The Pharmacology Graduate Program
Our Recruiting Weekend will be held February 5-7, 2010.
The Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences continues the 
tradition of graduate education established by The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine at its founding in 1893. The department offers a multidisciplinary program designed to prepare highly qualified individuals to be future leaders in academic and industrial biomedical research. The focus of this predoctoral training program is on chemical biology, the molecular interactions of living systems and the application of this knowledge to pharmacology. Within this broad scientific framework, students are encouraged to develop individually-tailored programs of study to meet their particular research interests and career objectives.
The graduate program faculty consists of 39 members, twelve of whom hold primary appointments in the Department of Pharmacology. The other faculty members hold primary appointments in the Departments of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Chemistry, Clinical Pharmacology, Environmental Health Sciences, Medicine, Molecular Biology, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Urology. Currently, over 50 students are pursuing doctoral degrees in the department with over 400 additional Ph.D. candidates in other basic science departments of the School of Medicine. An equal number of medical students and more than 1,000 students in the School of Hygiene and Public Health share the campus of the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.
Plan of Study
Because we emphasize research, students begin hands-on work in a research laboratory immediately upon their arrival. During the first year, two or three laboratory rotations are completed concurrently with core courses. These rotations provide laboratory experience in various experimental systems, so that by the end of the first year, most students choose a laboratory and initiate their thesis research.
Pharmacology Graduate Program students receive broad and deep formal education in biomedical sciences during the first year by completing seven core courses: Macromolecular Structure and Analysis, Biochemical and Biophysical Principles, Molecular Biology and Genomics, Cell Structure and Dynamics, Pathways and Regulation, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, and Organic Mechanisms in Biology.
During the second year, students participate in the Graduate Pharmacology course. By the end of the second year, the student completes the department's formal course requirements, takes the graduate board oral qualifying examination, and selects a thesis advisory committee. The remaining two to four years are spent performing independent research (leading to a written dissertation), completing two elective courses, and participating in the rich interactive research environment of the department. In addition to oversight by the thesis research preceptor, an individually chosen thesis advisory committee periodically reviews the progress of the student and offers guidance. Each candidate defends his or her thesis research at the end of the individualized training period in a formal thesis defense, and also presents their work at a public seminar. Typically, the entire program is completed in four to six years.
The graduate program is designed to take advantage of the diversity of research interests, facilities, and expertise in the School of Medicine and the University. This interdisciplinary emphasis is fostered by elective and required courses offered by faculty from a wide range of medical and basic science specialties. Interdepartmental seminars, weekly pharmacology seminars by national and international research leaders, journal clubs, departmental dinner programs, and informal lunchtime "research in progress" talks by students and postdoctoral fellows provide many occasions for scientific exchange. Students also have the opportunity to develop close ties with a number of faculty members in the School of Medicine as they perform their dissertation research.
The department also administers the Anti-Cancer Drug Development Program for Ph.D. and postdoctoral training, and participates in two other programs leading to the Ph.D. degree--the interdepartmental Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Program and the Medical Scientist Training Program for M.D./Ph.D. candidates.
Research Facilities
The department's laboratories, located in a basic science complex, provide complete resources for research in chemical biology; structural biology; cellular and molecular biology; molecular genetics and cancer biology; and in protein, nucleic acid and carbohydrate biochemistry.
-Synthetic organic chemistry laboratories
-MALDI and electrospray mass spectrometers
-State-of-the-art 400, 500, 600 and 800 MHz NMR spectrometers including cryoprobe technology (NMR Facility Website)
-X-ray crystallography facility
-Fluorescence microscopes and image analysis equipment
-Containment facilities for studies of biological agents and chemical carcinogens.
Students also have access to facilities for high-end molecular modeling, protein and nucleic acid analysis and synthesis, confocal microscopy and the extensive clinical facilities of the Division of Clinical Pharmacology. The School of Medicine's Welch Medical Library and its associated biomedical information access technologies are among the best in the world.
