FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

University of Chicago

Chicago skyline with University of Chicago campus in the forefront.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Mentors

The University of Chicago uses the term “advisor” for the Chicago faculty member who is your mentor and “co-advisor” for your Janelia mentor. You must nominate a Janelia mentor in your application and direct your research proposal to that lab. You may also wish to nominate a Chicago advisor (you are not required to do so). For information on University of Chicago faculty, please use the University web site.

Steering Committee

The University of Chicago has convened a committee of faculty to help administer the program. The director (Dan Margoliash) or other members of the committee can be contacted via e-mail concerning any queries or advice regarding the program.

• Daniel Margoliash, Ph.D., (Program Director) Professor, Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy
  dan@bigbird.uchicago.edu
  http://margoliashlab.uchicago.edu
  http://neurobiology.bsd.uchicago.edu/faculty
  /margoliash.html
  
  
• Steve A.N. Goldstein, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman and Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Director, Institute of Molecular Pediatric Sciences
  sangoldstein@uchicago.edu
  http://pediatrics.uchicago.edu
  
  
• Christopher Gomez, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman and Professor, Department of Neurology
  cgomez@neurology.bsd.uchicago.edu
  http://biomed.uchicago.edu/common/faculty/gomez.html
  
  
• Stephen Kent, Ph.D., Director, Institute of Biophysical Dynamics, Professor in the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  skent@uchicago.edu
  http://ibd.uchicago.edu/research_groups/kent.html
  http://chemistry.uchicago.edu/fac/kent.shtml
  
  
• Peggy Mason, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Neurobiology
  pmason@uchicago.edu
  http://pps.bsd.uchicago.edu/faculty/peggy_mason.html
  http://neurobiology.bsd.uchicago.edu/faculty/mason.html
  
  
• Keith Moffat, Ph.D., Louis Block Professor in Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Institute for Biophysical Dynamics and Deputy Provost for Research
  moffat@cars.uchicago.edu
  http://ibd.uchicago.edu/research_groups/moffat.html
  http://moffat.bsd.uchicago.edu
  
  
• Marsha Rosner, Chairman and Charles B. Huggins Professor, Ben May Department for Cancer Research
  mrosner@huggins.bsd.uchicago.edu
  http://cmp.bsd.uchicago.edu/faculty/mRosner.html
  http://neurobiology.bsd.uchicago.edu/faculty/rosner.htm
  
  
• Nancy Schwartz, Ph.D., Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Director, Kennedy Mental Retardation Research Center, Dean, Office of Graduate Affairs
  n-schwartz@uchicago.edu
  http://pediatrics.uchicago.edu/SectionFaculty
  Detail.aspx?ID=2139
  http://bmb.bsd.uchicago.edu/Faculty_and_Research/
  01_Faculty/01_Faculty_Alphabetically.php?faculty_id=151
  
  
• Harinder Singh, Ph.D., Louis Block Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  hsingh@uchicago.edu
  http://biomed.bsd.uchicago.edu/common/faculty/singh.html
  http://mgcb.uchicago.edu/faculty/singh/index.html
  http://molbio.uchicago.edu/Faculty_and_Research/
  01_Faculty_Alphabetically.php?faculty_id=155
  
  
• Tobin Sosnick, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Director, Graduate Program in Biophysical Sciences
  trsosnic@uchicago.edu
  http://ibd.uchicago.edu/research_groups/sosnick.html
  http://sosnick.uchicago.edu/TSosnick.html
  http://bmb.bsd.uchicago.edu/Faculty_and_Research/
  01_Faculty/01_Faculty_Alphabetically.php?faculty_id=156
  
  
• Philip Ulinski, Ph.D., Professor, Organismal Biology and Anatomy, Director, Center for Integrative Neuroscience and Neuroengineering Research, Chairman of the Committee on Computational Neuroscience
  pulinski@uchicago.edu
  http://neurobiology.bsd.uchicago.edu/faculty/ulinski.htm
  http://cns.bsd.uchicago.edu/faculty/pUlinski.html

Coursework

The University of Chicago uses a quarter system and requires that students complete nine graduate credits for the Ph.D. It is expected that you will complete these credits with suitable courses and research rotations in your first academic year by fulfilling three academic credits per quarter. The coursework will be tailored to your specific interests and academic background.

The University also requires you to take an ethics course and be a teaching assistant in a college or graduate school course. There is also a required qualifying examination. All these requirements can be completed in your first academic year, but will require concentrated effort.

Depending on your research area and educational needs, you may join one of several existing Ph.D. programs at the University. These include the new interdisciplinary graduate program in biophysical dynamics and self-organization; the program in neurobiology, pharmacology and cell physiology; the computer science program; or others (Visit the University of Chicago catalog) as agreed in your first-year IEP.

Timing

The University prefers that your Ph.D. program be completed within five years. Your Ph.D. degree will be from the University of Chicago and you will be required to satisfy all University rules and requirements. These include specific residence times, thesis format rules, and so forth.

About the University of Chicago

The University of Chicago was founded in 1890 by John D. Rockefeller, and noted academic William Rainey Harper was the first president. Today, the university's four graduate divisions, six professional schools, and undergraduate college have an enrollment of more than 12,000 students and a faculty of 2,160. The university is the nation's most celebrated teacher of teachers. Seventy-nine Nobel Prize winners have been associated with the university as students, faculty, or researchers, and six are currently on the faculty.

A strong commitment to multi- and interdisciplinary research exemplifies the University of Chicago—and the Division of Biological Sciences in particular. This commitment generates unique research collaborations, educational partnerships, and cross-disciplinary clinical programs. Currently, the university's multidisciplinary culture extends to the physical sciences through the Institute of Biophysical Dynamics, which shares faculty from both the biological and physical sciences.

Living in Chicago

Chicago is a diverse, vital city that's rich in culture and ethnic heritage. And nowhere is that more evident than in Chicago's best-known neighborhood—Hyde Park-Kenwood—located just minutes from downtown. Graduate students will find a large pool of affordable, conveniently located housing in the Hyde Park community—home to nearly all university students and most of the faculty and staff. Several shopping areas in the neighborhood offer a full range of amenities. You'll also be close to two full-service health clubs and spectacular strolls along Lake Michigan. In addition, the Hyde Park, Kenwood and Woodlawn communities feature some of Chicago's most dynamic venues and outlets for the arts. Hyde Park boasts numerous fine museums, including the famous Museum of Science and Industry.

Photo: Alex MacLean

Back to Top