Curriculum
Footnotes
1. Molecular and Molecular Pharmacology M252 and Molecular Mechanisms of Human Disease (6 each)
The Molecular Toxicology students take these courses in the fall and winter quarters, respectively of their first year
2. Laboratory Rotations
Students carry out three laboratory rotations during their first year (one during each quarter, 10 weeks in duration). In most cases students are able to "match" with a mentor after three rotations.
3. Environmental Health Sciences 240: Fundamentals of Toxicology. (4)
Lecture, four hours. Essential aspects of toxicology with emphasis on the human species; absorption, distribution, excretion, biotransformation as well as basic toxicological process and organ systems are discussed. Letter grading.
4. Microbiology, Immuniology and Molecular Genetics CM234: Ethics and Accountability in Biomedical Research (2)
Students may take this course any time in their first two years of study.
5. Mol and Medical Pharm 237. Research Frontiers in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology. (6)
Lecture, six hours; laboratory, five hours total. Detailed examination of principles of pharmacology and mechanisms of drug action at organismal, tissue, cellular, and molecular levels, with emphasis on receptors, receptor/effector coupling, neurotransmitters, cardiovascular pharmacology, autonomic and central nervous system pharmacology. Letter grading.
6. Mol Tox 211A-C. Molecular Toxicology Seminar. (1)
All Molecular Toxicology students are required to attend two toxicology seminar series, each of which meets once per month during the academic year. The first “external” seminar series consists of presentations by outstanding toxicological researchers. Collectively, the Molecular Toxicology graduate students are responsible for selecting and inviting one "Graduate Students - Invited Lecturer" each year. The list of the speakers for this academic year is included in Appendix 9. These seminars are mainly funded by the NIEHS training grant. The second series consists of internal seminars presented by toxicology students and postdoctoral fellows. Trainees are required to both attend this seminar, and give a presentation each year in this series.
7. Mol Tox 296A-E. Research Topics in Molecular Toxicology. (2)
One of sections A to E is chosen. These are research group meetings. Students give presentations to their research group members on their current research. Research group meetings occur weekly for about 1.5 hours.
8. EHS 242: Toxicodynamics (2)
The overall goal of this course is to examine current literature in the field of toxicodynamics or mechanisms of toxicity. Recent primary literature in the field is presented by students, whereas review articles providing overview material are presented by the instructor.
9. Epidemiology 100
Unless the student has passed a course in epidemiology while an undergraduate or Master's student, he/she will be required to take an epidemiology course while he/she is studying for the doctorate in Molecular Toxicology. This course can be Epidemiology 100 or another epidemiology course that is relevant to the student's area of research interest.
Public Health Requirement
Students who have not previously taken and passed a course in Public Health at the undergraduate or graduate level are required to attend 6 Grand Rounds or any FSPH seminars outside of EHS over the course of 2 years. Students must meet with the Student Affairs Officer to discuss the requirements prior to attending their first presentation and document their attendance at each seminar by either signing the sign-in form for Grand Rounds presentations or submitting a summary of 100-150 words for each seminar to their faculty advisor.
Teaching Requirement
All students will obtain instruction in teaching skills by serving as teaching assistants for one quarter.
Qualifying Examination—Written and Oral
This examination is usually taken towards the end of first quarter of the student's third year at UCLA. Both a written and oral qualifying examination is required. The written qualifying examination take the form of an NIH or NSF training grant application focusing on the student’s proposed thesis research. After successful completion of both the oral and the written qualifying examinations, the student advances to candidacy.
Dissertation
A dissertation based on original research is required. The dissertation should consist of research equivalent to at least two peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals in the field.
Final examination
A final defense of the Ph.D. thesis is required
1. Molecular and Molecular Pharmacology M252 and Molecular Mechanisms of Human Disease (6 each)
The Molecular Toxicology students take these courses in the fall and winter quarters, respectively of their first year
2. Laboratory Rotations
Students carry out three laboratory rotations during their first year (one during each quarter, 10 weeks in duration). In most cases students are able to "match" with a mentor after three rotations.
3. Environmental Health Sciences 240: Fundamentals of Toxicology. (4)
Lecture, four hours. Essential aspects of toxicology with emphasis on the human species; absorption, distribution, excretion, biotransformation as well as basic toxicological process and organ systems are discussed. Letter grading.
4. Microbiology, Immuniology and Molecular Genetics CM234: Ethics and Accountability in Biomedical Research (2)
Students may take this course any time in their first two years of study.
5. Mol and Medical Pharm 237. Research Frontiers in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology. (6)
Lecture, six hours; laboratory, five hours total. Detailed examination of principles of pharmacology and mechanisms of drug action at organismal, tissue, cellular, and molecular levels, with emphasis on receptors, receptor/effector coupling, neurotransmitters, cardiovascular pharmacology, autonomic and central nervous system pharmacology. Letter grading.
6. Mol Tox 211A-C. Molecular Toxicology Seminar. (1)
All Molecular Toxicology students are required to attend two toxicology seminar series, each of which meets once per month during the academic year. The first “external” seminar series consists of presentations by outstanding toxicological researchers. Collectively, the Molecular Toxicology graduate students are responsible for selecting and inviting one "Graduate Students - Invited Lecturer" each year. The list of the speakers for this academic year is included in Appendix 9. These seminars are mainly funded by the NIEHS training grant. The second series consists of internal seminars presented by toxicology students and postdoctoral fellows. Trainees are required to both attend this seminar, and give a presentation each year in this series.
7. Mol Tox 296A-E. Research Topics in Molecular Toxicology. (2)
One of sections A to E is chosen. These are research group meetings. Students give presentations to their research group members on their current research. Research group meetings occur weekly for about 1.5 hours.
8. EHS 242: Toxicodynamics (2)
The overall goal of this course is to examine current literature in the field of toxicodynamics or mechanisms of toxicity. Recent primary literature in the field is presented by students, whereas review articles providing overview material are presented by the instructor.
9. Epidemiology 100
Unless the student has passed a course in epidemiology while an undergraduate or Master's student, he/she will be required to take an epidemiology course while he/she is studying for the doctorate in Molecular Toxicology. This course can be Epidemiology 100 or another epidemiology course that is relevant to the student's area of research interest.
Public Health Requirement
Students who have not previously taken and passed a course in Public Health at the undergraduate or graduate level are required to attend 6 Grand Rounds or any FSPH seminars outside of EHS over the course of 2 years. Students must meet with the Student Affairs Officer to discuss the requirements prior to attending their first presentation and document their attendance at each seminar by either signing the sign-in form for Grand Rounds presentations or submitting a summary of 100-150 words for each seminar to their faculty advisor.
Teaching Requirement
All students will obtain instruction in teaching skills by serving as teaching assistants for one quarter.
Qualifying Examination—Written and Oral
This examination is usually taken towards the end of first quarter of the student's third year at UCLA. Both a written and oral qualifying examination is required. The written qualifying examination take the form of an NIH or NSF training grant application focusing on the student’s proposed thesis research. After successful completion of both the oral and the written qualifying examinations, the student advances to candidacy.
Dissertation
A dissertation based on original research is required. The dissertation should consist of research equivalent to at least two peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals in the field.
Final examination
A final defense of the Ph.D. thesis is required