Areas of Research
Graduate studies are offered in the following areas of research:
Molecular genetics and chemoprevention of human cancer: Isaacs, Kinzler, Vogelstein, Nelson, Talalay, Posner, Kensler, Liu, Powell, Denmeade, Alani, Rudin, Getzenberg, Dinkova-Kostova, Robinson, Taverna
Viral mechanisms of pathogenesis and oncogenesis: Ambinder, Hardwick, D. Hayward, Hildreth, Pitha-Rowe, Alani, Siliciano
Structural biology and drug design: Amzel, Cole, Denmeade, Greenberg, Stivers, Talalay, Posner, Townsend, Dinkova-Kostova, Taverna
NMR Spectroscopy of Biomolecules: Stivers , Taverna
Protein design, engineering: Cole, Amzel, Stivers, Greenberg, Zhu, Robinson, Taverna
Gene therapy: Flexner, G. Hayward, Pitha-Rowe
Molecular basis of signal transduction: Snyder, Huganir, Zhang, Cole, Liu, Zhu, Robinson, Taverna, Doré
Molecular mechanisms of retroviral immunosuppression: Hildreth, Pitha-Rowe, Siliciano
Structure/function of cell surface proteins in cell-mediated immunity and HIV infection: Hildreth, August, Marques, Cao
Vaccine development: August, Marques
Cell surface carbohydrates in cell-cell interactions: Schnaar
Protein chemistry and molecular biology of glycosyltransferases: Shaper, Taverna
Biomedical application of mass spectrometry: Cotter, Taverna
Clinical pharmacology of anti-infective agents: Flexner, Shapiro, Hendrix, Siliciano, Cao
Drug delivery: August, Meyers, Marques, Cao, Doré
Herpesvirus gene regulation and latency: G. Hayward, D. Hayward
Antiparasite drug development: Shapiro, Meyers
Structure, function and biochemistry of herpesvirus proteins: Gibson
Histone acetylation and gene regulation: Cole, Greenberg, Liu, Zhu, Taverna, Doré
Melatonin and circadian rhythm: Snyder, Cole
Drug metabolism: Kensler, Posner, Denmeade,
Vitamin D pharmacology: Kensler, Posner
Natural product biosynthesis: Townsend, Meyers, Doré
Cancer immunology: Jaffee
Telomerase and chromosome stability: Greider, Taverna
T cell activation and tolerance: Powell, Liu
Intracellular signal transduction pathways: Liu, Huganir, Dinkova-Kostova, Doré
Enzymatic DNA repair; DNA topoisomerases: Stivers, Greenberg
Molecular Imaging: Pomper, Zhang, Robinson
Clinical Pharmacology of Cardiovascular Agents: Abernethy, Doré
Cell Division: Robinson, Taverna
Biochemical, cell, and animal models of neuropsychiatric disease: Ross
Drug development for brain diseases: Ross
Financial Aid
Students admitted to the graduate program customarily receive an award that provides a stipend and full payment of tuition, fees, and individual health insurance premiums. These awards, which are restricted to citizens and permanent residents of the United States, are principally funded by training grants from the National Institutes of Health. International applicants are encouraged to apply for outside fellowships. Students accepted into the M.D./Ph.D. program are eligible for financial awards available as part of the Medical Scientist Training Program.
Housing
Housing for single students is available in Lowell J. Reed Hall, a dormitory that is within easy walking distance of the basic science complex. This building offers single rooms with community bath and shower facilities as well as 4- or 10-person suites with private bedrooms adjacent to common living, kitchen, and bathroom areas. Alternatively, many students choose to live in the vicinity of the Homewood campus of The Johns Hopkins University, where privately owned apartments can be rented at reasonable rates in a quiet, tree-lined section of the city.
Convenient free shuttle bus service from the Homewood Campus to the School of Medicine (a 15-minute drive) is provided by the University.
Recreational facilities for students at the School of Medicine include the Denton Cooley Athletic Center, tennis courts, and a swimming pool. The Office of Cultural and Social Affairs, located in Reed Hall, is a source of information and assistance concerning activities sponsored by the Medical Institutions.
Life in Baltimore
Baltimore is a vibrant waterfront city with a wide variety of recreational, entertainment and cultural opportunities. From its inner harbor attractions to its nightlife in Fells Point, from its museums and galleries to its superb sports stadiums, Baltimore provides all of the amenities of one of America’s major metropolises.
Among its many cultural attractions are the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Opera Company, the Peabody Conservatory, the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Walters Art Gallery, Center Stage, and the Morris Mechanic Theater. The Inner Harbor, with its shops, restaurants, and attractions (including the National Aquarium and Maryland Science Center), brings the Chesapeake Bay into the heart of Baltimore.
The city also supports professional teams in major league baseball (the Orioles), NFL football (the Ravens), and indoor soccer. The museums, historic landmarks, and theaters in Washington, D.C. are an hour away, and the cultural offerings of Philadelphia and New York are readily accessible by train or car.
Year-round opportunities for outdoor recreation are provided by the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean, the nearby Maryland countryside, and the mountains and rivers of western Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
For more information, check out: http://webapps.jhu.edu/jhuniverse/jhu_life/things_to_do/
Admissions and Contact Information
Students are typically admitted in the Spring and matriculate in September, although early arrival for summer research is encouraged. Applicants should have a bachelor's degree from a qualified college or university with a major in any of the biological, chemical, or physical sciences. Entering students are expected to have completed college-level courses in biology, chemistry (inorganic, organic, and physical), calculus, and physics; a strong background in biochemistry is particularly desirable. A completed application form, scores on the Graduate Record Examination (the GRE Subject Test in biology; chemistry; or biochemistry, cell and molecular biology is recommended, but not required), three letters of recommendation, undergraduate transcript(s), and a statement of interest must be received by the deadline indicated on the application.
Applicants interested in the combined M.D./Ph.D. degree should submit the medical school admission forms available from the Committee on Admissions, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205. Included with this application package are materials providing information relevant to graduate studies; candidates should indicate on these forms their specific interest in the graduate program in pharmacology. A separate application to the Ph.D. program is not required. It would be advantageous, however, to inform this department by letter that an M.D./ Ph.D. application has been submitted.
Request an Application
Applicants with specific research interests are encouraged to contact the appropriate faculty member directly. Those with further questions may contact the department by phone (410-955-1457) or email (alovela1@jhmi.edu)
The Johns Hopkins University admits students of any race, color, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or veteran status to all of the rights, privileges, programs, benefits and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the university. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or veteran status in any program or activity, including the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other university-administered programs or in employment. Accordingly, the university does not take into consideration personal factors that are irrelevant to the program involved.
Questions regarding access to programs following Title VI, Title IX and Section 504 should be referred to Yvonne M. Theodore, affirmative action officer for the university, who is responsible for coordination of equal opportunity programs, 205 Garland Hall, (410) 516-8075.
