medicinal chemistry phd programs in usa

Ph.D. Program

The graduate program in Pharmaceutical Sciences spans the entire life cycle of a drug, from bench to bedside. The Medicinal Chemistry concentration focuses on drug discovery and development, part of the pre-clinical studies phase of the cycle.

Pharmaceutical Sciences Ph.D. Programs

Distinction through five interrelated training opportunities involving the entire life cycle of a drug.

Medicinal Chemistry Core Curriculum

As part of the requirements for the Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences – Medicinal Chemistry – students must complete the departmental core curriculum listed below. The required courses are offered by the Medicinal Chemistry, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology departments. Courses in other departments may be recommended or required by some faculty advisors. A minimum of 90 credit hours (research and didactic courses) are needed to graduate. Students will normally complete their didactic course work by the end of their second year in the program.

Policies and Procedures Manual

Learn more about the policies and procedures related to graduate education in medicinal chemistry. Please note the GRE is no longer required for admission to the UF College of Pharmacy’s graduate programs. GRE scores will not be considered in admission decisions.

Funding Opportunities

Learn more about funding opportunities through UF, the College of Pharmacy and other organizations.

Departmental Core Curriculum

The required courses are listed below. The remainder of the 90 credit hours are to be settled on by the student and his/her supervisor.  A minimum of six 3-credit courses are expected. IF STUDENTS TAKE COURSES AT 4000 LEVEL OR BELOW, THESE WILL NOT COUNT TOWARDS THE CREDITS NEEDED FOR THE Ph.D. DEGREE. Also, courses in the Pharm. D. curriculum do not count towards the departmental core course requirements . Incoming students with a Master’s degree may be able to transfer or have recognized up to 9 credits from previous graduate level didactic courses, upon approval by the graduate faculty in Medicinal Chemistry. All students must have their course selection approved in writing by their major advisor (or the graduate coordinator in the first semester), using the course registration form.

A d v a n ce d courses in Medicinal Chemistry

Students must take the following two courses, which are taught by all departmental faculty.

• PHA 6447 , 3 credits, Drug Design I (3 credits in the fall)
• PHA 6467C. Drug Design II ( 3 Credits in the spring)
• PHA 6934 , 1 credit, Seminar in Medicinal Chemistry

The seminar must be attended by all students during the time they are in the department, and they must make presentations as requested. In their final year, students will be required to present their thesis research at a departmental

Students must take at least two of the following 10 didactic courses, which are offered by department faculty.

• PHA 6425, 3 credits, Drug Biotransformation and Molecular Mechanisms of Toxicity
• PHA 6356 , 3 credits, Structure Determination of Complex Natural Products
• PHA/CHM 6435 , 3 credits, Biosynthetic Logic of Medicinal Natural Products
• PHA 6472 , 3 credits, Organic Synthesis of Drug Molecules
• PHA 6935. Advanced Central Nervous System Drug Design (3 credits)
• PHA 6935. Biotransformation Considerations in Drug Design (2 credits)
• PHA 6935. Molecular Imaging (1 credit)
• PHA 6935. New Approaches in Drug Discovery (1 credit)
• PHA 6935 , variable credits (1-3), Selected Topics in Medicinal Chemistry
• PHA 6935. AI for Drug Discovery (3 credits)

Other course numbers listed in the graduate catalog are for reading courses, (PHA 6936) which may be offered as needed from time to time by any faculty, and for laboratory research projects (PHA 6905L, 6910 up to 5 credits) or thesis and dissertation research (PHA 6971, Research for Master’s Thesis; PHA 7979, Advanced Research; PHA 7980, Doctoral Research).  The course PHA 6905C, Research Procedures in Medicinal Chemistry, normally takes the form of a literature review in a specialized area of medicinal chemistry, combined with related laboratory research. This course requires a written exam or paper and may be taken for a letter grade of 1 to 4 credits per semester, up to a maximum of 12 credits.  PHA 6905C may not be taken while a student is on probation (see page 15).

C h e m is try

The student needs to take a spectroscopy course, either CHM 5235 offered each Autumn or PHA 6356 offered every other year; in addition, the student may take the following courses:

• CHM 5224, 3 credits, Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry
• CHM 5235 3 credits, Organic Spectroscopy
• CHM 6225, 4 credits, Advanced Principles of Organic Chemistry
• CHM 6226, 3 credits, Advanced Synthetic Organic Chemistry

Bio c h e m is try

Students with no previous upper-level coursework in Biochemistry must take one or more of the following courses.

• Note–this course will not count towards the Ph.D., but may be needed to correct deficits in undergraduate education.
• BCH 5413, 3 credits, Eukaryotic Molecular Biology and Genetics
• BCH 6206, 3 credits, Advanced Metabolism
• BCH 6415, 3 credits, Advanced Molecular and Cell Biology
• BCH 6740, 3 credits, Advanced Physical Biochemistry

P h a r m a c ology

Students with no previous upper-level coursework in Pharmacology have the option to take one course in Pharmacology (GMS 6009, Principles of Drug Action is an example), since an understanding of basic pharmacological principles is fundamental to modern Medicinal Chemistry. Several courses are available.

Other appropriate courses may be offered by the Chemistry Department, Pharmaceutics Department, Biochemistry Department, Statistics Department or other departments according to the program of the individual student.

It is also recommended that students take an advanced statistics course such as STA 6116 and a course on responsible conduct of biomedical research, such as BMS 7003 (1 credit).

Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program

The Department of Medicinal Chemistry also participates in the University-wide Interdisciplinary graduate program in Toxicology.  Students wishing to specialize in Medicinal Chemistry with a concentration in Toxicology must, in addition to departmental requirements, take the following Toxicology courses:

• VME 6602, 3 credits, General Toxicology
• VME 6603, 3 credits, Advanced Toxicology

And one of the following three electives:

• GMS 7593, 2 credits, Functional Genomic Applications in Pharmacology and Toxicology
• VME 6606, 3 credits, Aquatic Toxicology and Ecological Risk Assessment
• VME 6607, 4 credits, Human Health Risk Assessment.

One of the departmental courses taken by toxicology students must be PHA 6425.  Students interested in toxicology must take an advanced Statistics course such as STA 6116.

The PhD Program in Medicinal Chemistry educates and trains students in the design and synthesis of novel, biologically active compounds and in delineating their mechanisms of action using biochemical, biophysical, and pharmacological approaches. Research specializations are available in synthetic, biochemical/pharmacological, and biophysical aspects of medicinal chemistry. Doctoral research in these specializations will relate to faculty areas of research, which currently include substance use disorders and addiction; neuropathic pain; obesity and metabolic disorders; neuropsychiatric disorders (psychoses, ADHD, depression, anxiety, eating disorders); and neurodegenerative diseases.

In The News

Cannabis Will Transform Medicine—Once We Figure Out How to Get Rid of Its Side Effects

Drug Discovery Spurs Innnovation, Collaboration

Groundbreaking Cancer Gene Therapy

This specialization offered by the Center for Drug Discovery (CDD) trains students in the design and synthesis of novel biologically active compounds and in the study of their mechanisms of action using biochemical, biophysical, and pharmacological approaches. Concentrations are available in synthetic, biochemical/pharmacological, and biophysical medicinal chemistry. The CDD’s excellence in teaching has been recognized by the award of a training grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse for predoctoral and postdoctoral training in development of medications. These will be targeted to treat drug abuse; addiction; and other indications such as neuropathic pain, obesity, neuropsychiatric disorders (psychoses, ADHD, depression, anxiety, eating disorders); and neurodegenerative disorders.

Where They Work

• Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research

What They Do

• Healthcare Services
• Business Development

What They’re Skilled At

• High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Cell Culture
• Biotechnology

Application Materials

Application.

• Application fee – US $50
• Three letters of recommendation
• Transcripts from all institutions attended
• Personal Statement
• Official GRE scores
• TOEFL score for applicants who do not hold a degree from a U.S. institution and whose native language is not English
• Please note all international applicants will need to provide a WES evaluation. Link to WES: https://www.wes.org/ https://www.wes.org/

Admissions deadline for Fall term: December 6

• Program Website

Request Information for PhD in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery

• Department of Chemistry >
• Graduate >
• Graduate Overview >

PhD in Medicinal Chemistry

Find your home in UB Chemistry! We're here to help you every step of the way. 

• 3/5/24 Graduate Admissions
• 5/24/24 Financial Aid and Funding

Already enrolled in UB? Get details about advisement, forms and other resources for current students. 

• 5/25/23 Info for Current Students

The PhD in Medicinal Chemistry  provides a unique opportunity for students to develop a strong foundation in organic and medicinal chemistry and also to broaden their knowledge in areas such as drug discovery, biochemistry, molecular biology and pharmacology.

PhD Program Requirements

• Coursework Once admitted to the PhD in Chemistry program, students are required to complete six graduate-level lecture courses during the first two years of full-time study. Of these courses, three must be one-semester introductory core courses selected from the four traditional areas of chemistry (CHE 501 and MCH 501 are required for the Medicinal Chemistry PhD), while the other three elective courses are chosen in consultation with the student’s research advisor. 
• Proficiency Students must also demonstrate proficiency in medicinal chemistry, as well as in three of four traditional areas of chemistry, during the first three semesters. Proficiency can be established by completing a core graduate course or by passing the ACS Placement Exam in the area. A 3.00 grade point average in lecture courses is required.
• Research Synopsis During the fifth semester (third year) of graduate study, PhD students are required to prepare a written research synopsis summarizing research progress to date and future research plans. An oral examination with the student’s PhD committee is used to evaluate the student’s research potential.
• Research Proposal Also during the fifth semester, the student is required to write and orally defend an independent research proposal. This proposal involves the identification of a problem from the chemical literature that is not directly related to the student’s thesis work and a proposed solution to that problem. There are no cumulative exams in the UB Department of Chemistry.
• Public Lecture During the fourth year of graduate study, PhD students present a public lecture on their research progress. This provides the PhD committee a chance to give the student feedback prior to finishing their written dissertation.
• Dissertation and Oral Defense The majority of a PhD student’s time is spent on creative research. At the conclusion of the research work, a dissertation must be written and orally defended before the PhD committee and the department at large.

Faculty Research Mentor

The Department of Chemistry views an advanced degree in chemistry or medicinal chemistry as primarily a research degree, so the choice of research director is an important decision for the first-year graduate student. To facilitate the selection of the research mentor, the members of the faculty engaged in research present a general overview of their research interests in a series of meetings with the new graduate students. This allows the students to become acquainted with the different research opportunities in the program in an informal setting. 

Students are also encouraged to speak informally with as many faculty members as possible before making their decision. Assistance is available to those students having difficulty with this decision. However, it is to the student’s advantage to select a research advisor at the earliest possible date. Typically, graduate research is initiated during the second semester or during the first summer within the program.

