项目介绍

2022年10月11日

Pharmacology – the study of how drugs or other agents affect cells and living organisms – is a foundational science that intersects with many disciplines in basic science and human disease. Our graduate program emulates the breadth of pharmacology by providing our students with a solid foundation and broad training in cellular and organismal mechanisms, as well as translational science. Our graduate program has recently been re-vamped to create a modern, vibrant program that is well-aligned with both the historical foundations and new strategic vision of the department. To realize this vision, we have new leadership, co-directors Dr. Nikhil Sharma and Dr. Yonghao Yu. Their research is focused in areas that are vital to pharmacology, and they have successfully mentored our graduate students over many years.  

Our program is ideal for students who are interested in studying basic cellular mechanisms with an emphasis on their application to human disease.  The research interests of our program faculty encompass all areas of modern pharmacology, including cancer pharmacology, cardiovascular pharmacology, and neuropharmacology. Our graduate program faculty draw from several basic science and clinical departments at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, as well as Columbia University, which enables seamless collaborative and interdisciplinary interactions for our students.

Although rigorous, our program is very flexible and individualized to each student, allowing all students to gain a strong foundation in pharmacology, while adapting the specific educational components to the specific research interests of each student. Training in the first year consists of required core courses and research rotations in participating laboratories.  In the second year, students begin their thesis research and continue to take their remaining core courses as well as elective courses relevant to their thesis work. At the end of the second year, students take their qualifying exam, for which they prepare and defend a research proposal that is related to their intended thesis research. Subsequent years are devoted to the research, writing and defense of their PhD thesis. As they advance in their degree, students benefit from the advice of their faculty mentor, an advisory committee of expert faculty with whom they meet regularly, and our outstanding and dedicated program co-directors, Dr. Nikhil Sharma and Dr. Yonghao Yu.

Students benefit from the rewarding environment at Columbia University, which is rich in diversity and has unparalleled faculty. Students also benefit from the cultural environment of New York City, with its many museums, theaters, and historical venues.