{"id":131,"date":"2014-07-18T16:46:38","date_gmt":"2014-07-18T16:46:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/physiology\/?page_id=131"},"modified":"2026-04-16T09:16:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T13:16:11","slug":"graduate-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/physiology\/graduate-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Graduate Program"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]Physiology is the study of how the body works and how it reacts to a stimulus. The systems of the body \u2014 including the cardiovascular, respiratory, neural, renal, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and reproductive systems \u2014 are examined using approaches ranging from molecular and cellular to whole-organism levels.<\/p>\n<p>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.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n<p>Program benefits include a comprehensive preparation in physiological sciences using an integrated approach critical for basic and clinical research, and teaching.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=&#8221;vc_default&#8221; content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221; bg_type=&#8221;bg_color&#8221; bg_color_value=&#8221;#000000&#8243;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #737373;\">Program Description and Admission Requirements<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]The Ph.D. program usually requires no less than four years of study. Approximately, during the first three semesters, the student\u2019s 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:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Human Physiology<\/li>\n<li>General Physiology<\/li>\n<li>Biochemistry<\/li>\n<li>Biostatistics<\/li>\n<li>Instrumentation<\/li>\n<li>Cellular and Molecular Physiology<\/li>\n<li>Neuroscience<\/li>\n<li>Cardiovascular Physiology<\/li>\n<li>Respiratory Physiology<\/li>\n<li>Ethics courses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>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.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<strong>FINANCIAL AID<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The department\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p><strong>APPLYING<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Applicants must hold a bachelor\u2019s 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\u2019s degree training must include one year of coursework with laboratory in physics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and general biology.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n<p>The application deadline is MARCH\u00a0 1st\u00a0\u00a0 but\u00a0 it\u00a0 can\u00a0 vary\u00a0 from\u00a0 year\u00a0 to\u00a0 year.<\/p>\n<p>Send inquiries to: <a href=\"mailto:jorge.miranda3@upr.edu\">jorge.miranda3@upr.edu<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 or <a href=\"mailto:nelson.escobales@upr.edu\">nelson.escobales@upr.edu<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=&#8221;vc_default&#8221; content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221; bg_type=&#8221;bg_color&#8221; bg_color_value=&#8221;#000000&#8243;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #737373;\">Areas of Research\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]The faculty members of the Department maintain active research programs covering a wide range of topics including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>cell and molecular physiology<\/li>\n<li>cardiovascular physiology<\/li>\n<li>neuroendocrinology of reproduction<\/li>\n<li>neurophysiology<\/li>\n<li>functional genomics<\/li>\n<li>vascular biology and pharmacology<\/li>\n<li>Neuroscience and cardiovascular metabolism<\/li>\n<li>Computational Neuroscience<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>From a clinical perspective the faculty participates in research focus at understanding conditions such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>diabetes<\/li>\n<li>atherosclerosis<\/li>\n<li>drug addiction<\/li>\n<li>spinal cord injury<\/li>\n<li>aging<\/li>\n<li>neurodegenerative diseases<\/li>\n<li>sexual differentiation<\/li>\n<li>musculoskeletal diseases<\/li>\n<li>Alzheimer and mitochondria physiology<\/li>\n<li>Neural circuits of Decision-Making<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Other areas of research are available through collaborations with faculty from the University of Puerto Rico at R\u00edo 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 Bayam\u00f3n and Ponce Health Sciences University.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=&#8221;vc_default&#8221; content_placement=&#8221;middle&#8221; bg_type=&#8221;bg_color&#8221; bg_color_value=&#8221;#000000&#8243;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #737373;\"><strong>Faculty and their Research<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<strong>Mar\u00eda J. Crespo, Ph.D.<\/strong><br \/>\nProfessor<br \/>\nCardiovascular Physiology and Pharmacology<\/p>\n<p><strong>Nelson Escobales, Ph.D.<\/strong><br \/>\nProfessor<br \/>\nCardiovascular Physiology<\/p>\n<p><strong>Carlos Jim\u00e9nez, Ph.D.<\/strong><br \/>\nProfessor<br \/>\nNeurophysiology<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jorge D. Miranda, Ph.D.<\/strong><br \/>\nProfessor, and Interim Chair<br \/>\nNeuroscience<\/p>\n<p><strong>Rebecca Parodi Rull\u00e1n, Ph.D.<\/strong><br \/>\nAssistant Professor<br \/>\nNeuroscience and Cardiovascular Metabolism<\/p>\n<p><strong>Annabell C. Segarra, Ph.D.<\/strong><br \/>\nProfessor<br \/>\nNeurophysiology and Endocrinology<\/p>\n<p><strong>Walter I. Silva, Ph.D.<\/strong><br \/>\nProfessor<br \/>\nCellular and Molecular Physiology of Glial Cells<\/p>\n<p><strong>Carlos A. Torres, Ph.D.<\/strong><br \/>\nProfessor<br \/>\nGenetics and Aging<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>AFFILIATED FACULTY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Walter Frontera, M.D., Ph.D.<\/strong><br \/>\nProfessor<br \/>\nMuscle Physiology<\/p>\n<p><strong>Keven Laboy, Ph.D.<\/strong><br \/>\nAdjunct Professor<br \/>\nNeural Circuits of Decision-Making and Computational Neuroscience[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]Physiology is the study of how the body works and how it reacts to a stimulus. The systems of the body \u2014 including the cardiovascular, respiratory, neural, renal, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and reproductive systems \u2014 are examined using approaches ranging from molecular and cellular to whole-organism levels. The Graduate Program of the Department of Physiology&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-131","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","description-off"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/physiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/131","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/physiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/physiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/physiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/physiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=131"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/physiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/131\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1627,"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/physiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/131\/revisions\/1627"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/physiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}