Faculty: See Comparative Biomedical Sciences faculty list.
The Comparative Biomedical Sciences (CBMS) graduate program emphasizes an integrated approach to contemporary biology that combines molecular and cellular techniques with the analysis of complex whole animal systems. Faculty provide exceptional graduate and undergraduate research training opportunities in core areas of animal and human health including immunology, molecular and cellular biology, physiology, neuroscience, genomics, oncology, virology, medical technology, infectious diseases and toxicology and pharmacology. They also contribute extensive public services, both nationally and internationally, within related faculty disciplines.
The graduate program serves as a focal point for graduate research training in the School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) and is administered by the Department of Pathobiological Sciences. Trainers in CBMS have their tenure homes in all four departments of the School of Veterinary Medicine as well as in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), the School of Medicine and Public Health, and the the College of Letters & Science. Faculty in the CBMS program also serve in or interface with other campus training programs including bacteriology, biocore, cellular and molecular biology, endocrinology and reproductive physiology, medical microbiology and immunology, molecular and environmental toxicology, and the Primate Center.
Currently, there are approximately 75 faculty trainers in the comparative biomedical sciences program. Affiliate faculty outside the School of Veterinary Medicine have their tenure homes in the departments of Anatomy, Animal Sciences, Biochemistry, Dermatology, Entomology, Human Oncology, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Medicine, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Population Health Sciences, Radiology, and Surgery. The program is currently comprised of about 55 graduate students, most of whom are pursuing the Ph.D. degree. The program is recognized as a premier research and graduate training program for students with or without a degree in veterinary medicine.
Most graduate students receive financial support through fellowships, research assistantships through their major professor, and/or National Research Service Awards. Faculty in the program are PIs for four Training Grants (Parasitology, Respiratory Biology, Comparative Biomedical Training for Veterinarians, Short-term Research Training for Veterinary Medical Students) for which students with the appropriate background and credentials may compete. A very limited number of rotation slots are offered to top candidates who plan to enter in the fall.
Admission is competitive. Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or D.V.M., M.S., or M.D. from an approved institution and have a strong background in biology and chemistry. Applications are judged on the basis of previous academic record, graduate record exam (GRE) scores, letters of recommendation, and personal statement. Before admission, all students must be accepted by an eligible program faculty member who agrees to serve as the major professor.
For more information: Admissions, Comparative Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, 1656 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1581; 608-262-0470; fax 608-262-7420; graduate@vetmed.wisc.edu; www.vetmed.wisc.edu/pbs/gradprogram/.
Students are required to regularly participate in a PBS 930 seminar. Students are required to register for one (MS students) or two semesters (PhD students) of Advanced Seminar PBS 930 for graded credit. The purpose of 930 is to present students with contemporary research in their disciplinary focus, to demonstrate the use of critical thinking skills in order to analyze the latest research observations, and to develop the skills needed to effectively communicate one's ideas and data to a critical audience of faculty and students.
Students are required to present their thesis work to a general audience in their final semester and must register for this one-credit class.
The following is a list of core courses taken by many students and recommended courses that are appropriate to specific research areas. These courses are suggestions only; the student and their committee ultimately decide the best coursework plan for each student's specific program.
Genetics 466 General Genetics Path-Bio 500 Molecular Biology Techniques Path-Bio 773 Eukaryotic Microbial Pathogenesis Biochem 501 Introduction to Biochemistry Biochem 612 Prokaryotic Molecular Biology Biochem 620 Eukaryotic Molecular Biology Biochem 630 Cellular Signal Transduction Zoology 570 Cell Biology Pathol 750 Cell and Molecular Biology Pathol 751 Cell and Molecular Biology of Aging Stat 571/572 Statistical Methods for Bioscience I, II Surg Sci 812 Research Ethics and Career Development
Path-Bio 512 Introduction to Veterinary Epidemiology Pop Hlth 797 Introduction to Epidemiology Pop Hlth 802 Advanced Epidemiology: Etiology and Prevention
An Sci 434 Reproductive Physiology Comp Bio 511 Veterinary Physiology A (fall) Comp Bio 506 Veterinary Physiology B (spring) Zoology 611 Comparative Physiology Zoology 954 Endocrinology Reproductive Physiology
Path-Bio 510 Veterinary Immunology Path-Bio 513 Veterinary Virology Path-Bio 514 Veterinary Parasitology Path-Bio 517 Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology Path-Bio 528 Immunology Path-Bio 750 Host-Parasite Relationships in Vertebrate Viral Disease Path-Bio 773 Eukaryotic Microbial Pathogenesis MM&I 701 Infection and Immunity MM&I 720 Topics in Immunology MM&I 790 Immunology of Infectious Disease
Comp Bio 505 Veterinary Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology Neurosci 610 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience Neurosci 611 Systems Neuroscience Neurosci 635 Neurobiology of Disease Zoology 523 Neurobiology I Zoology 524 Neurobiology II: An Introduction to the Brain and Behavior
Comp Bio 555 Veterinary Toxicology Pathol 625 Toxicology I Pathol 626 Toxicology II
Oncology 675 Topics in Cancer Research Oncology 703 Carcinogenesis and Tumor Cell Biology
Path-Bio 513 Veterinary Virology Biochem 575 Biology of Viruses Oncology 640 General Virology: Multiplication of Viruses MM&I 750 Host-Parasite Relationships in Vertebrate Viral Disease
