Physiology and Biophysics Ph.D. Program

Frequently Asked Questions About the Program

1) How long does it ordinarily take for students to complete their Ph.D.?

 The time taken to complete a Ph.D. varies.  However, most students write and defend their thesis in their fifth year of graduate study. For full information on academic regulations, see the following PDF file (University of Miami Doctor of Philosophy Graduation Requirements). To view this file you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader which can be downloaded for free at www.adobe.com. More information can also be found at the University of Miami Graduate School's website.

2) What do most graduates do after getting their degree?

 A sample of career choices made by some of our graduates can be seen here.

3) How do students pick their research advisors?

 All graduate students undertake three laboratory rotations in Physiology and Biophysics labs during their first year of study, to expose them to the science and personality of labs in which they are interested.  Most often, the student chooses one of these three labs in which to do their dissertation research.  In some cases, a fourth rotation is done if none of these labs suits the students needs and interests.

4) What courses do students take in their first 2 years?

 A description of the courses and a sample curriculum can be found here

5) What activities are available to students at the University of Miami?

University Activities are numerous, including intramural and spectator sports, performing arts shows, fine arts, and cultural events. More information can be found here. Miami is also ideally situated between two national parks (the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks) and is only a few hours drive from the Florida Keys. Nightlife and shopping are abundant in popular spots such as South Miami Beach, Coconut Grove and South Miami. The cultural diversity in Miami also makes it a mecca for sampling many different cuisines. A guide to some of the best shopping and eating in Miami can be found here.   For more information about Miami visit this link.

6) Where do most graduate students live ?

Two residential buildings are located near the medical school campus: DominionTowers and Jackson Medical Towers. Many students also find housing in Miami Beach (a 10-15 minute commute) and Kendall, where many apartments are conveniently located near the Metrorail. Information on the options available can be found at : the Commuter Student's Affairs site and at apartments.com.

Also available is the "Off Campus Housing Handbook", a helpful resource for students investigating local housing, neighborhoods, or public transportation. The information provided includes "heads-up" issues regarding leases, contacts, and Florida Statues.

7) What about stipends?

Fellowships from the Physiology/ Biophysics Graduate Studies program at the University of Miami provide tuition, 80% of health insurance premium for a single person, and a stipend for all full time students in residence for a period of five years as long as the student remains in good academic standing. Stipends for fellowships are paid in equal amounts at the end of each month. The stipend level is $25,000 effective June 1, 2008.  

8) Is owning a car necessary?  Is it practical to have one?

It is not necessary to have a car as a graduate student at the University of Miami, however many students have one. Public transportation is readily available.  Monthly passes for Miami's mass transit system, the Metrorail, can be purchased for approximately $45/month and shuttles and the Metrobus system offer connections to destinations not reached by the Metrorail. Conveniently, a metrorail station (Civic Station) is located on the University of Miami School of Medicine's Campus and the Miami International Airport is only 15 minutes away. If you do want to have a car, parking is available and information can be found at the Division of Security/Parking Web site .