PhD Student Timeline

Upon arrival, all new graduate students are required to take standardized tests produced by the American Chemical Society to assess their preparation for graduate study. Results of these tests are used by the Graduate Curriculum Committee to help students select their first-semester courses. A typical first-semester graduate student takes three core graduate-level courses and is also engaged in TA duties. Most of the required course work is finished by the end of the second or third semester in the program.

The following table provides a typical PhD graduate student timeline:

Email  [email protected]  or contact  Prof. Timothy Cook , director of graduate studies, for more information on this program and the admissions process.

Academic Catalog 2023-2024

Medicinal chemistry and drug discovery, phd, journal club participation, colloquium attendance, internship requirements and regulations for department of pharmaceutical sciences, qualifying examination, doctoral candidacy status, doctoral dissertation committee, dissertation proposal defense, registration for dissertation, publications and presentations, phd dissertation preparation, pharmaceutical sciences colloquium, sopps professional code of conduct .

The PhD Program in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery educates and trains students in the design and synthesis of novel, biologically active compounds and in delineating their mechanisms of action using biochemical, biophysical, and pharmacological approaches. Research specializations are available in synthetic, biochemical/pharmacological, and biophysical aspects of medicinal chemistry. Doctoral research in these specializations will relate to faculty areas of research, which currently include substance use disorders and addiction; neuropathic pain; obesity and metabolic disorders; neuropsychiatric disorders (psychoses, ADHD, depression, anxiety, eating disorders); and neurodegenerative diseases.

The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences sponsors weekly journal clubs, Pharmaceutical Science Seminar ( PHSC 6300 ) , at which students present and evaluate current scientific literature in their fields of study. Students must attend one of these journal clubs (Pharmaceutics & Drug Delivery Journal Club, Pharmacology Journal Club, or Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Discovery Journal Club), chosen in consultation with their advisors.

Attendance at one of these journal clubs is required each and every academic semester, as an integral part of the PhD curriculum, with the exception of the last year (year four) in the program. All PhD students must participate full-time in journal club for course credit, Pharmaceutical Science Seminar ( PHSC 6300 ) , for six semesters. Failure to attend journal club regularly may result in sanctions such as probation or dismissal from the PhD program. Any student who does not comply with these (or any other) conditions required in the PhD program faces potential dismissal.

All PhD students, regardless of program, are required to attend the weekly Pharmaceutical Science Colloquium series. Announcements of times and locations will be distributed weekly to students by email to their university email addresses. Attendance is recorded by sign-up sheet. One excused absence is permitted per semester. Failure to attend colloquia may result in sanctions such as probation or dismissal from the PhD program.

Internships provide an experiential component of the graduate curriculum that fosters professional development through work in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

After PhD candidates have completed their dissertation research and are working on their dissertations, they are able, with the express permission of their PhD advisor, to participate in an internship if they choose. They are never allowed to intern while they are serving as teaching assistants.

• Students are responsible for finding their own internship and must be honest and accurate representing their experiences on their resumés. Students are responsible for tracking this experience on their resumés as there will be no detailed record on students’ transcripts of these opportunities.
• In order to be eligible for internship, students must take   Professional Development for Pharmaceutical Sciences ( PHSC 5305 ) a semester before internship.
• Students must not accept more than one position. They must honor the first offer accepted. Any student not adhering to this requirement will not be allowed to participate.
• International students must register for Pharmaceutical Science Internship ( PHSC 6401 )  and follow instructions to receive Curricular Practical Training authorization from the Office of Global Services every semester they work. This applies to part-time jobs and volunteer opportunities. International students cannot engage in full-time CPT authorization totaling more than 52 weeks. Doing so will eliminate the possibility of engaging in the postgraduation benefit of Post-Completion Optional Practical Training.
• In order to receive a grade for the course, students must write at least two learning goals within the first two weeks of the internship and a one- to two-page paper describing what they learned, mid- and end of semester. Supervisors for internships will reply to a questionnaire about students’ performance.
• Taking internship must not extend international students’ visas.
• There are no vacations on co-op/internships. Companies’ sick time policies may vary. Students should check with their employers. For all other matters, please see the University-wide Academic Policies and Procedures and/or Bouvé College of Health Sciences Academic Policies and Procedures .

The PhD qualifying examination is required for students in all four programs under the auspices of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences: pharmacology, medicinal chemistry and drug discovery, biomedical sciences, and pharmaceutics and drug delivery. Students from each of the four programs will take the exams within the same time frame (below), regardless of specialty-area program focus.

Doctoral students should have selected a dissertation advisor by the end of their first year in the program and are expected to have begun research and demonstrated initial proficiency in the laboratory before taking the PhD qualifying examination.

The PhD qualifying examination tests the candidates’ knowledge and skills in core courses and program content areas. The overall PhD qualifying examination consists of two written exams and one oral exam. The qualifying examination is taken as a course,  Doctoral Training and Research ( PHSC 8940 ) , no later than during the fall semester of the student's second year, after having successfully completed all the core courses of their respective programs.

At least two departmental faculty will contribute questions for the written exams, and no one faculty member will write more than the equivalent of one entire exam. All students qualified to sit for the exams are expected to take them at the times announced.

The format for the written exams may vary (e.g., faculty may ask a series of comprehensive essay questions or provide research publications(s) from the biomedical literature and ask questions based upon the publications’ content). The first exam is given in the first week of fall semester, with the written portion of the second exam (i.e., the F31 written document) to be submitted to the student’s exam committee by end of October with the oral presentation to be completed by mid-November and graded by the providers of the question(s).

• For example, if the student is in the pharmaceutics and drug delivery PhD program, part 1 will be about pharmaceutics and drug delivery, and part 2 can focus either on pharmacology or medicinal chemistry and drug discovery.
• Written exam 2 requires that students write an NIH F31 grant proposal and have the proposal signed off as passing by their examination committee after an oral defense.

A score of at least 70% is required to pass the first written exam (two parts). Students must pass all written portions of the PhD qualifying examination prior to the oral defense of the F31 proposal. Students who fail one written exam will have one opportunity to retake and pass that examination. A student who fails the first exam twice will be required to withdraw from the PhD program.

During the oral exam, students defend their NIH F31 grant proposal before an examination committee of, minimally, four faculty members: the dissertation advisor, at least two other Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences faculty members, and at least one member from outside the department. This committee is convened only for the oral exam and does not need to be the same committee as the student's dissertation committee. 

Members of the oral examination committee are selected by the student, after consultation with the dissertation advisor and/or the director of graduate studies. The oral exam is graded on a pass/fail basis. Students who fail the oral exam on the first attempt may retake the exam within a time period designated by the examination committee not to exceed two months from the first oral exam. Those who fail twice will be dismissed from the program.

Doctoral students who have completed satisfactorily and thereby earned the credits for all required core courses (including those for their specialized area) and who have passed the written and oral qualifying examinations shall be admitted to candidacy status for the PhD degree.

Doctoral students must complete a dissertation that embodies the results of extended research and makes an original contribution to their field. This work should give evidence of candidates’ abilities to conduct independent investigation and interpret the results of their research in a professional manner. The doctoral dissertation advisor serves as chairperson of the Doctoral Dissertation Committee, which consists of no fewer than five members. Selection of an advisor is by mutual consent of the student and a member of the faculty, with approval by the director of graduate studies in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. At least two members of the Doctoral Dissertation Committee must be faculty members in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. At least one member is to be selected from outside the department. Committee members are chosen for their expertise in students’ research areas.

Within a year after successful completion of the PhD qualifying examination, but no later than the beginning of the fall semester of the third year, students must prepare and defend a written proposal detailing their planned dissertation project. Failure to do so will be regarded as a failure to progress in the PhD program and will result in a warning from the director of graduate studies of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Students who do not correct this deficiency within one semester will be placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation must complete the dissertation proposal defense and return to nonprobationary status within one semester or be dismissed from the PhD program.

The dissertation proposal should be no more than 50 double-spaced pages (12-point font minimum and one-half-inch margins on all sides). This page limit excludes references but includes figures, figure legends, and tables. Aside from these exceptions, the proposal should otherwise conform to the format and structure of an NIH grant proposal with four main sections: specific aims, background and significance, preliminary studies, and experimental design and methods. The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Dissertation Proposal document provides detailed instructions on the preparation of a dissertation proposal. Associated required forms may be found on the SOPPS Student Portal Canvas site.

The dissertation proposal must be defended orally before the student's dissertation committee and signed by all dissertation committee members in approval of the student's planned dissertation research.  Upon dissertation approval, the copies of the signed proposal approval cover sheet must be submitted to the department’s director of graduate studies and to the Bouvé College of Health Sciences Graduate Office.

Biannual Review

Dissertation committees meet routinely at six-month intervals, but no less than once a year, to evaluate students’ research progress and to be presented with written and oral progress reports on the direction and status of the research. Progress reports should be written in a brief format, identical to that described for the formal dissertation (see instructions listed on the SOPPS Student Portal Canvas site). Unsatisfactory productivity provides the basis for a warning by the dissertation committee and/or the Graduate Committee. Two such warnings will result in a student’s dismissal from the program.

Advisor consent and completion of all coursework (with the exception of the colloquium course) must be documented before students register for the first dissertation course. Students must register for Dissertation Term 1 ( PHSC 9990 )  and Dissertation Term 2 ( PHSC 9991 ) . Students must register for Dissertation Continuation ( PHSC 9996 )  each semester thereafter until the dissertation has been successfully defended. The department strongly encourages PhD students to complete the program within five years after acceptance, i.e., by three years after establishing degree candidacy. According to university policy, no PhD students may remain in the program for more than seven years.

Prior to completion of PhD training, candidates must present their research either as a poster or podium presentation at a regional or national scientific conference. Also prior to completion, the student must have submitted (preferably, published) at least one manuscript in a peer-reviewed journal that reflects original findings and laboratory work from the candidate's dissertation research.

Detailed guidelines for the format and content of the written dissertation are given in Instructions for Preparation of the Dissertation found on the SOPPS Student Portal Canvas site. The completed dissertation document should be reviewed first by the dissertation advisor. Feedback from the advisor should be incorporated into the dissertation draft before its distribution to the dissertation committee. The completed dissertation should be delivered to all dissertation committee members no later than two weeks before the scheduled oral defense.

All PhD candidates nearing completion of their research are required to present their dissertation findings at the department’s Pharmaceutical Sciences Colloquium. These presentations should be scheduled at least six months before anticipated completion of the dissertation. In turn, the dissertation should be completed no later than one year after the colloquium presentation. Students must register for  Pharmaceutical Science Colloquium ( PHSC 6810 )  during the semester that the colloquium presentation is to be given.

