The Department of Pathology graduate program focuses on experimental approaches to better understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms of disease, particularly human disease. Throughout the program, graduate students rotate through various department faculty research labs, advancing their experimental pathology research knowledge and skills.
Application to the experimental pathology graduate program is generally through one of two “gateway” programs, which offer multidisciplinary graduate training under the umbrella of the Cellular and Molecular Biosciences (CMB) program or Interdepartmental Neuroscience (INP) program. Another way to enter the program is through direct admission under special circumstances.
Entry into the Experimental Pathology PhD program through direct admission requires a pre-identified faculty member with an interest and funding to support a graduate student. Contact graduate advisors, Edwin Monuki, MD, PhD, at emonuki@uci.edu or Elizabeth Head, PhD, MA, at heade@uci.edu for more information regarding this mechanism.
*These oral presentations are an important part of the graduate training program. Second-year students are required to give a 30-minute RIP talk, and third-year and beyond students are required to present formal one-hour seminars.
The Cellular and Molecular Biosciences (CMB) and Interdepartmental Neuroscience (INP) programs include a first-year curriculum and the opportunity to rotate through two or more research laboratories. After the first year in the CMB or INP program, students interested in experimental pathology will join the laboratories of faculty within the department or the laboratories of affiliated faculty.
After the first year, PhD students in experimental pathology must take one didactic graduate course each year. Senior graduate students (Year 4 and beyond) may waive this requirement with approval from the graduate advisor. To satisfy this requirement, students may take Path/MMG 221 (Immunopathogenic Mechanisms of Disease), other approved courses offered by other departments or any other relevant coursework with approval from the graduate advisor.
Research Conferences
When: Last Monday of the month at 11 a.m.
Where: Thorpe Conference Center, 4th floor, Gross Hall, UCI School of Medicine campus
Scientific and Clinical Advances Grand Rounds
When: Thursdays at 12 p.m.
Where: Bldg. 53, Auditorium, UCI Medical Center campus
Program Completion
Following successful completion of the experimental pathology curriculum and research leading to a dissertation thesis, students will receive a PhD in biomedical sciences with a concentration in experimental pathology. Graduate students typically advance by the end of the third year and defend by the end of the fifth year.
Graduate students are also strongly encouraged to apply for intramural and extramural funding/fellowships.
How to Apply
Application materials, checklists, requirements and regulations to apply to the CMB program can be found on the Cellular and Molecular Biosciences program website.
Application materials, checklists, requirements and regulations to apply to the INP program can be found on the Interdepartmental Neuroscience program website.
Housing
Information about housing is available on the Guaranteed On-Campus Housing website.
Elizabeth Head, BSc, MA, PhD
Co-director, Experimental Pathology Graduate Program, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Graduate Advisor, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Vice Chair for Research, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Edwin Monuki, MD, PhD
Graduate Advisor, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Department Chair, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Dan Mercola, MD, PhD
Co-director, Experimental Pathology Graduate Program, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine