaders in their fields.
The Location and Community
The University of Vermont is located in Burlington on the scenic shores of Lake Champlain. With its proximity to the lake, the Green Mountains in Vermont, and the Adirondack Mountains in New York, Burlington offers an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities, including boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, and skiing. The Burlington area (population approximately 150,000) is the social and cultural hub of Vermont, offering a wide variety of events such as concerts, theater, and festivals. Major cities, including Montreal (100 miles north), Albany (150 miles southwest), Boston (150 miles south), and New York (250 miles southwest), are a short drive away.
Programs of Study and Degree Requirements
Graduate studies in the biological and biomedical sciences at the University of Vermont offer comprehensive and specialized training leading to a Ph.D. or M.S. degree in the cellular and molecular mechanisms of physiological function and disease. For more information, students should visit the Web site listed in this In-Depth Description. A combined M.D./Ph.D. option is also available. Particular areas of focus include asthma and pulmonary function, cancer biology, cardiovascular function and disease, cell signaling, environmental pathology, immunobiology, microbial and viral pathogenesis, molecular biophysics, molecular biology and genetics, neuroscience, and structural biology. An internationally recognized faculty from the Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Pathology, and Pharmacology and the Cell and Molecular Biology Program provide an outstanding interdisciplinary environment in which to pursue a career in the biological and biomedical sciences.
Facilities & Resources
The College of Medicine at the University of Vermont consists of three major research buildings, including the Health Sciences Research Facility. A new Ambulatory Care Center and Medical Education Building, including a new multimedia library facility, is currently under construction. In addition, the College of Medicine is contiguous with the Fletcher Allen Medical Center and Hospital, providing a seamless interface for clinical training and research opportunities. The latest state-of-the-art research techniques are available to study contemporary problems in the biomedical sciences, including core facilities for atomic force microscopy, cell imaging, confocal microscopy, cryo-electron microscopy, flow cytometry, instrumentation and modeling, transgenic mice, NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. Numerous facilities also exist for state-of-the-art work in cell culture, molecular biology, molecular genetics, and protein biochemistry.
The research programs in the biological and biomedical sciences are well supported by a variety of sources, including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the Burroughs Wellcome Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trust, the Howard Hughes Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Expenses and Aid
Tuition costs are provided for all students for the duration of their enrollment.
Financial Aid:
Graduate students are supported by a combination of teaching and research fellowships, including four NIH-funded training grants, during all years of study in the program. The stipend level during 2004/05 was about $20,770, depending on the type of fellowship, for a twelve-month appointment. Students holding fellowships also receive full-tuition scholarships.
Housing/Living Expenses:
Estimated costs for food, housing, books, supplies, personal expenses, and transportation in the Burlington area are approximately $800 to $1000 per month for a single student. Housing is available in the surrounding community. A limited amount of housing is available in University residence halls for single students and in University apartments for married students.
How to Apply
Applicants must demonstrate excellence in their undergraduate performance in the physical and biological sciences. Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores on the General Test must be submitted along with transcripts and three letters of recommendation by January 15 to the Graduate College through the Graduate Admissions Office, 333 Waterman Building, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405-0160.
Who to Contact
Dr. Christopher L. Berger, Director
Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program
University of Vermont
123B Health Sciences Research Facility
College of Medicine
Burlington, Vermont 05405-0075
802-656-0832
E-mail: bbs@uvm.edu
Graduate Departments
• The Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology faculty members are involved in research programs concerning mechanisms regulating neuronal degeneration, regeneration, and plasticity; development and pattern formation in the autonomic nervous system; organization of somatosensory and autonomic pathways; neurotransmitter and neuropeptide expression and secretion; specific synaptic actions of neuroactive compounds; modification of calcium and other intracellular signaling pathways in excitable cells; and cardiovascular and gastrointestinal functions in normal and diseased states.
• The Department of Biochemistry features a broad diversity of research interests, including major emphases in cell biology, blood coagulation, protein-DNA interactions, protein-protein interactions, and structural biology. The department offers a highly interdisciplinary research environment supported by a full spectrum of technologies, including biochemistry and biophysics, cell and molecular biology, genomics and proteomics, macromolecular structure, and molecular genetics.
• The Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics faculty members are asking fundamental questions in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell and molecular biology. The department applies the methods of microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, bioinformatics, and structural biology to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the cell. The interdisciplinary nature of these fields means that a prospective graduate student is offered a wide choice of research opportunities. Cross-departmental, interdisciplinary collaborations are facilitated by regular meetings and journal clubs focusing on nucleic acid biochemistry, DNA repair, signal transduction, bacterial pathogenesis, and structural biology and bioinformatics.
• The Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics focuses their research on the molecular basis of cardiovascular and muscle function as well as biological motility. This group's research covers model systems from the whole heart down to the level of a single molecular motor using state-of-the-art methodologies such as X-ray crystallography, molecular biology, and single-molecule biophysics. Areas of emphasis include excitation and intracellular signals, protein structure-function relationships with emphasis on molecular motors, and genetic control of differentiation.
• The Department of Pathology offers research training programs in environmental and experimental pathology. Areas of interest include molecular and cellular approaches for studying mechanisms of environmental disease, cancer biology, cardiovascular function and disease, lung biology and disease, DNA damage and repair, cell signaling, control of mitogenesis, and cell death.
• The Department of Pharmacology research includes cellular and molecular pharmacology of the vascular system and its neural control, drug treatment of hypertension and stroke, biochemical pharmacology, chemotherapy of cancer, AIDS therapy, membrane receptor and ion channel pharmacology, molecular biological approaches to drug design, molecular neuropharmacology, and signal transduction.