Oral Dissertation Defense

The oral dissertation defense takes place after students complete their PhD dissertation research and all other requirements for the PhD degree. The oral defense deals with the subject matter of the dissertation, significant developments in the field, and students’ background knowledge in their field of concentration.

The dissertation committee conducts the final defense. The committee may recommend that the student clarify, amplify, or rewrite portions of the dissertation before the final defense is scheduled. Once the committee concurs that that written dissertation document is acceptable, a date is chosen for the final oral examination.

At least two weeks prior to the defense, students should inform the director of graduate studies in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the date of defense, so that advance announcement may be distributed. The final defense is open to anyone who wishes to attend and typically lasts at least two hours. After presentation of the work by the student in a seminar format, and responses to audience and committee questions, the committee meets first with the student for any follow-up discussion and then in executive session to decide whether the student has defended the dissertation successfully.

The committee’s decision is then announced to the student. If the committee’s vote is favorable, the student incorporates committee suggestions and corrections, if applicable, and the dissertation is signed and passed on to the department’s director of graduate studies. Requests for a second defense are highly irregular but may be permitted in the event that the previous oral defense was judged by the committee to be highly promising but inadequate in one critical aspect.

The final dissertation must be written, defended, and approved at least two weeks before the university commencement deadline. Students must submit signed copies of their dissertations to the website designated by the university and must abide by any embargo sanctioned by the student’s principal dissertation advisor and/or dissertation committee. The students should apply for graduation before the final dissertation defense, on the assumption that the dissertation will be approved. If the dissertation committee decides that more time is required to complete the dissertation beyond the commencement date, then the application for graduation can be withdrawn and a new one submitted pending final dissertation approval.

All SOPPS students (BSPS, Preprofessional, MS, and PhD) are expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct .

Please visit  Bouvé College of Health Sciences Program Learning Outcomes  for the specific student learning outcomes for this program.

Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.

Qualifying examination Doctoral candidacy status Doctoral dissertation committee Dissertation proposal Biannual review Pharmaceutical Sciences Colloquium Oral dissertation defense

Core Requirements

A grade of C– or higher is required in each course.

Research and Dissertation

Program credit/gpa requirements.

32 total semester hours required Minimum 3.000 GPA required

Plan of Study

Scientific Writing: Thesis Proposal ( PHSC 7020 )  must be taken the summer before the qualifying exams.

Doctoral Proposal ( PHSC 9681 ) should be taken in summer of second year, but no later than fall of third year. 

Pharmaceutical Science Colloquium ( PHSC 6810 ) must be taken six months before dissertation defense.

PHSC 5305 & PHSC 6213 is suggested to be taken in the fourth year, but can be taken at any point before graduation. 

Plan of Study - Advanced Entry

Doctoral Proposal ( PHSC 9681 )  may be taken in spring of first year but must be taken before fall of second year.

Pharmaceutical Science Colloquium ( PHSC 6810 )  must be taken six months before dissertation defense.

Advanced entry into the Medicinal  Chemistry and Drug Discovery  PhD program requires a master's degree in pharmaceutical sciences or a related area and focuses on various advanced research courses and successful defense of the dissertation. An applicant's transcripts are required to be reviewed by the admissions committee to ensure they are eligible to be in the advanced entry program.

Annual review Qualifying examination Dissertation committee Dissertation proposal Dissertation defense

10 total semester hours required Minimum 3.000 GPA required

Print Options

Send Page to Printer

Print this page.

Download Page (PDF)

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

2023-24 Undergraduate Day PDF

2023-24 CPS Undergraduate PDF

2023-24 Graduate/Law PDF

2023-24 Course Descriptions PDF

College of Pharmacy

• Our Department
• DEI Efforts
• About the PhD Graduate Program
• PhD Requirements
• Research Facilities and Equipment
• Faculty Research Foci
• Postdocs & Research Staff
• Abul-Hajj and Hanna Award for Exceptional Graduate Student in Medicinal Chemistry
• Ole Gisvold Lecture
• Philip S. Portoghese Distinguished Lecture
• Taito O. Soine Lecture
• Distinguished Lectures
• Medicinal Chemistry Seminars
• Epigenetics Consortium Seminars
• Chemical Biology Initiative Seminars
• Epigenetics Consortium
• From Digitalis to Ziagen

PhD Graduate Program

Our students receive an education in chemistry and biology that prepares them for the evolving multidisciplinary research of the pharmaceutical industry and academia.

• Research Interests
• University Collaboration
• Career Outcomes

Our students' learning and development within the program is enhanced by diverse research interests within our department:

• Antiviral and Anticancer Drug Design
• Cancer Chemoprevention
• Chemical Biology
• Chemical Carcinogenesis
• Drug Metabolism
• Gene Therapy
• Molecular Recognition
• Natural Products Chemistry
• Neuroscience
• NMR Crystallography
• Peptidomimetics
• Receptor Modeling
• X-Ray Crystallography

The University of Minnesota has one of the largest Academic Health Centers in the United States, which provides our students with the opportunity to collaborate with nationally recognized programs in:

• Pharmacology
• Biochemistry
• Public Health

Recent alumni have gone on to succeed in industry or academic positions with the following organizations:

• Aligos Therapeutics
• Beckman Coulter
• Foundation Medicine
• Harvard University
• Intellia Therapeutics
• Mayo Clinic
• UC Berkeley
• VMLY&R Health

... and more!

• About Our College
• Message from the Dean
• Our Campuses Overview
• Duluth Campus
• Twin Cities Campus
• Living in MN
• Our Faculty
• Faculty by Department
• Administration
• Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
• Job Opportunities
• Degrees and Programs Overview
• Doctor of Pharmacy
• Dual Degree Programs
• Graduate Programs
• Medical Laboratory Sciences Program
• Occupational Therapy Program
• Postgraduate Pharmacy Residency Program Overview
• Choosing the University of Minnesota
• Mission and Vision
• Comprehensive Medication Management
• Learning Experiences
• Program Administration
• Admissions Overview
• Brochures and Other Materials
• Recruitment Events
• Virtual Open House
• Residency Sites & Emphasis Areas
• Meet Our Current Residents
• News, Events and Publications
• Summer Undergraduate Experience Program
• Undergraduate Electives Overview
• Available Courses Overview
• PHAR 1001: Orientation to Pharmacy
• PHAR 1002: Medical Terminology
• PHAR 1003: Non-Prescription Medications and Self-Care
• PHAR 1004: Common Prescription Drugs and Diseases
• PHAR 2002: Precision Medicine and Health: Understanding the Personal Genome
• PHAR 3206: Foundations of Health Literacy
• PHAR 3700/5700: Fundamentals of Pharmacotherapy
• PHAR 4204W/5204: Drugs and the U.S. Healthcare System
• PHAR 5201: Applied Medical Terminology
• PHAR 5205: Obesity: Issues, Interventions, Innovations
• PHAR 5310: Topics in Pharmacy Ethics (Pandemics)
• Continuing Professional Development
• Departments & Divisions Overview
• Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology
• Medical Laboratory Sciences
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Occupational Therapy
• Office of Professional & Clinical Affairs
• Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems
• Pharmaceutics
• Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Professional Education Division
• Centers and Institutes Overview
• Brain Barriers Research Center
• Center for Allied Health Programs
• Center for Clinical and Cognitive Neuropharmacology
• Center for Drug Design
• Center for Forecasting Drug Response
• Center for Leading Healthcare Change
• Center for Orphan Drug Research
• Epilepsy Research and Education Program
• The Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development
• Institute of Personalized Medicine (IPM)
• PRIME Institute
• Wulling Center for Innovation & Scholarship in Pharmacy Education
• Research Overview
• Research Service Labs
• Endowed Chairs/Professors
• Expertise Guide
• Office of the Associate Dean for Research
• Medical Laboratory Sciences Alumni
• Occupational Therapy Alumni
• Pharmacy Alumni
• Events and Awards
• Celebrating Our Alumni
• MNovationRX
• Covid-19 Stories
• Publications & Newsletters
• Mental Health First Aid Training

• Faculty/Staff Access

Graduate Program

Ph.d. in medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacology.

The Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (MCMP) is one of the top-rated programs in the country and is unique because it combines both medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacology. Students in our PhD program will be trained in an environment that combines chemical and biological approaches, which is essential for translating basic discoveries into novel therapeutics. The scientific approaches taken by students and over 25 faculty in MCMP includes medicinal chemistry and chemical biology, cell and molecular biology, molecular pharmacology, biophysical and computational chemistry, systems biology, functional and pharmacogenomics. Biomedical research topics covered in MCMP can be broadly grouped in three general areas: cancer biology, neuroscience, and infectious diseases.

Our Ph.D. program is fully committed to excellence and innovation in the education of Ph.D. students. We are an inclusive and supportive environment, filled with energetic and creative students, fellows, faculty, and staff. Explore our faculty pages and contact us if you are interested in graduate studies and our Ph.D. program.

The MCMP Graduate Program

• Multidisciplinary Drug Discovery
• Molecular Pharmacology
• Biophysical and Computational Chemistry
• Functional Genomics and Pharmacogenomics
• Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology
• Structural Biology
• Systems Biology
• #7 Pharmacy and #5 Most innovative - US News & World report 2020
• Top 10 Pharmacology in USA - QS rankings 2019
• Top 10 US Public University - The Wall Street Journal, 2020
• 5 consecutive years of Purdue University record research funding
• #13 Worldwide for US Patents - National Academy of Inventors, 2020

We have a world-class reputation for equipping young investigators with the skills andknowledge needed to be successful researchers in the pharmaceutical sciences. Graduate students play an integral role in accomplishing our research mission, and the rich scientific environment that exists in the department can be largely attributed to the outstanding quality of students admitted to the Ph.D. program. Indeed, a number of graduate students in the department have received extramural awards from agencies such as NIH, NSF, and the PhRMA Foundation.

Only students seeking a Ph.D. are admitted to the MCMP graduate program. Two-thirds of the graduate students in MCMP are admitted directly to the departmental graduate program, whereas the other third choose MCMP as their academic home after having entered graduate school through campus interdisciplinary training programs. There are currently over 80 graduate students enrolled in the department, the vast majority of whom are engaged in studies leading to the Ph.D. degree. The presence of approximately 30 postdoctoral associates and other research staff professionals further enriches the intellectual atmosphere.

Information on the Program

• Tabular time line of the program
• Policies and Regulations
• Detailed information on the application and admission processes
• Graduate students in the department are fully supported through various mechanisms including fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. Further information on financing is available.

Graduate Program Information from the College of Pharmacy and the University

• Policies and Regulations Manual for Graduate Programs
• Graduate Pharmacy Programs - Useful information about graduate study in the College
• Graduate Pharmacy Program Admissions - Useful information and FAQ about admissions and application for graduate programs in the College

Need more information? Feel free to call us at 765-494-1362 or send an inquiry to [email protected] .

