Welcome
The School of Medicine offers a broad range of Ph.D. degree programs with research training opportunities in cancer, neuroscience, drug addiction, microbiology, medical phyisics and other areas. All students pursuing Ph.D. degrees complete coursework and an independent research project leading to a dissertation under the guidance of a faculty mentor.
Graduates of our doctoral programs are well positioned for national and international appointments as postdoctoral scientists in academia and industry, scientific publishing, higher education and numerous other areas requiring highly skilled, critically thinking, creative leaders.
Doctoral Programs
Need more information? Please explore below for major research areas, administrative contacts and application information for all Ph.D. programs in the VCU School of Medicine.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Research areas
- Bioactive lipids, metabolism in health and diseases
- Cancer biology
- Neuroscience
Program information
Tomasz Kordula, Ph.D.
Program Director
tomasz.kordula@vcuhealth.org
Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Research areas
- Complex disorders
- Tumor biology and metastasis
- Cancer gene therapy
- Muscular dystrophy
- Epigenetics
Program information
Rita Shiang, Ph.D.
Program Director
rita.shiang@vcuhealth.org
804-628-4083
Interdepartmental
Research areas
- Drug abuse and mental illness
- Glial cell biology
- Injury, repair and degeneration
- Plasticity and development
- Channels, receptors and transporters
Program information
John Bigbee, Ph.D.
Program Director
john.bigbee@vcuhealth.org
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Research areas
- Microbial Pathogenisis
- Immune mechanisms
- Molecular cell biology and cancer
Program information
Lisa Shock, Ph.D.
Program Director
lisa.shock@vcuhealth.org
804-628-2289
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Research areas
- Drugs of abuse and alcohol
- Neuroscience
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular
- Gastrointestinal pharmacology
Program information
Keith Shelton, Ph.D.
Program Director
keith.shelton@vcuhealth.org
804-827-2104
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Research areas
- Molecular biophysics
- Cardiovascular
- Gastrointestinal
- Chemical senses
- Neuroscience
Program information
Christina Kyrus
Program Coordinator
804-828-3221
cikyrus@vcu.edu
Department of Radiation Oncology
Research areas
- Functional imaging using PET and NMR
- CT image artifact removal and deformation
- Radiation therapy dose calculations
- Four-dimensional radiation therapy
- Brachytherapy
Program information
William Song, PhD, DABR, FAAPM
Program Director
william.song@vcuhealth.org
Biomedical Sciences Doctoral Portal
The Biomedical Sciences Doctoral Portal (BSDP) at VCU is an entry point for students interested in doctoral training in biochemistry, human genetics, microbiology and immunology, neuroscience, pharmacology and toxicology, and physiology and biophysics.
Financial Support, Tuition and Fees
Full-time doctoral students typically receive financial support that includes a stipend (currently $34,000 per year) and health insurance, plus tuition and fees for the duration of their training as long as they are making satisfactory academic progress. Students are eligible for travel grants through the School of Medicine and the Graduate School, and might also be eligible for financial aid through the School of Medicine Financial Aid Office as well as support through training grants and national fellowships.
VCU School of Medicine Financial Aid OfficeFor more information about specific programs, please fill out our graduate education contact form.