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KIMMEL CANCER CENTER Ph.D PROGRAMS

Introduction

The Kimmel Cancer Center’s (KCC) Basic Sciences Research Division enlists faculty from various departments within the university who represent a variety of biomedical research disciplines and are engaged in research into the molecular mechanisms of normal biological processes and their derangements in cancer.

KCC, through its relationships with the departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Microbiology & Immunology and the Jefferson College of Graduate Studies, offers four programs of study leading to the Ph. D. degree: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, program director Diane Merry, Ph.D.; Genetics, program director Linda Siracusa, Ph. D.; Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis, program director Laurence Eisenlohr, V.M.D., Ph.D.; Molecular Pharmacology and Structural Biology, program director, Jeffrey Benovic, Ph. D.  These four Ph. D. programs join to offer a flexible entry option known as the Joint Ph.D. Programs. 

The graduate programs of the Kimmel Cancer Center currently enroll 85 Ph.D. students.  All are receiving full financial support consisting of tuition, stipend ($24,500 for 2007 academic year) and student health insurance.  Student support comes from a variety of sources including research grants, NRSA institutional training grants, and University fellowships.  Opportunities for postdoctoral fellowships are also available.

Students enrolled in the graduate programs of the KCC have world-class research facilities at their disposal. In addition to extensive basic equipment and facilities such as instrument rooms, a high-containment laboratory, and controlled-environment rooms, students have access to numerous specialized resources. These include peptide and oligonucleotide synthesis and sequencing facilities; facilities for cell sorting by flow cytometry; animal quarters equipped for transgenic mouse production; protein purification and characterization facilities; scanning and transmission electron microscopy; confocal microscopy; extensive computer and bioinformatics facilities; a CD spectrometer; X-ray detectors for macromolecular crystallography; a microarray core facility; and a molecular interaction facility.

Thomas Jefferson University is an academic health center emphasizing the biological sciences. It evolved from the Jefferson Medical College, which was founded in 1824, and besides the Medical College includes the Jefferson College of Graduate Studies, the Jefferson College of Health Professions, the University hospital, and various affiliated hospitals and institutions. The 13-acre campus is located in the historic downtown area of Philadelphia within walking distance of many places of cultural interest, including concert halls, theaters, museums, art galleries, and historic sites. Further information about recreational opportunities is available.

The deadline to submit PhD applications and all supporting materials is January 15. Applications received after this date will be considered at the discretion of the admissions committee.

For program information contact:

Joanne Balitzky, Training Programs Coordinator, KCC
Telephone: 215-503-6687
Fax: 215-503-0622
Email: J_Balitzky@mail.jci.tju.edu

For application packets contact:

Marc Stearns, Director of Admissions and Recruitment, CGS
Telephone: 215-503-4400
Fax: 215-503-9920
Email: cgs-info@mail.tju.edu