Give to the School

Drug Discovery: PhD Program

Uniquely positioned to bridge the chemical and biological worlds.

Our program seamlessly blends chemistry and biology, which distinguishes it from traditional graduate programs. We develop and exploit novel chemical tools relevant to the fields of biochemistry, biology, pharmacology, and medicine. Research is directed toward biomedical and pharmaceutical discovery by applying both chemical and biological principles to interactions between molecular structure and biological activity.

All of our graduates have been successful in finding desirable positions. An important measure of the success of our program is whether students are obtaining their first-choice postdoctoral positions. To a large extent, our recent graduates are receiving multiple offers from top labs. Our recent graduates have taken postdoctoral positions in prestigious labs at Harvard, Duke, Scripps, and MIT, to name a few.

PhD Requirements

Students enter the CBMC program through application to either the Pharmaceutical Sciences program or the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, a large umbrella program offering an entry to 16 PhD programs on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus. The Figure below shows the overview of the CBMC program. To complete the CBMC graduate program, a student needs to pass 8 courses, cumulative exams, qualifying exam and thesis defense. In addition, students will participate in the weekly seminar series throughout the training. Over the last 10 years, more than 50 PhD students have graduated from the CBMC program and the average time to completion is approximately 5 years. More details are described in the Student Handbook .

PhD Curriculum

CBMC 807: Molecular Foundations in Chemical Biology Prerequisites: Students are expected to have a solid understanding of introductory organic chemistry as taught at the undergraduate level.

This course provides a review of important concepts in organic chemistry as they apply to biological research. Topics include a review of intermolecular interactions as they apply to biological structures and function, a discussion of how small molecules interact with their targets, an overview of synthetic methods that relate particularly to drug molecules, and basic strategies of drug design.

CBMC 805: Molecular Modeling Prerequisites: None

This course provides a general introduction to the field of Molecular Modeling while providing relevant applications of theory to both academic and industrial research endeavors.

PHRS 801: Common Core in Pharmaceutical Sciences Prerequisites: None.

This course provides an interdisciplinary environment for students from each of the four Divisional PhD programs in UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Students will learn about and develop skills in topics related to responsible conduct of research, pharmaceutical development, professional development, and independent development.

PHRS 899: Seminars in Chemical Biology Students must register for PHRS 899 each semester of their graduate program. However, only 4 credits of PHRS 899 (2 credits for MS) may count toward requirement for the PhD degree.  Seminars are conducted jointly with the Division of Chemical Biology and Bioorganic Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry. Attendance at all Division seminars is mandatory and two unexcused absences will result in a grade of F. As an additional component of the seminar requirements of the graduate curriculum, attendance by all students is required during a student’s Doctoral Defense. These Defense seminars are held outside of the normal seminar series.

Each student is required to present a seminar in PHRS 899 either in the student’s third year or in the beginning of his/her fourth year and will be considered in assigning the grade in PHRS 899. In this seminar, the student critically reviews the area pertinent to his/her thesis topic making sure that s/he discusses studies that include his/her group’s contributions and those of other laboratories and includes a description of the student’s ongoing studies that add to this body of research. Faculty members will evaluate the student seminar. Students receiving an overall failing evaluation on the presentation will receive an “incomplete” grade in PHRS 899 for that semester and must consult with the seminar coordinator before giving a make-up seminar at a later date.  Additionally, students receiving “incomplete” grades may be advised to seek further training in presentations. In those cases where the student’s research contains intellectual property (IP) and where disclosure risks the IP, a student can provide a comprehensive review of a different subject in medicinal chemistry. Permission to do so will require approval of the thesis adviser and the seminar coordinator. Each seminar topic, title, summary, and research article must be approved by the student’s research adviser and seminar coordinator.  A student presenter should send the title of their seminar talk to the Graduate Program Coordinator upon request.

PHRS 991: Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Research Rotations) During the first two semesters, the student conducts three ~10-week research rotation projects, each under the supervision of a different faculty member. These rotation projects are considered as course work for PHRS 991. Students select rotations from any of the CBMC Faculty. With approval of the DDGS, students may also perform rotation projects with faculty outside the labs of the CBMC Faculty, especially when the rotation will provide training in an area that is outside of the expertise of the CBMC Faculty.

To select an adviser for each research rotation, the student should interview members of the CBMC faculty about possible projects. Prior to each rotation, the student will turn in a RESEARCH ROTATION LAB SELECTION FORM (Appendix A) to the Graduate Program Coordinator. Over the course of the first year each student is encouraged to schedule individual interviews with all members of the CBMC faculty. Although varied slightly from year to year, the rotations usually start in the late August and end in the late April in the next year. The schedule for the 2022-2023 academic year is as follows:

Fall : Monday, August 22 – Friday, October 28 (OK to start before August 22)

Winter : Monday, November 7-Friday, January 20

Spring : Monday, January 30 – Friday, April 7

Students admitted in the fall semesters can begin their rotations the summer before. In that scenario, the student must contact the Graduate Program Coordinator at least four weeks prior to the start of the rotation. The summer rotation will be considered as one of their three required rotations. A waiver for one research rotation may be granted if a student has previously completed substantial independent research. Students seeking such a waiver must petition the DDGS, and provide information (e.g. reports, manuscripts, grant proposals, and/or letters from research advisers) about their previous research. If a student has obtained a specific fellowship to work with a CBMC faculty member, then research rotations may be optional.

During lab rotations, students are expected to work in the laboratory at least 20 hours per week. Students are fully integrated into the laboratory during their rotation projects and are involved in lab meetings and journal clubs. At the beginning and end of each rotation, the rotation adviser and student review a written or oral statement of expectations for the student’s performance in the laboratory. These discussions provide the student with the advisers’ expectations and critical comments on areas of excellence and weakness. Guidelines for the research rotations are described in the PHRS 991 syllabus.

At the end of each rotation, students will submit a written report using the Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences – Student Evaluation Form (Appendix B) to the Graduate Program Coordinator. Students will also present the results of their rotation projects to their Student Advisory Committee (SAC). The SAC committee, in consultation with the rotation adviser, will provide a brief summary and evaluation and submit a grade to the Graduate Program Coordinator and the DDGS to be entered at the end of the semester. After the third rotation, students will present the work of their rotation in the CBMC End of Year Mini-Symposium.

  The DDGS serves as the temporary advisor for the first-year students who enroll in PHRS 991. The SAC committee provides additional mentoring and consists of three CBMC faculty. The SAC is formed at the beginning of the first semester based on a student’s request and availability of faculty members.

CHEM 701  (Introduction to Laboratory Safety) Prerequisites: first year graduate student status or permission of instructor

This course provides an overview of safety rules and regulations, guidance in safe laboratory practice, and creates a culture of laboratory safety.

CBMC 804A: Biochemical Foundations of Chemical Biology . Prerequisites: CHEM 466, BIOC 505, 601, or PHCO 643; or permission of instructors.

This course covers core biochemical and molecular biology techniques, concepts, and tools used to conduct research at the interface of chemistry and biology. Topics include enzymology, characterization of drug-target interactions, mechanisms-based inhibitor design, assay design and development, targeting kinases and GPCRs, biopharmaceuticals, gene therapy, nucleic-acid binding agents, information-based drugs, chemical tools to study epigenetics, harnessing biosynthetic pathways for chemical diversity, and other recent advances and techniques in drug discovery.

CBMC 804B: Foundations of Chemical Biology Journal Club . Prerequisites: Enrollment in CBMC 804A.

This course is a series of presentations by students that run in concert with CBMC 804A.

Biology Core Course Each student has the option to choose one 3- or 4-credit hour course on campus that is focused on biological systems or techniques.  A good starting point to find such a course is the BBSP website. Some examples include PHCO701 (Introduction to Molecular Pharmacology), BIOC706 (Biochemistry of Human Disease), GNET631 ( Advanced Molecular Biology), CBIO643 (Cell Structure and Function) and CBIO893 (Advanced Cell Biology).

PHRS 802: Drug Development and Professional Skills Development Prerequisites: None.

This course provides an interdisciplinary environment for students from each of the four Divisional PhD programs in UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Students will learn about the general process of drug development and develop associated professional skills.

Elective Course: Students have the option to take one elective course of their interest. There is no requirement on the number of credit hours of the course. Students typically choose a course that provides specific skills and knowledge their thesis work needs.

PHRS 994: Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Thesis Research) The students begin to register 3 credit hours PHRS 994 each semester once they have chosen the thesis adviser. Guidelines for the thesis research are described in the PHRS 994 syllabus.

Meet Our Faculty and Staff

Cbmc faculty, katelyn arnold.

[email protected]

Katelyn Arnold is a Research Assistant Professor in the Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry (CBMC). Dr. Arnold’s research interest is in therapeutic development of synthetic heparin. She uses chemoenzymatically synthetized oligosaccharides in various animal models to investigate the relationship between oligosaccharide structure and function to understand anti-inflammatory mechanisms. This work also involves pharmacokinetic studies using methods and standards specific for synthetic heparin.

[email protected]

ACCEPTING DOCTORAL STUDENTS

The Aubé laboratory uses synthetic chemistry to enable the study of biological pathways and as starting points for drug discovery. Current efforts in the group include the study of new opioids lacking side effects, new approaches for the treatment of tuberculosis, androgen biosynthesis inhibitor discovery, the search for RNA-protein interaction inhibitors, and the development of new synthetic methods.

Alison Axtman

[email protected]

The Axtman lab is devoted to characterization of the dark proteome, especially those proteins with underexplored roles in the brain. Our interests lie at the interface of chemistry and biology, with a focus on using small molecules, specifically potent and selective chemical probes, to explore and impact disease-propagating pathways. Active projects are aimed at finding pre-clinical small molecule candidates that, after further optimization, can help address the need for new therapeutics in human diseases. Our scientists are working to design and synthesize chemical modulators and develop screening assays. All data and reagents are openly shared to facilitate and expedite scientific advancement.

Albert Bowers

[email protected]

Albert Bowers received his PhD in organic chemistry (synthetic methods) from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He carried out postdoctoral research (total synthesis) at Colorado State University before moving as an NIH sponsored fellow to Harvard Medical School (biosynthesis). He is a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and affiliate member of the Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery.

Rafael Couñago

[email protected]

Rafael M. Couñago, PhD, is a Research Associate Professor in the Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Department in the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and a Principal Investigator at the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) at UNC. Rafael´s research group at SGC-UNC uses protein biochemistry, structural biology and cell-based assays to illuminate protein function and explore new therapeutic strategies for human diseases.

