Department of
Physiology, Pharmacology & Toxicology

Guidelines

Deadlines

Information on applying to a Ph.D. program in the WVU Biomedical Sciences program can be found here:

Application information

However, interested students are always encouraged to reach out to individual faculty within the program prior to application to discuss specific research interests for that faculty member and their laboratory.

Student And Advisors Responsibilities

Committee Approval - When an advisor has been selected and the student has been accepted into the program, the student should work with the advisor and graduate program director to assemble a thesis committee (we require 5 committee members with the majority of these being regular graduate faculty and one being outside of the program). Once a committee has been formed, the student should complete and have their committee members sign a Committee Approval Form and return it to the Office of Graduate Research and Education and provide a copy to the program director.

Plan of Study - Once the committee has been formed, the student along with their advisor should prepare and have their committee members sign a Plan of Study Form and return it to the Office of Graduate Research and Education and provide a copy to the program director.

Candidacy - Advancement to candidacy means that in the judgment of the faculty, the doctoral student has an adequate knowledge of Physiology/Pharmacology, knows how to use academic resources, and has potential to do original research. In other words, the student has passed the qualifying examination and is ready to complete the research needed for their doctoral dissertation. Admission to the doctoral program in Cellular and Integrative Physiology and enrollment in graduate courses does not of itself guarantee acceptance of the student as a candidate for a Ph.D. degree.

Qualifying Exams - Are given after most formal doctoral studies have been completed. The oral part of the exam generally takes place in the second semester of the second year with the research component to follow within the following 6 months. Once the doctoral student has finished each part of the qualifying examination, the student along with their advisor should complete and have their committee members sign a form indicating passage of the oral exam and, subsequently, a Qualifying Exam Form to indicate completion of the exam upon passing the research portion. Both should be returned to the Office of Graduate Research and Education and a copy provided to the program director.

Graduation and Diploma - Ph.D. and M.S. Students must complete an Application for Graduation and Diploma and submit along with the required fee to Graduate Research and Education office early in the semester that he/she is to graduate.

Shuttle Sheet - 3 weeks prior to the date of defense, Ph.D. and M.S. students along with their advisor must complete and have all of their committee members sign a Shuttle Sheet Form and return to the Office of Graduate Research and Education. Students must be registered the semester he/she is to graduate. No examinations are to be given without all committee members present.

Registration - Student must register for classes by the registration dates in the WVU academic calendar.

Graduate students are required to register for the following credit hours:

  • Fall – 9
  • Spring – 9
  • Summer I – 3 and Summer II – 3 (for a total of 6 credit hours for summer semesters) or
  • Summer I – 6, Summer II – 0,
    • or
  • Summer I – 0 and Summer II – 6

Changing of Advisors – When a student changes advisors, the "new advisor" should inform the Administrative Assistant for the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology as soon as possible of the change, so that paperwork for stipend funding changes can be processed expeditiously.

Graduate Student Travel

The Office of Graduate Research and Education provides assistance in support of graduate student travel expenses to "Nationally Recognized" professional society meetings. The student or their advisor must make a request for this travel award at least one month in advance of trip, by contacting their office for the support.

Eligibility: Any doctoral graduate student presenting a paper, serving on a panel or participating in some other active, significant way at a "Nationally Recognized" meeting is eligible to request travel support.

There is a maximum amount available (usually $300-$400) and each student may receive support only one time during the fiscal year (July 1 - June 30).

Funding Restrictions: Funding will be provided in the form of a reimbursement only for actual costs incurred for meals, transportation, registration fees, and lodging, not to exceed the amount of the award. This program will reimburse no other expenses. The student and/or student’s department is expected to share expenses and additional travel support is provided by the department upon request. Recipients will be expected to adhere to the Higher Education Travel Guidelines and Procedures.