Department of Cell and Neurobiology

Bishop Medical Teaching and Research Building 401
1333 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles 90033
(213) 342-1881
FAX: (213) 342-2709
Student Advisors: Hans-Jürgen Fülle, M.D.; Charles Haun, Ph.D.
(213) 342-1276

Faculty

Mary D. Allen Chair in Vision Research: Cheryl M. Craft
Professors: J.C. Blanks (Ophthalmology); C.M. Craft; R.N. Lolley (Ophthalmology); T.H. McNeil (Gerontology); E.J. Perkins (LAS); J.E. Schechter*; J. Shih (Pharmacy); D.W. Warren; R.L. Wood
Associate Professors: G.H. Albrecht; J.A. Garner*; R. Gopalakrishna; S. Schreiber (Neurology); B.G. Slavin*; S.Y. Ying
Assistant Professors: R. Cabelli; J. Chen (Ophthalmology); S. Danto (Medicine); H.J. FŸlle; W. Gilmore (Neurology); M. Meskin; A. Nemirovsky (Anesthesiology); S. Singh; H. Sucov
Emeritus Professors: N. Ahmad; D.A. Berman*; S.P. Bessman (Pediatrics); G. Hungerford; N.C. Jain; L.V. Johnson; E.C. Layne; W.C.T. Yang
Emeritus Associate Professors: B.L. Newman; R.L. Binggeli; C.K. Haun*; W.J. Paule
*Recipient of university-wide or school teaching award
The Department of Cell and Neurobiology provides interdisciplinary training in molecular, cellular and systems biology. Ongoing programs explore basic mechanisms in molecular and cellular neurobiology, neurogenetics, endocrinology, pharmacology, embryogenesis, skeletal muscle plasticity, cell biology, vertebrate evolution, and nutrition/drug interactions. Disease-oriented research, bridging basic and clinical disciplines, investigates inherited or acquired disorders in vision, liver metabolism and endocrinology. The challenge is to weld interdisciplinary activities into a conduit for transferring basic science discoveries into advances in technology which support clinical innovation.
Departmental reorganization at the USC School of Medicine in July 1994 led to the creation of a new Department of Cell and Neurobiology. The Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology was merged with the Department of Pharmacology and Nutrition to form a single interdisciplinary unit. The Department of Cell and Neurobiology has 34 faculty members, including 17 with primary appointments and six with dual appointments in other departments of the Medical School or a joint appointment with other schools within the university.
The graduate program of the Department of Cell and Neurobiology is dedicated to excellence and state-of-the-art training and education in molecular and cellular aspects of normal function and in acquired or genetic disorders that cause human disease. Highly qualified students are selected for admission each year from a pool of domestic and international applicants. Professional and intellectual development is fostered through a broadly based curriculum from which students can tailor a menu of specialization and by a supportive environment of faculty interactions. Graduate education is designed to prepare the student for a lifetime of learning, exploring the limits of research, teaching and creative activities. Teaching experience and expertise can be developed in several areas including cell biology, histology, gross anatomy, neuroanatomy, embryology, and pharmacology.

Cell and Neurobiology Graduate Program

The graduate program offered in cell and neurobiology provides a flexible, individualized course of study directed toward developing independent, resourceful scholars. The major thrust of this program is devoted to students training for the Ph.D. degree but study toward the M.S. degree is also possible.

Master of Science

Students may select either the thesis or the non-thesis M.S. degree pathways. Students on both pathways must complete a minimum of 34 units of required and elective courses. Thesis students must also write a thesis based upon original research; non-thesis students must pass a comprehensive examination which is administered after the course work is completed. Non-thesis students must take 16 units of departmental based courses offered as part of the Year I medical curriculum (CNB 501ab, CNB 511abL and CNB 521) and may then choose from an additional 18 units of departmental graduate courses (e.g., CNB 512L, CNB 513, CNB 531, CNB 550, CNB 561, CNB 562) and interdepartmental core courses. Students on the thesis pathway may choose a combination of courses totaling 28 units from the above list of course offerings and an additional six that include CNB 590 and CNB 594. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. The Master of Science candidate may engage in teaching if this is beneficial to the individual program.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Ph.D. student develops background knowledge in cellular, molecular and structural biological sciences. The objective of the Ph.D. program is rigorous, original, research experience obtained by design and execution of a dissertation project. Active research areas for which guidance is available include cell and molecular biology, neurobiology of circadian rhythms, visual neuroscience, skeletal muscle plasticity, developmental and cellular neuroscience, neuroendocrinology, reproductive endocrinology, and evolutionary biology.

