Skeletal, Craniofacial and Oral Biology Graduate Program
Program Description
The specific objectives of the SCOB program are:
1. To provide the student with a thorough understanding of
the current scientific basis of skeletal, craniofacial and oral
biology and to demonstrate how new knowledge is generated and
disseminated.
2. To provide the student with experience in the scientific
method and its application to basic laboratory research and/or
to clinically based research using human subjects.
3. To prepare students to pursue careers as scientists and
scholars in biological and biomedical science in a wide variety
of settings including academia, the private sector and
government service.
To achieve this goal the academic environment fosters
creative thinking and supports excellence in scholarship,
research and teaching. The program is dedicated to quality
education tailored to the needs of the individual student.
Ph.D. in Biomedical Science Program Admissions Process
Visit:
http://grad.uchc.edu/prospective/programs/phd_biosci/apply.html
for information regarding application requirements for
the Ph.D. in Biomedical Science Program. The deadline for the
receipt of all application materials is DECEMBER 1.
D.M.D./Ph.D. Program Admissions Process
Visit:
http://grad.uchc.edu/prospective/programs/dmd_phd/index.html
- Applicants must satisfy the course requirements specified
for admissions to the School of Dental Medicine.
- The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required.
Clinical Specialty/Ph.D. Program Admissions Process
Applicants to the combined clinical specialty/training
program should contact the director of the desired clinical
program as early as possible while in dental school. Acceptances
are made by November of the year prior to appointment. For
admission to the Ph.D. program, interested individuals should
follow the Admissions Process described for Ph.D. in Biomedical
Science Program. For further details on application procedures,
interested individuals may contact director of the desired
clinical program and the Director of the SCOB Program.
M.D./Ph.D. Program Admissions Process
Visit:
http://medicine.uchc.edu/prospective/md_phd/index.html
- Applicants must satisfy the course requirements specified
for admissions to the School of Medicine.
- The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required.
Students in the SCOB Graduate Program may receive financial
support from a variety of sources. Most students are initially
supported by Research Assistantships from the Graduate Programs
Committee, which currently provides student stipends for the
first and second years. In subsequent years, the major advisors
provide stipends.
The annual stipend for 2011-12, which is issued in bi-weekly
payments, is $28,000 for all students within the Biomedical
Science Ph.D. program, irrespective of their year or Area of
Concentration. The financial support package also includes full
payment of tuition and associated fees, as well as health and
dental insurance. There is no teaching obligation associated
with this stipend.
A Training Grant from the National Institutes of Dental and
Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) that is maintained by the School
of Dental Medicine also supports research, education and
training opportunities for qualified graduate students, students
in combined degree programs (D.M.D/Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D.) and postdoctoral
fellows in the area of Skeletal, Craniofacial and Oral Biology.
The SCOB program follows the guidelines, requirements and
milestones set by the Graduate School. The program also has a
few requirements that are specific to the SCOB AoC. The program
recognizes that students from different backgrounds enter our
program. Therefore, while following specific guidelines, the
program also has incorporated a degree of flexibility.
Requirements and Milestones Set by the Graduate School
Students are strongly encouraged to become familiar with the
Graduate Student Handbook for all details pertaining to
expectations and milestones set by the Graduate School. Useful
web pages are:
http://grad.uchc.edu/current/student_handbook/student_handbook.pdf
http://grad.uchc.edu/current/milestones/index.html (This web page contains link to all necessary forms.)
Requirements Set by SCOB Program
Students in the SCOB AoC should:
- Take the courses required by the SCOB AoC.
- Start the process for the General Examination in the beginning
of 2nd (spring) semester of the 2nd year in Ph.D. studies and
follow the guidelines.
- Submit the Plan of Study no later than end of January of the
2nd year in PhD studies. The Plan of Study must be approved
before the Graduate School will issue a permit for the student
to take the General Examination.
- Take the General Examination by the end of the second academic
year (end of May).
- Have meetings with their thesis advisory committee twice a
year.
- Inform the Program Director of the Final Examination/Thesis
Defense date at least two weeks prior to the defense. The
Program Director should inform the faculty and students of the
SCOB AoC. The faculty and students in the SCOB program are
expected to attend these events.
Courses are chosen to provide a broad background in Skeletal,
Craniofacial and Oral Biology, and to provide a background
necessary for the student’s specific research interests. In the
first year, courses are selected in consultation with first year
faculty advisors (see student advisory system in the SCOB
Graduate Training handbook). At the beginning of the second
year, when students have chosen a laboratory for their thesis
research, courses are selected in consultation with the
student’s Major (Thesis) Advisor.
In general, the student will take formal course work only
during the first two years. However, all students are required
to register for the SCOB Journal Club every semester, with a
final-semester exemption for a student writing his/her
dissertation.
DMD/PhD and MD/PhD Students: The SCOB Graduate
Program recognizes the extensive course work taken in phase 1 of
the M.D./Ph.D. and D.M.D./Ph.D. Programs (the Basic Biomedical Science
curriculum in the first two years of Dental and Medical school).
These students receive 15 credits for the course work during the
phase 1 of their training and require 30 additional credits of
course work towards Ph.D. degree requirements.
Students who decide to pursue their thesis work in the SCOB
AoC must take: Additional course descriptions can be found in
the graduate Course Catalog.