David Drewry

[email protected]

The Drewry lab in focused on designing, synthesizing, evaluating, and sharing small molecule chemical probes for protein kinases. These tools are used to build a deeper understanding of disease pathways and facilitate identification of important targets for drug discovery. Through wide ranging partnerships with academic and industrial groups, the Drewry lab is building a Kinase Chemogenomic Set (KCGS) that is available to the community for screening.

Kevin Frankowski

[email protected]

Research in the Frankowski lab uses synthetic chemistry to develop new approaches for the treatment of unmet medical needs. Our current efforts focus on programs to treat metastatic cancer, hepatitis C virus infection and the development of chemical tools for studying dopamine and sigma receptors.

Stephen Frye

[email protected]

Dr. Stephen Frye is currently a Professor in the Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery (CICBDD) which he previously directed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). Prior to joining UNC to create the CICBDD in 2007, Dr. Frye was the world-wide vice president of Discovery Medicinal Chemistry (DMC) at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Dr. Frye led DMC for seven years, overseeing five departments and more than 200 chemists in the U.S. and U.K. developing global protein target-class chemical science for GSK. During his 20-year career at GSK, the teams led by Dr. Frye successfully developed three FDA approved drugs: Avodart, a dual 5a-reductase inhibitor for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, Tykerb, a dual erbB2/EGFR inhibitor for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, and Pazopanib, a multi-targeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma and soft tissue sarcoma. As founding director and current faculty member in the CICBDD at UNC, Dr. Frye plays a key role in translational research through collaborative drug discovery projects with other UNC faculty. A clinical candidate from one of these projects created in the Center is now progressing through multiple human trials. In addition, his lab has established a leading program in the area of chemical biology of chromatin regulation with an emphasis on protein-protein interactions dependent upon lysine methylation. Dr. Frye has published more than 130 papers in the fields of organic and medicinal chemistry.

Lauren Haar

[email protected]

Our projects focus on investigating the role that refined spatial and temporal control of intracellular signaling cascades can play in the progression of cardiovascular injury. We use a research strategy involving plasmid and optogenetic protein engineering, high content screening, high resolution microscopy and physiologically based cell analysis. With this approach we hope to uncover new targets for therapeutic development by better defining signaling cascades that drive cardiovascular disease response.

Nate Hathaway

[email protected]

The Hathaway lab was established at UNC with a founding idea that the group could make a contribution to understanding dynamic epigenetic processes by using unique chemical biology approaches they pioneered. Through the combination of protein bioengineering, synthetic organic chemistry, and mammalian cell-based model systems, they have created platforms that use chemically tethered enzymatic recruitment to specific chromatin loci to produce a host of mechanistic insights. The Hathaway group also has drug discovery programs to identify new small molecules that inhibit disease relevant epigenetic pathways both for research purposes and as potential future therapeutics.

Lindsey Ingerman James

[email protected]

The James lab is interested in modulating the activity of chromatin reader proteins with small-molecule ligands, specifically potent and selective chemical probes, in order to open new avenues of research in the field of chromatin biology and potentially translate to compounds of therapeutic value. They are also interested in applying novel probe-based techniques, such as affinity labeling technologies, to the study of epigenetic regulators.

Michael Bruce Jarstfer

[email protected]

Michael Jarstfer, PhD, is an Associate Professor within the Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry and the Associate Dean for Graduate Education. He is also the Director of Graduate Studies for the Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD program. Dr. Jarstfer has expertise in drug target identification, high-throughput-screening, medicinal chemistry, and compound optimization for drug discovery as well as pharmacology in preclinical animal models.

David S. Lawrence

[email protected]

NOT ACCEPTING GRADUATE STUDENTS

The Lawrence lab works to understand the biochemical processes of the cell by studying them as they happen in the cell as opposed to studying them in vitro. He currently focuses on applying his discoveries to cancer detection and treatment and, to a more limited extent, inflammatory diseases.

Andrew L Lee

[email protected]

Andrew Lee studies the role of conformational dynamics in protein function, conformational changes, enzyme catalysis, drug binding, and allostery. His laboratory uses a variety of biophysical and biochemical tools, especially NMR spectroscopy. NMR spectroscopy is a powerful approach that yields atomic-resolution molecular information and is uniquely sensitive to molecular fluctuations over a broad range of timescales.

[email protected]

Research in the Jian Liu group is focused on glycobiology and glycobiochemistry, an emerging field that emphasizes the biological functions of carbohydrates. We are particularly interested in understanding the biosynthetic mechanism of sulfated polysaccharides known as heparan sulfate and heparin.

Rihe Liu , PhD

[email protected]

The Liu laboratory’s research interests focus on the development and application of novel drug target-binding affinity molecules by integrating directed molecular selection and evolution, ligand design and engineering, in vitro cellular and signaling characterization, and in vivo therapeutic efficacy studies in tumor mouse models. The Liu laboratory has extensive experiences in the design, synthesis, characterization, and delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic agents based on both polypeptides and polynucleotides.

Robert McGinty

[email protected]

The McGinty lab studies molecular mechanisms of chromatin signaling. By pairing atomic precision protein chemistry with high resolution structural biology, they aim to understand how the nucleosome functions as a signaling hub for gene expression, DNA replication, and DNA damage repair in development and disease.

Eugene Muratov

[email protected]

Dr. Muratov served as a corresponding author on an approach used by regulators to initially screen new chemical products for toxic effects. They have proposed an improvement that could increase the accuracy of toxicity estimation to as much as 85 percent, saving millions of dollars and years of development time for new drugs and other products while improving safety.

Samantha Pattenden

[email protected]

The Pattenden lab develops innovative techniques in chromatin-based therapeutic target discovery and cancer diagnostics. Our research program enables discovery of novel molecular targets, pathways and mechanisms. Our central strategy exploits tumor-specific changes in chromatin accessibility, a universal feature that is directly linked with transcriptional activation, DNA damage repair, replication, RNA processing, and nuclear organization.

Kenneth Pearce, Jr

[email protected]

Ken Pearce, Ph D is the director of the Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery. Pearce’s primary expertise and interests are fundamentals of protein methods, biochemical and cell assay development, medium- and high-throughput screening, hit validation and mode-of-action, biophysical methods for characterizing protein-protein and small molecule-protein interactions, and structure-activity relationships for early drug discovery.  He joined the center as director of lead discovery and characterization in mid-2015 after spending over 18 years at GlaxoSmithKline and legacy companies in the Molecular Discovery Research organization.

Konstantin Popov

[email protected]

The Popov Lab develops inventive, cutting-edge approaches to solve problems in modern computational structural biology and drug discovery. Their computational research, in collaboration with experimental screening and medicinal chemistry efforts in the Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery enables the identification of novel chemical probes and drug candidates to advance understanding of biological processes. Some of their recent projects include: • Identification and characterization of allosteric and cryptic binding sites • Development of AI-driven methods for accelerated virtual screening (VS) • AI approaches for DNA-encoded library (DEL)-guided virtual screening (VS) and new-generation DEL library designs • Collaborative hit discovery and optimization projects

[email protected]

We are actively engaged in drug discovery efforts via the shared resources of the National Institute of Mental Health’s Psychoactive Drug Screening Program. Our goals are to discover and develop novel small molecule probes for in vitro and in vivo validation of molecular targets for therapeutic drug discovery. We have particular strengths with GPCR and ion-channels and have expanded our capabilities to enable screening of the entire GPCR-ome in massively parallel screening campaigns (see Keiser et al, Nature 2009; Huang et al, Nature in press and Kroeze et al, Nature Structural Biology 2015 for recent papers).

Paul Sapienza

[email protected]

Paul Sapienza is a research assistant professor in the Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. His research aims to further understanding of the role of dynamics in biomolecular recognition, enzymatic catalysis, and allostery. He uses nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study protein dynamics on multiple timescales, while other tools such as calorimetry, crystallography, and kinetics serve to link dynamics with function. He is focusing on thymidylate synthase as it is an enzyme with a multistep catalytic cycle, is a cancer drug target, and exhibits negative cooperativity (allostery).

Scott Singleton

[email protected]

Scott Singleton is engaged in educational innovation and research. His work attempts to build on what is understood about memory and attention to devise, test, and implement effective teaching and learning strategies. His current work focuses on teaching that positively affects student engagement in the classroom, identifying core basic science concepts that serve as threshold concepts for pharmacy students, and evaluating the transfer of learning between courses in the professional PharmD program.

Junjiang Sun

[email protected]

Junjiang Sun is a Research Assistant Professor in the Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry (CBMC). Sun’s research interests focus on gene therapy for hemophilia, hemophilia associated joint disease (Hemophilia Arthropathy), by expressing bypassing agents (activated coagulation factor V, IX) via AAV vectors. This technology platform provides novel therapeutic approaches for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).

Alexander Tropsha , PhD

[email protected]

Alex Tropsha, Ph.D., is an expert in the fields of computational chemistry, cheminformatics and data science. His laboratory develops new methodologies, software tools and applications in the areas of computer-assisted drug design, chemical toxicology, materials informatics, text mining, and health care informatics.

Xiaodong Wang

[email protected]

The Wang lab is interested in developing drug leads/candidates for kinase, phosphate kinase and protein targets identified by UNC faculty and external investigators. We have successfully used the structure- and/or ligand-based drug design approaches to deliver compounds to clinic (MerTK inhibitors such as MRX-2843) or licensing (IDH1 inhibitor, co-developed with NCATs). We will continue to apply the similar approaches for drug discovery towards new targets.

Tim Willson

[email protected]

The Willson laboratory is home to the US site of the SGC, an open science consortium that accelerates research on the lesser studied regions of the genome. The laboratory works closely with pharma companies and academic investigators to develop small molecule chemical probes for hundreds of dark kinases that are openly shared with the scientific community. Current research has led to the development of the Kinase Chemogenomic Set (KCGS) that contains selective inhibitors of more than 200 kinases as well as high quality chemical probes for several of the dark kinases.

[email protected]

Dr. Xu co-authored the Heparin study with Dr. Jian Liu and Dr. Lindhardt. Heparin is a naturally occurring polysaccharide that prevents blood clotting, or coagulation, and has been in use since the late 1930s. A polysaccharide is a long chain of carbohydrate molecules.

Qisheng Zhang

[email protected]

The Zhang lab studies lipid signaling pathways that are involved in human disease by developing novel chemical probes and technologies. They currently focus on discovering new bioactive lipids, developing small molecule modulators and biosensors for lipid metabolizing enzymes, and applying their research results to novel diagnosis and treatment of cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and antimicrobial resistance.

CBMC Joint Appointments

Cbmc emeriti faculty, cbmc adjunct faculty, yuriy abramov , ph.d.

