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The faculty of the Center for Environmental Health Sciences (CEHS) within the Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences offer training in molecular and cellular toxicology for the Ph.D. and M.S. degrees. Areas of emphasis include immunotoxicology, respiratory toxicology, neurotoxicology, cardiovascular toxicology and genetic toxicology. More detail can be found on degree and course requirements and in the research descriptions of the faculty. The University of Montana has long recognized the importance of diversity in graduate education and continues to be responsive to the shifting and changing career opportunities available to its students. This includes consideration of leading edge research, as well as job markets (academia, industry, government and other opportunities in the public and private sectors).
The research facilities within the CEHS are state-of-the-art with dedicated staff scientists available for providing training in novel technologies. Current expansion of the research space and continual addition of new faculty further enhance the overall research environment and national status of all investigators and trainees. The friendly, collaborative nature of the faculty facilitates students and faculty to concentrate on learning and research. The graduate program emphasizes one-on-one faculty-student interactions, provides various mechanisms for obtaining feedback and support, and offers the students many opportunities to develop knowledge and skills in the field of toxicology.
Teaching and research assistantships and summer employment opportunities are available to highly qualified applicants. Tuition fee waivers are granted to most students. Current stipends for academic year and summer employment total up to $14,400 for M.S. students and $22,500 for Ph.D. students. Extensive research and graduate training funding along with high quality research facilities provide students with the resources necessary to conduct research at the highest levels. This combined with the unique environment of living in the beautiful Western Montana mountain region form a training environment that is rich and rewarding.
To date, all previous Ph.D. students have graduated within 4 to 4.5 years of entering the program. Upon completion, all students have been successfully placed in outstanding postdoctoral training. For example, National Institutes of Health, Johns Hopkins, Temple Univeristy, and Roche Pharmaceuticals.
Students in the Ph.D. and M.S. programs in toxicology study and perform research in respiratory toxicology, genetic toxicology, cardiovascular toxicology, immunotoxicology, and neurotoxicology. Students with a background in the biological, biomedical, or chemical sciences are encouraged to consider graduate study in this program.
Ph.D. Program Degree requirements:
Successful completion of at least 60 graduate semester credits, a written and oral comprehensive qualifying exam, and defense of a Ph.D. dissertation.
Course Requirements
The following core courses are required of all students in the Ph.D. program:
BIOC 481* Biochemistry
BMED 545 Research Laboratory Rotations
BMED 593 Current Research Literature
BMED 594 Seminar
BMED 600 Advanced Cellular Biochemistry
BMED 605 Biomedical Research Ethics
BMED 609 Biomedical Statistics
BMED 641 Toxicology I
BMED 642 Toxicology II
BMED 643 Cellular and Molecular Toxicology
BMED 697/699 Research/Dissertation
* Waived for students with equivalent preparation in biochemistry
Students will take at least six credits from the following courses:
BMED 607 Topics in Epidemiology
BMED 610 Neuropharmacology
BMED 615 Molecular Pharmacology
BMED 620 Cardiovascular Pharmacology/Toxicology
BMED 621 Medicinal Chemistry
BMED 630 Pharmacogenetics
BMED 637 Topics in Biomedical Sciences
BMED 644 Immunotoxicology
BMED 645 Respiratory Toxicology
BMED 646 Neurotoxicology
BMED 647 Topics in Toxicology
BMED 657 Topics in Immunology
BMED 661 Neuroscience I
BMED 662 Neuroscience II
BMED 667 Topics in Neurobiology
MICB 502 Advanced Immunology
The following are examples of additional elective courses available to meet student interests.
BMED 626 Research Methods in Biochemical Pharmacology
BMED 635 Academic Development Seminar
Click Here to download the Education Handbook for the Department of Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Sciences.
M.S. Program Degree requirements:
Completion of at least 30 semester credits and defense of a M.S. thesis.
Course Requirements
The following core courses are required of all students in the M.S. program:
BIOC 481 Biochemistry*
BMED 545 Research Laboratory Rotations
BMED 593 Current Research Literature
BMED 594 Seminar
BMED 600 Advanced Cellular Biochemistry
BMED 609 Biomedical Statistics
BMED 641 Toxicology I
BMED 642 Toxicology II
BMED 597/599 Research/Thesis
* Waived for students with equivalent preparation in biochemistry
Students will take at least three credits from the following courses:
BMED 610 Neuropharmacology
BMED 620 Cardiovascular Pharmacology/Toxicology
BMED 630 Pharmacogenetics
BMED 643 Cellular and Molecular Toxicology
BMED 644 Immunotoxicology
BMED 645 Respiratory Toxicology
BMED 646 Neurotoxicology
BMED 647 Topics in Toxicology
BMED 657 Topics in Immunology
MICB 502 Advanced Immunology
The following are examples of additional elective courses available to meet student interests.
BMED 621 Medicinal Chemistry
BMED 626 Research Methods in Biochemical Pharmacology
Course descriptions can be found in the Education Handbook of the Department of Biological & Pharmaceutical Sciences. Click here to download.