The Molecular & Integrative Physiology (MIP) PhD Program is very flexible and each student's experience is individually tailored. The first two semesters of the program are designed to provide students with a broad background in the basics of biomedical research and physiology, including exposure to molecular, cellular and integrative approaches, research ethics and practice at oral communication. 

Physiology PhD students are required to take courses in Cell Signaling, Cell Physiology and Systems and Integrative Physiology; beyond that, we invite you to select courses from a wide array offered at the Medical School and throughout the University. Our only requirement is that the course helps you meet your educational goals. Also during the first two terms, you’ll take a student seminar to learn how to effectively present your research, and attend small group discussions on the responsible conduct of research and rigor and reproducibility in research. Finally, all students are required to perform two research rotations during each Fall and Winter terms of the first academic year. Course requirements for the PhD in Physiology can be finished in the first academic year; certain training grants may have additional requirements and students often take additional electives later in their training (for example statistics is important but usually more fun once you have your own data to play with!).

At the end of your second term, you’ll choose a dissertation mentor and lab. This usually occurs in May of the first year. You’ll work with your mentor to develop a research proposal in the form of an NIH NRSA application that is presented as your preliminary exam before the end of your first year.

After prelims, you’ll devote most of your time to research and career development, as well as complete your teaching requirements and any additional courses of interest. Many students choose to enhance their rigorous research training with one of several Certificate Programs offered through the Rackham Graduate School. These programs are designed to dovetail with graduate education and provide specialized training in a variety of career paths, such as education, translational research, public policy and entrepreneurship.

The Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology features an environment that supports the development of strong teachers. All MIP students must serve as a teaching assistant for one term, involving activities like leading conference sections for an undergraduate physiology course, explaining concepts, answering questions, developing practice exams, attending lectures, preparing material for review sessions, grading papers, and participating in exams. They receive instruction and evaluation in teaching methods from Dr. Elizabeth Rust and another faculty member, as well as feedback from the undergraduates in their sections. Students must complete this teaching requirement before graduating.

For those interested in additional teaching experiences, MIP faculty support and assist in finding opportunities such as leading discussions for medical students, teaching full lectures or sections, assisting in other courses, or teaching at other institutions. Interested students should discuss these opportunities with their mentors and course directors. 

Composition

• Chair (MIP graduate committee member in the past five years)
• One MIP faculty member
• One faculty member from any Rackham PhD-granting biomedical sciences program
• Mentor or co-mentor cannot be on the committee

Student Role

• Originality and independence in preparing the proposal
• Encouraged to seek critical input from mentors and faculty

Mentor Role

• Provide guidance on hypothesis formation, proposal aims, and experimental design
• Offer critical feedback but not provide ready-made grant proposals

Written Proposal

• Follows NIH predoctoral NRSA fellowship guidelines
• Should be suitable for a PhD thesis topic
• Must have a scientific rationale and hypothesis-based questions
• Includes preliminary data, approach, expected results, limitations, and alternatives
• Covers elements of rigor and reproducibility required in an NIH proposal

Oral Defense

• 40-45 minute research seminar based on the written proposal
• Thesis Change Committee questions covering general physiology knowledge
• Evaluation of the written proposal and oral presentation quality
• Committee members then vote on the outcome and indicate revisions required for the final version of the dissertation.

Outcome

• Pass 
• Conditional Pass (requires remedial action) 
• Fail (student may appeal to the Graduate Committee)

Purpose

• Present research seminar to the department
• Receive feedback on research progress and presentation skills
• Scheduled during the normal Wednesday 4pm time period