- Logic of Modern Biology (MEDS 5327, 4 credits) (M.D./Ph.D.
trainees are not required to take this course. However, D.M.D./Ph.D.
are required to take this course because this course is 1) an
excellent introduction to contemporary topics in modern biology,
2) is one of the few courses available that prepares the
students in grant writing, and 3) allows to the D.M.D./Ph.D. student
to become integrated in the Graduate School.
- Skeletal Biology (MEDS 6445, 2 credits)
- Craniofacial and Oral Biology (MEDS 5415, 2 credits)
- Responsible Conduct of Research (MEDS 5310, 1 credit)
- SCOB Journal Club (MEDS 6497-43, 1 credit/semester). All
students in the program are required to participate in the
journal club multiple semesters (see course description below)
- Laboratory Rotation MEDS 6496 (1 credit)
A suggested timeline summary for the first-year students
interested in the SCOB AoC is as follows:
Fall Semester-Year 1
- Skeletal Biology (MEDS 6445, 2 credits) OR Craniofacial and
Oral Biology (MEDS 5415, 2 credits) whichever is being offered
that semester
- Logic of Modern Biology (MEDS 5327, 4 credits)
- SCOB Journal Club (MEDS 6497-43, 1 credit)
- Laboratory Rotation MEDS 6496 (1 credit)
Spring Semester-Year 1
- Responsible Conduct of Research (MEDS 5310, 1 credit)
- Cell Biology I (MEDS 5380, 4 credits)
- SCOB Journal Club (MEDS 6497-43, 1 credit)
- Presentation of Scientific Data (MEDS 6447, 1 credit) and/or
- Introduction to Developmental Biology (MEDS 5322, 2 credits)
- Laboratory Rotation MEDS 6496 (1 credit)
Other Relevant Courses
Additional courses should be selected as appropriate for the
research interests of the student. Additional course
descriptions can be found in the graduate Course Catalog.
- Immunobiology I, MEDS 5329, 2 credit
- Cell Biology I, MEDS 5380, 4 credits
- Introduction to Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, MEDS
5313, 3 credits
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Biology, MEDS 5418, 4 credits
- Advanced Genetics and Molecular Biology, MEDS 6369, 3 credits
- Advanced Cell Biology: From Microscope to Model—Quantitative
Approaches to Cell Biology, MEDS 5382-40, 2 credits
- Introduction to Cancer Biology, MEDS 6413, 2 credits
- Optical Microscopy and Bioimaging, MEDS 6450, 3 credits
- Bioinformatics and Computational Molecular Biology, BME 5800,
3 credits
- Critical Analysis of the Biological Literature, MEDS 307, 2
credits
- Molecular Basis of Disease, MEDS 5309, 2
credits
- Immunobiology II, MEDS 5330, 2 credits
Laboratory Rotation (MEDS 6496, 1 credit): In addition
to course work, all doctoral degree students are expected to
perform 3 separate laboratory rotations in the fall, spring, and
summer semesters of the first year. For more details please
review the SCOB Graduate Training handbook.
Skeletal, Craniofacial and Oral Biology (SCOB) Journal
Club (MEDS 6497-43, 1 credit): SCOB Journal Club, which
meets each Friday from noon to 1 p.m. during the school year, is a
major focal point of the SCOB AoC. Students are required to
participate in SCOB Journal Club (MEDS 6497-43) for the duration
of their graduate career. For more details please review the
SCOB Graduate Training handbook.
Craniofacial and Oral Biology (MEDS 5415, 2 credits):
Craniofacial and Oral Biology is a combination lecture and
literature discussion course with a focus on the underlying
biochemical, molecular and genetic mechanisms involved in the
pathogenesis of craniofacial and oral disorders, the
identification of unsolved questions, and consideration of
possible approaches to investigate these questions. For more
details please review the SCOB Graduate Training handbook.
Skeletal Biology (MEDS 6445, 2 credits): Skeletal
Biology is a combination lecture and literature discussion
course with a focus on the appendicular skeleton in development,
homeostasis, disease and repair. For more details please review
the SCOB Graduate Training handbook.
Each year, the SCOB program holds an off-site symposium and
retreat. All trainees attend and present their work. Trainees
are included in the symposium planning committee and have the
responsibility for organizing and chairing the scientific
program. Career development sessions are also a part of the
symposium.
With the guidance of the Major Advisor and Thesis Advisory
Committee (see student advisory system in the SCOB Graduate
Training handbook), the student will develop a Plan of Study
that consists of a list and sequence of courses that the student
needs to complete as part of their PhD degree. The Plan of Study
form must be reviewed, approved and signed by the Thesis
Advisory Committee. The form should be submitted to the Graduate
School before the end of January of the second year of graduate
study for approval. This Plan of Study must be approved by the
Graduate School prior to taking the General Examination.
For more details please review the
SCOB Graduate Training handbook.
The General Examination is a qualifying examination given to
all students in all PhD. Programs of the University of
Connecticut. Successful completion of the General Exam admits
the student to doctoral candidacy and marks the transition from
courses to independent research. Each SCOB AoC student must take
the General Examination by the end of the second academic year
(end of May) in order to remain in good standing and to receive
continued support of tuition and stipend. For more details
please review the SCOB Graduate Training handbook.
Formats for the dissertation and the public defense of the
thesis are governed by rules of the Graduate School and
summarized on the Graduation Checklist. For more details please
review the SCOB Graduate Training handbook.
rev. 9/11
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