Physiology is the study of how the body works and how it reacts to a stimulus. The systems of the body — including the cardiovascular, respiratory, neural, renal, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and reproductive systems — are examined using approaches ranging from molecular and cellular to whole-organism levels.

The Graduate Program of the Department of Physiology is a component of the Biomedical Sciences Division of the School of Medicine. It offers Ph.D degrees in Physiology for candidates who seek to develop a career in physiological sciences with emphasis on research and teaching. However, the graduate training could help the students join the biopharmaceutical companies, patent offices, or apply for science editorial positions.  Our curriculum has been designed to expose students to physiological processes at all levels: from the interactions of individual molecules in a cell to the behavior of the whole animal, making them competitive for the job market.

Program benefits include a comprehensive preparation in physiological sciences using an integrated approach critical for basic and clinical research, and teaching.

Program Description and Admission Requirements

The Ph.D. program usually requires no less than four years of study. Approximately, during the first three semesters, the student’s time is devoted mainly to basic coursework and laboratory rotations. During this time, the student is also expected to become acquainted with the departmental research projects and to select an area in which he/she will work. Ph.D. students must take a Comprehensive Examination, usually at the end of their second year of study. The program includes courses in:

  • Human Physiology
  • General Physiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Biostatistics
  • Instrumentation
  • Cellular and Molecular Physiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Respiratory Physiology
  • Ethics courses

Students are also required to participate in the departmental seminars and other elective courses. As the student advances, more time is dedicated to thesis research under the direction of a faculty member. Upon completion of this research, a written dissertation is submitted, and a final oral examination is given.

FINANCIAL AID

The department’s graduate students may receive financial assistance via teaching or research assistantships funded by the University, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the National Science Foundation (NSF). However, students are encouraged to apply and submit predoctoral fellowships from federal agencies and private sources.

APPLYING

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in one of the natural sciences, with a general grade index of no less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The bachelor’s degree training must include one year of coursework with laboratory in physics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and general biology.  Also, the students must have Calculus I, statistics, and Biochemistry or a Molecular Biology course approved. Moreover, 6 additional credits in Biology or Chemistry are required. The applicant must also be proficient in English and Spanish. Three letters of recommendation are needed, an essay of no more than 400 words indicating your interest in the department, and an interview is required. Although research experience is not necessary, it is highly recommended.

The application deadline is MARCH  1st   but  it  can  vary  from  year  to  year.

Send inquiries to: jorge.miranda3@upr.edu    or nelson.escobales@upr.edu.

Areas of Research 

The faculty members of the Department maintain active research programs covering a wide range of topics including:

  • cell and molecular physiology
  • cardiovascular physiology
  • neuroendocrinology of reproduction
  • neurophysiology
  • functional genomics
  • vascular biology and pharmacology
  • Neuroscience and cardiovascular metabolism
  • Computational Neuroscience

From a clinical perspective the faculty participates in research focus at understanding conditions such as:

  • diabetes
  • atherosclerosis
  • drug addiction
  • spinal cord injury
  • aging
  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • sexual differentiation
  • musculoskeletal diseases
  • Alzheimer and mitochondria physiology
  • Neural circuits of Decision-Making

Other areas of research are available through collaborations with faculty from the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras, the Caribbean Primate Center, and the Institute of Neurobiology. In addition, our faculty maintains close collaborations with those of Universidad Central del Caribe at Bayamón and Ponce Health Sciences University.

Faculty and their Research

María J. Crespo, Ph.D.
Professor
Cardiovascular Physiology and Pharmacology

Nelson Escobales, Ph.D.
Professor
Cardiovascular Physiology

Carlos Jiménez, Ph.D.
Professor
Neurophysiology

Jorge D. Miranda, Ph.D.
Professor, and Interim Chair
Neuroscience

Rebecca Parodi Rullán, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Metabolism

Annabell C. Segarra, Ph.D.
Professor
Neurophysiology and Endocrinology

Walter I. Silva, Ph.D.
Professor
Cellular and Molecular Physiology of Glial Cells

Carlos A. Torres, Ph.D.
Professor
Genetics and Aging

 

AFFILIATED FACULTY

Walter Frontera, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
Muscle Physiology

Keven Laboy, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor
Neural Circuits of Decision-Making and Computational Neuroscience