[email protected]

Nikolay Dokholyan, PhD, MS

Sean ekins , ph.d., denis fourches, phd, clark d jeffries , ph.d., jian jin , ph.d., kyoko nakagawa-goto , ph.d., david nichols , ph.d., lars pedersen, ph.d..

[email protected] Adjunct Associate Professor, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Staff Scientist, Head of Collaborative Crystallography Lab, NIEHS

[email protected]

Dr. Tang is a collaborating member from ViiV Healthcare with the UNC-Chapel Hill HIV Cure Center. His research is focused on discovering novel HIV latency reversal agents with better tolerability and exploring new ways to clear the latent T cells upon activation and viral particles.

Lan Xie , Ph.D.

Weifan zheng , ph.d..

[email protected]

Sara Leslie

[email protected]

Ain G. Mason

[email protected]

Jacqueline Norris-Drouin

[email protected]

Michael Stashko

[email protected]

[email protected]

Meet our PhD Students and Fellows

Our students receive full financial support, including a competitive stipend, paid tuition and health insurance. They complete the Ph.D. program in approximately five years, and our graduates have taken postdocs in prestigious labs (at Harvard, Duke, Scripps and MIT to name a few) and found desirable positions in academia and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. We meet many of our students for the first time during the School’s Recruitment Weekend each January.

Download Brochure

• Graduate Students

• Andrew Perkowski

• Feijun Wang

Ready to take the next step?

ABOUT THE DIVISION APPLY NOW CONTACT US DOWNLOAD OUR BROCHURE

• The Graduate School >
• Explore & Apply >
• Choose UB >
• Academic Programs >

Medicinal Chemistry PhD

College of arts and sciences, program description.

Having occupied a state-of-the-art building, merged the Departments of Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry, and added several recent faculty, the research activity of the medicinal chemistry program is very energized. As a moderately large graduate program, we have the critical mass for the state-of-the-art instrumentation required for modern research in chemistry. Still, the program is sufficiently small to have a nurturing and supportive environment for all the students.

Chemistry Department 360 Natural Sciences Complex Buffalo, NY 14260 Email: [email protected] Phone: 716-645-6807 Fax: 716-645-6963

Instruction Method

• In Person   (100 percent of courses offered in person)

Full/Part Time Options

Credits required, time-to-degree, application fee.

This program is officially registered with the New York State Education Department (SED).

Online programs/courses may require students to come to campus on occasion. Time-to-degree and number of credit hours may vary based on full/part time status, degree, track and/or certification option chosen. Time-to-degree is based on calendar year(s). Contact the department for details.

Conducting research in drug metabolism, bio-analytical chemistry and the biophysical characterization of viral protein assembly

The Department of Medicinal Chemistry is part of the highly collaborative, interdisciplinary School of Pharmacy. Medicinal Chemistry is a discipline with a traditional focus on organic synthetic chemistry with the broad goals of drug discovery and optimization. The Department of Medicinal Chemistry has always departed somewhat from this tradition given the focus of many of its faculty on the research areas of mechanistic drug metabolism, toxicology, and bioanalytical chemistry.

Research in medicinal chemistry encompasses a broad spectrum of activities including studies pursuant to investigations of the interaction of both drugs and toxic substances with biological systems, and the relationship of chemical structure and dynamics to biological effect and function. In recent years research activities in the Department have been broadened further by the addition of several faculty members with expertise in the areas of biological mass spectrometry and biophysical virology.

OUR VISION:

To provide an outstanding learning and research environment by cultivating a collegial, inclusive, and interdisciplinary community. this community shares an intellectual passion for the fundamental molecular sciences that explain disease and therapeutic mechanisms, drug design and drug development. the medicinal chemistry departmental mission is focused on training leaders in all aspects of pharmaceutical sciences including clinical practice, basic research, and teaching..

The Graduate Program in Medicinal Chemistry regularly collaborates with the broader University of Washington research community and the considerable biotechnology community in Seattle, to lead many aspects of research in the fields of drug metabolism and disposition, drug design and delivery, and disease mechanism.

Latest Department News

Alex wiley named 2023-2024 magnuson scholar.

UW’s Board of Health Sciences Deans announced this week that fourth-year UWSOP Medicinal Chemistry student Alex Wiley has been named a 2023-2024 Magnuson Scholar. She is one of 7 awardees honored this year for both…

Explore the Department of Medicinal Chemistry

Faculty & Staff Directory

Graduate Education & Training Programs

• Prospective Student Inquiries [email protected]
• General Inquiries [email protected]
• Job Posting Request
• Building Hours & Maps
• Prospective Students
• Current Students

What's Happening

Student resources, quick links.

• Alumni & Friends

Update Your Information

• Academic Departments
• Clinical Pharmacy
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Research in Clinical Pharmacy

Research in medicinal chemistry, research in pharmaceutical sciences, research cores and services, biointerfaces institute, michigan drug discovery.

• Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research

Translational Oncology Program

• Faculty Publications
• Research Opportunities
• Research Collaborations

UM Pharmacy Professor Research Outreach (PRO)

• About the College

Message from the Dean

• Dean Search

Accreditation

New cop building, our history, our leadership.

• Our Mission, Vision & Organization

Teaching Excellence Awards

Job openings.

• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Department Contact Info

Emergency information.

• COVID-19 Updates

Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct

• Alternative and Complementary Medicines
• Diagnosis and Health Conditions
• Healthy Choices
• Information for Caregivers
• Medication Information
• Other Resources
• COP Directory

Search form

• Alumni & Friends

Why U-M Pharmacy?

Recruitment events, student blogs, career potential, program overview.

• Information Request Form

PharmD Program

• Experiential Education
• Pharmacy Phamilies
• PharmD Curriculum
• Assessments
• Pharmacy Student Ambassadors
• Pre-Pharmacy Student Organization (PPSO)

PhD in Clinical Pharmacy

Phd in medicinal chemistry, phd in pharmaceutical sciences, ms in integrated pharmaceutical sciences.

• Career Flexibility

BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences

• Program Goals
• Fast Track to PharmD
• Student Services
• Research and Honors Program
• Student Outcomes

Dual Programs

• Dual PharmD and MBA Program
• Dual PharmD and MPH Program
• Dual PharmD and PhD Program

Post-Doc in Clinical Pharmacy

Residency program, ambulatory care enrichment program, research experiences for undergraduates program.

• Eligibility
• Program Schedule
• Application
• Pharmacy Scholars Program
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Income Guidelines

Assignment of Credit Hours

Pharmacy community college connect, postdoctoral collegiate fellows program.

• Expectations of Faculty Mentors
• Faculty Mentor List
• Review & Selection

PharmD Program Admissions

• Application Overview
• PharmD Prerequisites
• Preferred Admission Programs
• Applicant Characteristics

PhD Program Admissions

Ms program admissions, bachelors program admissions, funding your education, financial aid brochure.

• Tuition and Fees
• PharmD Scholarships
• Graduate Support

Student Organizations

• Student News

Course Descriptions

Student affairs.

• Financial Aid & Scholarship
• Advising & Registration
• Career Counseling
• Personal Counseling
• Campus Resources
• Student Affairs Directory

Career Connections

Student handbook, access pharmacy, campus groups, cornerstone learning, outlook in the cloud, rx preceptor, taubman library, wolverine access.

• Prescott Celebration

Alumni Awards

• Alumni News

Board of Governors

• Board Member Position Description

Job Opportunities

Submit personal news, meet the advancement team, update your alumni record.

• News & Events
• Previous Faculty Spotlights
• Department Metrics
• Research Laboratories
• CPTS PhD Program
• CPTS Fellowship Program
• Post-Graduate Residency
• REACH Fellowship
• Infectious Diseases Fellowship
• ACE Program
• Vision and Mission
• Department Directory
• Simulated Patient Program
• Biochemical NMR Core
• Clinical Pharmacogenomics Laboratory
• Pharmacokinetic and Mass Spectrometry Core
• Vahlteich Medicinal Chemistry Core

Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research

• Previous Seminars
• Newly Awarded
• Available Funding
• Grant Tools "Coming Soon"
• Giving Tuesday
• Faculty News
• Research News
• Annual Report Archive
• Upcoming Events
• Newsletter Archive

Our Mission, Vision & Organization

• COP Organization Chart
• COP Strategic Plan

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

• Dean's Vision Statement
• DEI Strategic Plan
• Upcoming News & Events
• REU Program
• Education & Training
• McKesson Foundation Health Equity Speaker Series
• Resources & Support
• Concern Reporting
• Emergency FAQs
• Stay Informed!

MedChem Banner

TOP RESEARCH EXPENDITURE IN THE U.S.

Medicinal chemistry involves the application of a number of specialized disciplinary approaches all focused on the ultimate goal of drug discovery.  Drug target identification and validation, rational (target-based) drug design, structural biology, computational-based drug design, methods development (chemical, biochemical, and computational), and “Hit-to-lead” development are all aspects of medicinal chemistry.  The techniques and approaches of chemical biology, synthetic organic chemistry, combinatorial (bio)chemistry, mechanistic enzymology, computational chemistry, chemical genomics, and high-throughput screening are all used applied by medicinal chemists towards drug discovery.

For our Pharm.D. students, medicinal chemistry is integrated with pharmacology to present a coherent picture of the principles of drug action.  Pharmacology mainly deals with drug action at the cellular, tissue/organ and organism levels.  Medicinal chemistry focuses on the molecular aspects of drug action: interactions with the drug targets from both the drug and the target point of view, the relationship of drug chemical structure to drug action and the effects of metabolism on the drug structure and hence its action.

In 1913, the University of Michigan first outlined a graduate program offering M.A., M.S., Ph.D. and D.Sc. degrees in a joint effort between the Graduate Department (now the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies) and the Pharmacy Department (now College of Pharmacy).  As a discipline, Medicinal Chemistry in the United States started with the appointment of Dr. F. F. Blicke as Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 1926.  Prof. Blicke initiated the first graduate education program in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, focusing on synthetic organic chemistry.  The program expanded in the 1950s to include analytical aspects and pharmaceutics.  After Prof. Blicke’s retirement in 1960, his former student, Prof. J. H. Burkhalter returned to the College and argued for an independent graduate education program in Medicinal Chemistry.  Along with the support of Graduate School Dean Alfred Sussman and the participation of a core group of interdepartmental faculty (within and outside of the College of Pharmacy), in 1967 Prof. Burkhalter established the Interdepartmental Program in Medicinal Chemistry (Med Chem IDP).  The Med Chem IDP was established to train students in a broad range of chemically-based disciplines so that its graduates are able to apply the rigor and methods of the physical sciences to drug discovery research.  Subsequently, in 1973 Prof. Raymond Counsell and in 1977 Prof. Leroy B. Townsend were appointed as Director of the Med Chem IDP.  The Med Chem IDP is administered by the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies with direct oversight by the College of Pharmacy.