Admissions

The prerequisite for applicants to the graduate program in cell and neurobiology is a bachelor's degree with a science major or equivalent. Applicants should have a superior undergraduate record at an accredited college or university. Additional requirements include three letters of recommendation and satisfactory performance on the general and advanced (biology or chemistry) portions of the Graduate Record Examinations. Students are normally admitted for the academic year beginning in the fall; the application deadline for the following academic year is March 1.

Research Tool-Statistics

Each student must demonstrate competence in statistics. The student must demonstrate competence in the theory and use of statistics including at least a knowledge of regression, correlation and analysis of variance. A student who has prior experience in statistics should consult the faculty advisor and petition the Graduate Advisory Committee to waive the research tool requirement. This requirement may be fulfilled by obtaining a grade of B (3.0) or higher in specified courses. This requirement must be fulfilled before the qualifying examination.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 60 units of course credit is required for the Ph.D. Course requirements vary according to the specific needs of each student. Graduate students are additionally directed to the four interdepartmental core courses that are jointly taught and jointly offered by departments in the Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry.

Core Courses

INTD 531 Cell Biology

INTD 561 Molecular Genetics

INTD 571 Biochemistry

PHBI 562 Systems and Integrative Physiology

Prior to the qualifying examination, each student must complete at least three, eight-week periods of introductory research in the laboratories of departmental faculty. The purpose of the laboratory rotations is to encourage one-on-one interactions between new students and departmental faculty while at the same time providing an introduction to research in a sampling of departmental laboratories.
Course work outside of the departmental offerings is often encouraged and may be required by the student's guidance committee. In most instances, a program will include extradepartmental courses such as physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology. A grade point average of a least 3.0 (A = 4.0) must be maintained in both departmental and overall course work.

Communication Skills Requirement

The department considers teaching experience to be an important part of graduate education. Students in the Ph.D. program are required to serve a teaching practicum during at least one semester of their graduate training.

Screening Procedure

The Graduate Affairs Committee conducts a screening for each student at the end of one full year in the program. The committee reviews thoroughly all facets of the student's performance in the graduate program. The student's progress must be judged satisfactory before a guidance committee can be nominated.

Guidance Committee

Students are expected to select a general area of research interest and a dissertation advisor as soon as possible but no later than 18 months after entering the graduate program in this department. The dissertation advisor and the Graduate Affairs Committee consult with the student to select a guidance committee. After the student has successfully completed the first-year screening, the guidance committee's nomination is forwarded to the Graduate School.

Qualifying Examination

Before the end of their fifth semester of graduate standing, students in the Ph.D. program must pass both the written and oral portions of a qualifying examination. The examination is intended to reveal the student's insight and understanding of general concepts and the ability to design and defend a dissertation research project. The examination is designed and administered by the student's guidance committee.

Dissertation and Oral Defense

After the student has passed the qualifying examination, a dissertation committee (commonly comprising the former guidance committee) is appointed to advise the student regarding the research project and to supervise writing of the dissertation. The dissertation must be an original contribution giving evidence of the student's ability to perform independent and innovative research. The final oral defense shall be open to the public and the dissertation advisor will entertain questions from the dissertation committee and assembled audience.

Master of Nutrition Science Graduate Program

The Department of Cell and Neurobiology offers a program leading to a Master of Nutrition Science. The program gives the graduate student an opportunity to enrich his or her undergraduate nutrition background with a unique blend of traditional advanced nutrition courses as well as courses that touch on the many areas of expertise existing within the department, the School of Medicine and institutions associated with the School of Medicine. In addition to basic and clinical nutrition, some of the subjects covered include: interactions between nutrients, drugs and toxicants; developmental nutrition; nutritional toxicology; research techniques used in nutrition-related studies; the epidemiology of nutrition-related disease; and other popular or current topics generated by student or faculty interest.
The Master of Nutrition Science degree is not intended to be a research degree. The aim of the program is to provide advanced education to those persons already working in a nutrition-related field or those wishing to pursue a career in the health industry, governmental agencies, academia or the food industry. The master's degree will be awarded upon successful completion of a minimum of 24 units and a comprehensive examination.

Admissions

Applicants to the Master of Nutrition Science degree should hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with an acceptable GPA. The program will accept only students whose undergraduate training includes a significant amount of course work in one or more of the following areas: nutrition, food science, biochemistry, organic chemistry, physiology, biology, or related fields. Admission to the program is dependent upon the receipt of acceptable Graduate Record Examinations scores.