Graduate Programs in Molecular Biosciences

The Physiology and Integrative Biology Graduate Program offers MS, in addition to PhD, to meet the needs of students with particular interests. The MS Program offers cellular, molecular and system level coursework and outstanding research opportunities, which are designed to strengthen the foundation of individuals with an interest in pursuing a career in biomedical and biotech research or future studies towards a doctoral degree.

The MS program includes advanced course work and intensive laboratory investigation in a mentored environment with a final written thesis. Students are required to take two physiology courses offered by the PIB and the "Ethical Scientific Conduct" course. There are a number of elective courses for students to choose, depending on their academic background, personal interests and research needs. Students can choose their research focus from a wide array of research areas represented within the PIB program.

A minimum of 30 credits is required for the MS degree, consisting of both course and laboratory trainings. The MS program usually takes two years to complete. However, to accommodate students with different backgrounds, the program offers a flexible schedule, and allows up to 3 years for completion.

Director of program - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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.

Subsequent Years Courses

After matriculation in the PIB program, 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.
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
Course director: Joseph Fondell

Biological, Biomedical and Social Aspects OF 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.

Elective courses

Hormones and Their Receptors 16:718 581, 2 credits

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

Required course:

Ethical Scientific Conduct. 16:115:556. 1 credit. Spring semester.

This course must be completed prior to graduation, preferably in the first year of the program.

Laboratory Rotation. 16:761:567. 2 credit/rotation (a student can register for up to 4 credits). Fall and/spring semester

Laboratory rotation helps students gain research experience and identify MS dissertation advisors. Students can perform one or two 8-10 week rotations. If a match has not obtained after the first two rotations, a student may take a third rotation although a limit of four rotation credits can be counted towards the MS degree.

Core courses:

In general, students are required to take the following two core courses unless he or she has taken a similar course prior to entering the program. Students who want to pursue PhD studies in the future may substitute these PIB core courses with core courses for PhD students of the joint Molecular Biosciences graduate program. Students who do not want to take a core course should request waiver approval by their advisors and/or thesis committee, and notify the PIB program director. Registration for Molecular Biosciences core courses requires approval of directors of the joint graduate program as well as the PIB program director.

Physiological Basis of Diseases. 16:761:600. 3 credits. Fall semester.

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, pulmonary, renal, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems in the context of normal function, as well as the courses and/or consequences of representative pathophysiological conditions within these systems.
To view the course summary, click here
Course director: Dr. Huizhou Fan

Molecular Basis of Physiology. 16:761:580. 3 credits. Spring semester.

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: Dr. Joseph Fondell

Elective courses:

Biological, Biomedical and Social Aspects of Aging. 16:761:610. 3 credits. Spring semester.

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

Course Director: Dr. Federico Sesti

Developmental Biology. 16:148:504. 3 credits. Spring semester.

Advanced Developmental Biology. 16:148:550. 3 credits. Spring semester.

Nutrition: A Biochemical and Physiological Basis. 16:709:552 and 16:507:553, 3 credit/each, Spring semester (552) and fall semester (553).

Advanced Exercise Physiology. 16:137:515. 3 credits. Spring semester.

Exercise Biochemistry. 16:572:503 (16:137:516). 3 credits.

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry I & II (16:115:511/512, 3 credits each). Fall semester.

Cancer Molecular Biology. 16:681:585. 3 credits. Spring semester.

Emphasis on the molecular, cellular, and genetic basis for cancer. Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Signal transduction and cell cycle control in cancer cells. Metastasis. Diagnosis and therapy. Recent understanding of the molecular basis of selected human cancers. Lectures and critical discussion of the current literature.

Molecular Medicine. 16:681:530. 3 credits. Fall semester.

The emerging field of molecular medicine provides deeper understanding of diseases and offers opportunities for designing rational therapies. "Introduction to Molecular Medicine" is designed to introduce students to topics in human health and disease from a molecular biology perspective. Basic principles that promote an understanding of the human genome, gene regulation and expression, and genetic engineering will be applied to the diagnosis and treatment of human disease. Lectures will be followed by discussion of a published article of interest. Format will be two classes per week, with the lecture in one class followed by a discussion on prescribed papers in the next class.

Principles of Drug Action and Targeting. 16:718:680. 3 credits. Fall semester.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of basic principles in pharmacology, representative drug classes and their targets, clinical drug evaluation, experimental therapeutics and drug development.

Mini-courses. 1 cr/ea. Spring semester.

Mini-courses span four-week blocks focus on specific topics that take advantage of faculty expertise and research interests on campus. Mini-courses will give students opportunities to develop writing, speaking, presentation, modeling or other skills as appropriate. Mini-courses will allow for close interaction of small groups of students with faculty engaged in cutting-edge research.

Registration for mini-courses requires approval by the Directors of the joint Molecular Biosciences program.

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: Dr. Joseph Fondell

MD/PhD candidates take their MD training at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and their PhD training at Rutgers University or Princeton University. Typically, students do laboratory rotations during the summers prior to starting at RWJMS and between the first and second year of medical school. Students identify a faculty mentor and begin research and graduate coursework full time after the second year of medical school. Students who choose a faculty mentor in the CMP Graduate Program follow a modified list of course requirements that includes:

• Three minicourses from the Molecular Biosciences Program first year curriculum.
• Molecular Basis of Physiology (3 credits)
• One three-credit statistics course.
• One one-credit ethics course.
• One one-credit MD/PhD seminar course (MICR-6060)
• Zero credit Graduate Student Research Seminar (16:695:600), required of all students in 2nd year and above.
• MD/PhD students do NOT need to take the Physiological Basis of Disease course.

Course selection will be guided by the faculty mentor and the Graduate Program Director. Medical school course credits (up to 24) can be transferred to satisfy the 36 course credit requirement for an MD/PhD in the CMP Graduate Program. The remaining medical training resumes after a Ph.D. degree has been awarded.