In 1999, in response to the significant growth of the College of Pharmacy under previous Dean Ara G. Paul, then Dean George L. Kenyon initiated a process of departmentalization of the College of Pharmacy.  Prof. James K. Coward was the first Chair of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Director of the Med Chem IDP.  The Department of Medicinal Chemistry is the administrative component of the College of Pharmacy that oversees the Medicinal Chemistry faculty, research scientists and postdoctoral fellows (e.g., recruitment, mentoring, evaluation), has responsibility for the medicinal chemistry Pharm.D. and Ph.D. courses and seminar program, and coordinates the participation of medicinal chemistry faculty in College-level committees and other administrative duties.

The Department of Medicinal Chemistry is the home for the Med Chem IDP Ph.D. program, which serves to administer the Med Chem Ph.D. program, with responsibility for graduate student recruitment, training/mentoring, progression and graduation.  The Med Chem IDP includes all faculty from the Department of Medicinal Chemistry as well as select faculty from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the College of Pharmacy and a variety of schools (e.g., Literature, Science and the Arts, Medical School) and departments at Michigan (e.g., Biological Chemistry, Biophysics, Chemistry, Pathology, Pharmacology, Radiology).  Approximately half of the Med Chem IDP faculty have their primary appointments outside of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry.  These faculty currently mentor ~20% of the Med Chem Ph.D. students and are fully engaged in the Med Chem Ph.D. program in many other ways including seminar attendance, recruitment of students, teaching in our graduate courses, and serving on candidacy and dissertation committees.  There is an annual meeting of the Med Chem IDP faculty to review the status of the IDP and the students.

PhD Program: Medicinal Chemistry

About the track.

The medicinal chemistry track encompasses drug discovery and prepares you with the means to study the behavior of chemical substances at the molecular level.

• You will use computational, biochemical and cell-based screening technologies to identify natural and synthetic compounds with pharmacological activity.
• You will study structure-activity relationships to understand the mechanisms of drug action.
• Your research will be directed towards the identification, synthesis and development of new chemical molecules suitable for biological studies and eventually therapeutic use.

Download our brochure

Faculty Associated with this Track

• Donna Huryn, PhD
• Paul Johnston, PhD
• Velvet Journigan, PhD
• Jaden Jun, PhD
• Terance McGuire, PhD
• Peter Wipf, PhD
• Xiangqun Xie, PhD, MBA
• Wei Zhang, PhD

Download the competency requirements for a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Primary Contact

Xiangqun (Sean) Xie , PhD, MBA Professor 206 Salk Pavilion 412-383-5276 [email protected]

Doctor of Philosophy in Medicinal Chemistry (PhD)

Location: Boston Start Term: Fall Either build on your master’s-level knowledge or start directly on your PhD examining the behavior of chemical substances at the molecular level and conducting research related to the development of new drugs and novel targets.

Research Drug Design and Synthesis in Some of the World’s Most Advanced Laboratories

Your doctoral journey.

Our research-and-development focused curriculum prepares you for roles at the frontier of drug discovery and enhancement in the pharmaceutical industry. You’ll work side-by-side with globally respected faculty working on novel drug targets and diseases. This program is STEM-designated , qualifying international students for an additional two years of OPT work in the United States.

First-Year Experience (following completion of your MS degree)

• deepen your grasp of pharmaceutical science principles
• study medicinal, organic, and bio-organic chemistry and spectroscopic analysis
• participate in related laboratory rotations and graduate seminars

Second-Year Experience

• engage in research in your desired area of specialization
• continue to participate in related graduate seminars

Third-Year Experience

• develop a thorough understanding of drug metabolism
• extend your research in a desired area of specialization and create a grant proposal

Medicinal Chemist compensation reported by Payscale.com in 2022.

The projected professional growth between 2022 and 2032 is 6%, faster than average.  (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Massachusetts is #1 in Industry investment in R&D per capita. (Massachusetts Life Sciences Center)

Developing Future Leaders in the Pharmaceutical Sciences

Dream Jobs That Help Humanity

As a medicinal chemist, you’ll work with some of the most dynamic technologies and life-saving breakthroughs in healthcare.

Working at the Frontier of Therapeutics

Jose Mauricio Paredes Quiroz, MS ’22, pursues his calling as a drug hunter working on RNA-based therapeutics at Dicerna Pharmaceuticals.

Students Publish with Pharmaceutical Sciences Professor

Professor Swati Betharia, PhD in Pharmacology ’11, led a research team of undergraduate and graduate students to a key finding on neuroprotection against metal toxicity.

Graduate Degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences

As well as the PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, we offer five additional opportunities for graduate study at the master’s, doctoral, and certificate levels.

Master of Science in Medicinal Chemistry

Two-year, full-time program on the Boston campus.

Master of Science in Pharmaceutics

Two-year, full-time program on the Boston and Worcester campuses.

Master of Science in Clinical Research

Flexible full-time or part-time program on the Boston campus and online.

Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research

Flexible three-course program on the Boston campus and online.

Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutics

50-credit, full-time program on the Boston and Worcester campuses.

Download a Program Fact Sheet

Download a program fact sheet for a snapshot of the Doctor of Philosophy in Medicinal Chemistry.

Cookie Notice

Graduate Programs

Explore information.

If you want a career at the forefront of new drug development, there's nowhere better to study in Ohio than The University of Toledo.  

UToledo’s College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences has been ranked first in Ohio and eighth in the U.S. for teaching and value. UToledo also is ranked among the nation's best pharmacy schools by U.S. News & World Report. 

Our master’s and doctoral programs in Medicinal Chemistry focus on the theory and practice of drug design. Our strength — and what sets us apart from other programs — is our focus on chemistry and advanced biology. Not many universities emphasize both.

Graduate students learn biological techniques to identify targets. They use chemistry to design drugs to affect those targets. This holistic, interdisciplinary approach makes our graduates more marketable.  

Employers also love that our Medicinal Chemistry students are prepared for hands-on research. UToledo graduates of the Medicinal Chemistry Ph.D. program go on to prestigious post-doctoral appointments and high-level jobs in the pharmaceutical industry or academia. M.S. graduates go on to Ph.D. programs at UToledo or other universities or directly into industry.

Pharm.D./Ph.D. Dual Degree Program

In addition to our Ph.D. and M.S. programs in Medicinal Chemistry, we also offer a dual degree program for those who want to earn both their Ph.D. and Pharm.D. degrees.

Top Reasons to Study medicinal chemistry at UToledo

• Small classes. Our classes are offered in a small-group tutorial format. You have extensive, direct access to faculty mentors. 
• Intensive research. Begin your doctoral program rotating through at least two faculty laboratories, where you will conduct small research projects. These rotations will inform and inspire your future dissertation work. M.S. students enter a lab during their second semesters. 
• Internships. Participate in an optional internship with a Toledo, Ohio-based company or one of our international partners. These experiences have turned into career-track jobs for many Medicinal Chemistry graduates.  
• Health Science Campus. Our college's location on UToledo's Health Science Campus allows graduate students to collaborate with students in other healthcare professions and access research labs, pharmacies and more. All students also have access to the chemical instrumentation on Main Campus. 
• The  Shimadzu Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Research Excellence  has the latest advanced instruments, including a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. The instruments allow M.S. and Ph.D. students to research metabolism, disease biomarkers, DNA damage and other areas. 
• The  Center for Drug Design and Development  is a university-based hub for collaborative research with the pharmaceutical industry. The UToledo Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry works closely with the center. 
• Financial support. Students in the Ph.D. program are often supported throughout the program as teaching assistants or research assistants with funding from research grants. Assistantships generally require teaching and research. 

Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research assistants and visiting scholars contribute to a vital research environment at UToledo.  

UToledo faculty in the Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry are skilled researchers and teachers. They are recognized authorities in their areas of specialization and conduct research that contributes to the development of new treatments, practices and innovations.  

Master’s and doctoral students are trained in applied research in rational drug design. They work closely on research with faculty members for their theses. 

UToledo Medicinal Chemists collaborate with chemistry, biology and medical faculty on research. They are involved in research in: 

• Neuroscience 
• Cancer therapy and vaccines 
• Kidney and cardiovascular diseases 
• Organic synthesis 
• Autoimmunology and basic immunology 
• Inflammation and obesity 
• Targeted drug design and development 

What jobs can I get with a medicinal chemistry degree?

Graduates of UToledo's Medicinal Chemistry master's and Ph.D. programs have had a 100% job placement rate during the past few years. The interdisciplinary training our graduates receive is in demand in industry and academia. 

Employers include: 

• Pharmaceutical companies 
• Biotechnology companies 
• Hospital and government laboratories 
• Universities 

Non-laboratory opportunities include: 

• Clinical trial administration 
• Scientific writing 
• Intellectual property 
• University faculty and other positions in academia 

Our graduates have been accepted into doctoral programs and offered postdoctoral fellowships at: 

• Walter Reed Army Institute of Research  
• Harvard University 
• Columbia University  
• Ohio State University 
• University of Michigan 
• University of Georgia 
• Johns Hopkins University 
• University of Chicago 
• Northwestern University 
• Scripps Research Institute, Florida 

Our graduates in Medicinal Chemistry have been employed in the following positions: 

• Chemist, Anatrace, Maumee, Ohio 
• Chemist, Stepan Company, Chicago 
• Quality control technician, Mondelez International, Deerfield, Ill. 
• Portfolio manager, medical imaging, U.S. Department of Defense 
• Medical director/compliance officer, Informed Medical Communications, Rockville, Md. 
• Research analyst, Compass Labs, Memphis, Tenn. 
• Medical writer, Integra Lifesciences, Plainsboro, N.J. 
• Associate professor, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutics & Medicinal Chemistry, Stockton, Calif. 
• Director general, Arab Company for Drug Industries and Medical Appliances, and assistant professor, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan 
• Program manager for peer-reviewed Alzheimer’s/epilepsy research programs, U.S. Department of Defense 

How to Apply to Graduate School

Find your next steps whether you are a new student, readmit student or guest student.

Back to Top

College of Pharmacy

Drug Discovery and Experimental Therapeutics

The Drug Discovery and Experimental Therapeutics (DDET) PhD program offers a unique educational opportunity for students interested in drug discovery and the development of novel therapeutics. The changing landscape of drug discovery and the pharmaceutical industry has created a need for scientists with interdisciplinary training to navigate the complex landscape of medicinal chemistry, biotherapeutics, pharmacogenetics/genomics, and basic pharmacology/toxicology.

Students completing this program will have invaluable expertise from carefully selected coursework, a breadth of electives, and engagement in cutting-edge research. DDET features interdisciplinary coursework and a curriculum rich with electives to tailor the individual needs and interests of our graduate students.  

