Uniformed Services University

UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY
Graduate Programs in the Biomedical Sciences

The Uniformed Services University (USU) was established by Congress in 1972 to provide a comprehensive education in medicine to those who demonstrate potential for careers as Medical Corps officers in the uniformed services. Graduate programs in the biomedical sciences are offered to both civilian and military students and are an essential part of the academic environment at USU. The campus is located in Bethesda, Maryland, (a suburb of Washington, DC), on the grounds of the National Naval Medical Center. Graduate training programs are conducted in state-of-the-art research facilities on the USU campus. Laboratories and core facilities are well equipped with instrumentation for modem biomedical research. Students can enhance their educational experiences through collaboration with the National Institutes of Health, Naval Medical Research Command, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, and other institutions in the area.

Tuition and fees are waived. The University offers stipends on a competitive basis to civilian doctoral students who are U.S. citizens or resident aliens. Current USU-supported stipends range from $26,000-$32,000 per year including health insurance. The 170 graduate students currently enrolled come from all parts of the country, all types of undergraduate academic institutions, and many different careers. Approximately two-thirds of the graduate students are pursuing doctoral degrees (Ph.D. or Dr.PH) and one-third are master's degree candidates.

Programs available:

Interdisciplinary Ph.D.s in Emerging Infectious Diseases; Molecular and Cellular Biology; and Neuroscience
Departmentally-based Ph.D.s in Medical and Clinical Psychology and Medical Zoology
Doctor of Public Health
Physician Scientist (M.D./Ph.D.)
Masters of Public Health

The USU is located in Bethesda, Maryland, (a suburb of Washington, DC), on the grounds of the National Naval Medical Center. USU is across the street from the National Institutes of Health and the National Library of Medicine, and convenient to the Metro System, Washington, DC and Virginia. Students can enhance their educational experiences through collaboration with the National Institutes of Health, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, and other institutions in the area affiliated with the University.

Programs and Research Interests.

Emerging Infectious Diseases. Christopher Broder, Ph.D., Program Director. This interdisciplinary Ph.D. program provides the scientific community with broadly trained scientists that contribute significantly to the increasingly complex field of infectious disease mechanisms and pathogenesis. In a rigorous academic environment, students learn to ask well-informed questions, develop skills to answer those questions at the bench, expand their capacity to think creatively and broadly, and acquire skills necessary to communicate their ideas. The EID Program has a core curriculum, three academic tracks, advanced graduate courses, and broadly based research programs. Areas of research emphasize cellular and molecular basis of microbial pathogenesis, immunology, pathology of infectious diseases, virology, bacteriology, and parasitology, as well as public health issues associated with these pathogens. Research programs are available within each of these areas, and emphasize modern methods in molecular biology, cell biology, and interdisciplinary experimental strategies. Contact the Program Director at cbroder@usuhs.edu or visit the Web at http://www.usuhs.mil/eid.

Molecular and Cell Biology. Mary Lou Cutler, Ph.D., Program Director. This interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program offers instruction and research training in areas that address fundamental questions in contemporary biology. Faculty members employ model systems ranging from simple prokaryotes to complex transgenic mammals to pursue a broad spectrum of interests including genomics, functional proteomics, molecular mechanisms of signal transduction, cell-cell signaling, regulation of cell growth and division, developmental biology, and regulation of gene expression. A rigorous environment, combined with state-of the-art equipment and low student to faculty ratio, provides students with the opportunity to pursue an individualized training program. Applicants should have a strong background in biology or chemistry. Contact the Program Director at mcutler@usuhs.edu or visit the Web at http://www.usuhs.mil/mcb.

Neuroscience. Sharon Juliano, Ph.D., Acting Program Director. This interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program offers training opportunities in diverse areas of neuroscience. Instruction is provided in the development, structure, function, and pathology of the nervous system. Research areas include cellular, molecular, physiological, and pharmacological approaches to analysis of nervous system development, regeneration, and plasticity. Neurobiological and behavioral research includes adaptive responses of the nervous system to stress, injury, and a changing environment. Prospective students should have a strong background in biological, chemical, and/or behavioral sciences. Contact the Acting Program Director at sjuliano@usuhs.edu or visit the Web at http://www.usuhs.mil/nes/home.html.

Physician/Scientist (M.D./Ph.D.) Program. This Program was established to train outstanding, dedicated military officers as independent physician/scientists to carry out both clinical investigations and biomedical research in the basic sciences. The Program combines a rigorous basic science graduate curriculum with clinical training and special integrated M.D./Ph.D. activities that qualify students for careers in academic medicine, biomedical, and clinical research, as well as clinical practice. The curriculum integrates the requirements for both the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees. The M.D./Ph.D. Program consists of three phases to be completed in seven years. Contact the Graduate Education Office at graduateprograms@usuhs.edu or visit the Web at http://www.usuhs.mil/graded/doctoral.html#psc.

Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology. Andrew Waters, Ph.D., Program Director. This Program emphasizes the application of psychology to behavioral medicine and clinical psychology. Study is offered in applied areas of health, psychology, and behavior and in basic areas of psychology. An American Psychological Association–accredited clinical psychology Ph.D. program is offered to selected members of the uniformed services. Contact the Program Director at awaters@usuhs.mil or visit the Web at http://www.usuhs.mil/mps/.

Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics. David Cruess, Ph.D., Program Director. Graduate Programs are offered at the master’s and doctoral levels. The Master of Public Health, Master of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and Master of Science in Public Health Programs are designed for uniformed officers with experience in a health-related field. The Doctor of Public Health Program prepares individuals for leadership roles in research, teaching, or policy development in the field of public health and is open to both civilians and military officers. In addition, a Ph.D. program is offered in medical zoology for students with a master’s degree in entomology or parasitology who wish to pursue further study in field-oriented medical parasitology or vector biology. Contact the Program Director at dcruess@usuhs.edu or visit the Web at http://www.usuhs.mil/pmb/.

Visit our web site at: http://cim.usuhs.mil/geo/