Subsequent Years Overview

Following the first year students take additional courses and do an Propositional/Oral Exam.  In the 3rd year and onward, students meet annually with their research advisory committee to monitor their progress until they are ready for their thesis defense.  See links on the right for details.

Courses

Required Course

16:115:558 Ethical Scientific Conduct Refresher.  This course is required of all 5th year graduate students as well as MD/PhD in the 3rd year of PhD.  This is a case-based course that reviews the most important topics in Responsible Conduct of Research. It complies with NIH requirements. 

http://rwjms.rutgers.edu/education/gsbs/current/ethics.html

Subsequent Years Courses

After matriculation in the PIB, students are expected to take additional courses, and to carry out dissertation research. PIB offers both core courses and elective courses.

Core courses

A student is required to take at least one of the following two core courses unless he or she has taken a similar course prior to entering the program. A student who does not want to take a core course should request waiver approval by his or her advisory committee, and notify the PIB program director.

Molecular Basis of Physiology. 16:761:580. 3 credits.
This is a lecture/primary literature discussion course covering the molecular basis of human physiological systems and related methodologies used in modern physiological and medical research. Designed to further extend and supplement areas covered in the companion course Physiological Basis of Disease, this course is subdivided into six parts including: 1) Nerve and Muscle Physiology, 2) Hormones, Signal Transduction, and Regulation of Gene Expression, 3) Sensory Physiology (hearing, taste, vision, smell, pain), 4) Blood cells and Immunity, 5) Cellular and Physiological Homeostasis, and 6) Animals Models to Study Human Physiology and Disease. A total of 24 lectures will be given by a diverse group of expert scientists and physicians from across the Rutgers, CINJ and RWJMS research communities. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the course, no single text book will be used. Rather, clinically relevant research papers, review articles or specific book chapters (assigned by each lecturer) will be available for downloading at the RWJMS AMP website or via the Rutgers RWJMS Library website. There will be three exams, each covering eight lectures. Each exam will count for one third of total grade. Ph.D. students will also be required to submit a short review paper on one of the lecture topic areas. 
To view the current course syllabus, click here
Course Director: Joseph Fondell

Physiological Basis of Diseases. 16:761:600. 3 credits.
This is an advanced lecture/discussion format course that covers systems physiology and relates these concepts to disease. The course is divided into organ systems starting with normal physiology that will be needed to set the foundation for understanding the pathophysiology discussed at the end of each section or block. Included are discussions of the cardiovascular, skeletal muscle, pulmonary, renal, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems in the context of normal function, as well as the effect and consequences of representative pathophysiological conditions within these systems
To view the course summary, click here
Course director: Joseph Fondell

Biological, Biomedical and Social Aspects fo Aging. 16:761:610. 3 credits

This is an advanced lecture/discussion format course (32 hours over 14 weeks) that covers aging and aging related disease from a 360 degrees angle. Topics range from the history and the economics of aging to theories of aging to neurodegenerative diseases. The course is also aimed at filling a gap, since there is no course dedicated to aging in the curriculum, despite the relevance of this process to human societies. The course is divided into 5 blocks and included are discussions of the impact of aging on modern societies, physiology of senescence, molecular mechanisms of aging, the aging brain and neurodegeneration.

To view the course summary, click here

Elective courses:

Hormones & their Receptors 16:718 581, 2 credits 
Description: A literature-based seminar course focused on the latest discoveries in mechanisms of hormone actions and their receptors at both cellular and molecular levels. 
Course Director: J.D. Fondell

Cardiovascular Physiology. 16:761:513. 3 credits. Offered in even-numbered years
The cardiovascular system in mammals. Coronary circulation, myocardial oxygen consumption, and cardiac arrhythmias.
Course director: Merrill

Physiology and Biophysics Journal Club. 16:761:562. 1 credit.
A departmental journal club holds its meetings weekly during the academic year.
Course director: Jacinto

Dissertation Research (the number of credits for research is flexible to make a total of 9 credits per semester)

Specialized Tracks

Currently, the PIB program does not have specialized tracks.