Updated: 11/16/2012

 

PhD Degree
TPCB students who select a thesis mentor at Weill Cornell Medical College or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center will receive their degree from Cornell University. Students who select a thesis mentor at The Rockefeller University receive their degree from Rockefeller.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The TPCB curriculum combines a set of laboratory rotations, course work in chemistry and biomedical sciences, participation in student seminars and the annual TPCB symposium, all of which form the core of the formal training.

The program begins in July when students begin the first of three required laboratory rotations and choose courses consistent with program requirements and research interests.TPCB students are assigned an academic advisor during the first year of the program to help with course planning.

The laboratory rotations are designed to give students a 3-month research experience working with a potential thesis mentor. It is expected that students will select their mentor by the end of their first year in the program. There are no teaching duties, offering students ample time to carry out both their coursework and research.

In Year 2, students will concentrate on their thesis research and completion of coursework. At the end of the second year, students prepare and defend their thesis proposal. Each student forms a specialized faculty committee, drawing from faculty members at the three Institutions, which serves as a team of mentors to guide the student’s research and ensure the successful completion of the Ph.D.

Course Requirements
TPCB students are required to take 4 courses by the end of their second year.
1) Advanced Biomedical Science Course for TPCB Students
2) Chemical Biology
3) TPCB Chemical Biology Seminar/Journal Club
4) At least 1 of the following approved electives:
• Principles of Pharmacology I: Chemical Biology
• Biophysical Methods

Electives
In addition to having access to courses offered at the Rockefeller University, Memorial Sloan-Kettering and Weill Cornell Medical College, when appropriate students may also enroll in select advanced chemistry courses at Columbia University and the New York Structural Biology Center (NYSB), including but not limited to:
Physical Organic Chemistry (Columbia U)
Statistical Thermodynamics (Columbia U)
Advanced Organic Synthesis I (offered yearly, Columbia U)
Advanced Organic Synthesis II (offered yearly, Columbia U)
NMR Spectroscopy of Macromolecules (NYSB)
Cryoelectron Microscopy of Macromolecular Assemblies (NYSB)
Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy (NYSB)

Institutional Requirement
All TPCB students at Rockefeller, Memorial Sloan-Kettering and Weill Cornell Medical College are required to take the Responsible Conduct of Research course.