This program prepares students for careers in:

• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Biotechnology Companies
• Regulatory Agencies

Full Support

Our program offers full support for highly qualified applicants, including coverage of tuition and fees, and generous monthly stipend .

Typical Time to Degree

4.5 - 5.5 years

Research Areas

Students in the DDET program are trained in areas including: 

National and international collaborations further enhance the breadth of research activities available to our students.

What Our Graduates Do with Their Degree

Alumni from our program have established meaningful and productive careers at all levels in industry, business, academia, and government. Examples of these include regulatory affairs at the FDA; research positions in Department of Defense, Department of Energy, academic centers, and universities in the United States and overseas; and in biotech/pharmaceutical companies.

Our graduates enjoy long careers and frequently advance to leadership or executive positions. Some examples of where our recent graduates can be found are listed below.

Unique Experience

Our faculty educate PhD students and postdoctoral Fellows in the chemistry and biology of drug discovery. We offer an interdisciplinary course of study and world class faculty with leading edge research projects resulting in a quality education and rewarding careers in the pharmaceutical industry and academia. Our outstanding faculty and students ensure a friendly and unique learning and research experience in a pleasant affordable small city in the heart of Iowa.

Income Potential

A 2020 survey conducted by the  American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists  found:

Average Earnings $170,000​/year: Mean Salary  $32,300​/year: Bonuses $3,800/year: Outside Income $206,100/year TOTAL INCOME

Top 25 Percent Earnings >$210,000​/year: Salary ​>$50,000​/year: Bonuses & Incentives.

Bottom 25 Percent Earnings <​$119,700/year: Salary

Fifty Percent of Respondents Earnings <​$159,100/year: Salary

Pharmaceutical scientists develop and test new drugs and bring them to market. It's possible to enter the field with a bachelor's or master's degree, but leading positions in the field require a PhD.

Job opportunities after earning a PhD are varied and offer a great deal of career flexibility.

Application Process

Graduate Student Life

UI Pharmaceuticals Fellowship

Best Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry colleges in the U.S. 2024

Best medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry colleges in the u.s. for 2024.

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor offers 3 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city.

University of Illinois Chicago offers 2 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 2 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry students graduated with students earning 2 Doctoral degrees.

University of Rhode Island offers 1 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a large suburb.

University of Washington-Seattle Campus offers 2 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 1 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry students graduated with students earning 1 Doctoral degree.

Duquesne University offers 2 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 3 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry students graduated with students earning 2 Doctoral degrees, and 1 Master's degree.

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities offers 2 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 10 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry students graduated with students earning 6 Doctoral degrees, and 4 Master's degrees.

Saint Louis University offers 2 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 14 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry students graduated with students earning 12 Bachelor's degrees, and 2 Master's degrees.

Rutgers University-New Brunswick offers 2 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 6 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry students graduated with students earning 4 Doctoral degrees, and 2 Master's degrees.

University at Buffalo offers 2 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 7 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry students graduated with students earning 4 Doctoral degrees, and 3 Master's degrees.

Ohio State University-Main Campus offers 2 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 33 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry students graduated with students earning 19 Master's degrees, and 14 Doctoral degrees.

Find local colleges with Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry majors in the U.S.

List of all medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry colleges in the u.s..

PhD in Pharmacological Sciences

Fall 2025 Admission Deadline: TBD

UC Irvine’s PhD in Pharmacological Sciences program provides a unique opportunity for those interested in any scientific discipline represented by the Pharmaceutical Sciences faculty to have a year of broad, interdisciplinary training and self-selected lab rotations followed by focused doctoral research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences research group of their choice.

Students can choose from one of three tracks within the program: Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacology or Medicinal Chemistry.

The current areas of study in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Department include:

• Structural and chemical biology
• Medicinal chemistry
• Structure-based drug design
• Molecular neuropharmacology
• Pharmacology of aging
• Molecular evolution
• Synthetic biology
• Natural product biosynthesis and synthase engineering
• Cancer prevention and therapy
• Gene regulation and intercellular signaling
• Computational biology and bioinformatics
• Nanomedicine for targeted drug and gene delivery

“The school has rotations that are longer than most departments – lasting a full quarter as opposed to a few weeks – which allows you to get a taste for what research is like in the industry and to really figure out what environments are best suitable for you.” David Wych, PhD ’21

About Our PhD Program

The Pharmacological Sciences PhD program is flexible and tailored to the needs of each individual student. Students are actively engaged in research throughout their training: In the first year, laboratory rotations ensure exposure to a variety of techniques and research problems. By the end of their first year students have worked with several faculty members and selected a lab to join. During their third year, students are considered for advancement to PhD candidacy on the basis of academic standing, laboratory performance, and a qualifying examination. After advancement to candidacy, students devote their time to completion of an original research dissertation.

CLICK HERE  to view the sample curriculum for the Pharmaceutical Sciences Track.

CLICK HERE  to view the sample curriculum for the Pharmacology Track.

CLICK HERE  to view the sample curriculum for the Medicinal Chemistry Track.

For more details regarding the required course work, please visit our program’s section in the  UCI General Catalogue .

Application Instructions

Complete the  Online Application  which is submitted to the UCI Graduate Division. When completing the “Degree Program” section of the online application for admission, please make the following selections:

• School/Department: Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Major/Degree: Pharmacological Sciences-PhD

Students are admitted to the Pharmacological Sciences PhD program on an annual basis in the fall quarter only. The admissions committee screens applications immediately after the application deadline. First round applicants selected to interview will be notified by early January. Admitted applicants can expect to receive an offer of admission in late January through mid-March.

Submit applications by December 1 for full consideration

The online application and supporting materials should be received by December 1, 2023.

Applicants are required to submit:

• An official  online application  including the application fee ($135 for domestic applicants, i.e. US citizens and permanent residents and $155 for international applicants)
• For application review purposes only, scan and upload copies of transcripts for all institutions attended since high school. In the online application, you will be prompted to upload your scanned documents. Please upload both the front and back sides of the transcript. Uploaded transcripts should be recent and include the following: your name, dates of attendance, grades/marks received, credits and grading legend. Official transcripts will be requested by the Graduate Division if and when you are admitted and decide to attend UCI. Do not send official transcripts until this time.
• A Statement of Purpose – must include your specific research interest and three possible research advisors you would be interested in working with. You can describe your research interests, career goals, and other related information.
• A Personal History Statement – this can discuss how your personal background– including any relevant educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges or opportunities– informs your decision to pursue a Ph.D. in Pharmacological Sciences. If you have overcome socioeconomic or educational challenges, please indicate that you are a diversity candidate and describe your experience in detail. 
• Three letters of recommendation – uploaded to the online application by your recommender.
• UCI no longer requires the GRE.
• International students are also required to submit TOEFL scores (Code: 4859)

Applicants are encouraged to upload the following in their application:

• Current curriculum vitae or resume
• List of publications

For additional details about applying to the PhD in Pharmacological Sciences program, view our information sheet here .

Prerequisites

• An MS degree is  not  required for consideration. However, research experience (laboratory or fieldwork) is  a primary criterion  for acceptance into our graduate programs.
• Some biology and chemistry courses are required. However, because we are an interdisciplinary program, we admit students from various academic backgrounds, so there are no specific course requirements. Applicants recently admitted to our program have undergraduate degrees in a wide range of disciplines, including molecular biology, psychology, and chemical engineering, as well as chemistry and biology.
• Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.

Admission Statistics

The acceptance rate for the Pharmacological Sciences program is approximately 23%, and admitted applicants from previous cycles had the below characteristics:

• Average undergraduate GPA: 3.32

Student Funding

Admitted applicants receive funding for tuition, health insurance, and a monthly stipend/salary through a combination departmental or university fellowships and/or teaching assistant (TA) and graduate student researcher (GSR) positions in their first year. In years two through five, students are generally funding by their faculty advisor as GSRs, as well as through a combination of university fellowships, extramural grants/fellowships, and/or TA positions.

Diversity Fellowships

UCI is committed to the recruitment, admission, and retention of a high quality and diverse graduate student population and has several  diversity fellowships  for new and returning students who qualify.  If you have overcome socioeconomic or educational challenges, please indicate that you are a diversity candidate and describe your experience in detail within the Personal History section of the application.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

TOEFL or IELTS

All graduate applicants are required to demonstrate English proficiency for admissions consideration. Applicants are waived from the English Language Proficiency requirement if they have earned an undergraduate degree from an institution at which English was the sole language of instruction according to the  World Higher Education Database (WHED) .  Please see  WHED’s instructions  on how to search for your institution. If English is not the sole language of instruction listed or if no language is listed at all, the waiver does not apply and the applicant is required to take and pass an approved English proficiency test.  Approved tests and minimum scores are outlined in the next section.  

Please note: Test results that are two years old or older are not acceptable.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If a student will be supported as a Teaching Assistant (TA), please read the  English proficiency summary chart for teaching assistants . Students who have not earned an undergraduate degree from an institution at which English was the sole language of instruction according to WHED are required to demonstrate English language proficiency to serve as a TA when they apply to the program. 

The TOEFL is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).

• Please select institution code  4859  to have your official score sent to UCI. No department code is needed.
• We only accept scores submitted electronically by ETS.
• Test results that are two years old or older are  not acceptable .
• We do not accept  MyBest  scores; you must submit all individual test scores.
• Results of institutional (non-ETS) administrations of the TOEFL are  not acceptable .
• We will accept the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition test.  The same minimum score applies.
• We do  NOT  accept the TOEFL ITP Plus test for China or the TOEFL Essentials test.
• For more information, please visit their website at  www.ets.org/toefl

TOEFL Score Requirements for Admission Consideration:

• An overall minimum score of  80 
• A minimum score of 26 on the speaking section to be eligible for a Teaching Assistant position

As an alternative to the TOEFL, you may submit scores from the Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

• We only accept scores submitted electronically by the IELTS test center. No paper Test Report Forms will be accepted.
• We will accept the IELTS Indicator test.  The same minimum score applies.
• An institutional code is NOT required. Please contact the test center directly where you took the IELTS test and request that your test scores be sent electronically using the IELTS system. All IELTS test centers worldwide are able to send scores electronically to our institution. 
• For more information, please visit their website at  www.ielts.org

IELTS Score Requirements for Admission Consideration:

• An overall minimum score of 7 for admission, with a score of no less than 6 on any individual module.
• A Minimum score of 8 on the speaking module to be eligible for a Teaching Assistant position.

Your browser is unsupported

We recommend using the latest version of IE11, Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari.

College of Pharmacy - Chicago | Rockford

Phd in pharmaceutical sciences.

We enable students with backgrounds in fundamental sciences to become leaders in pharmaceutical sciences

Located in the vibrant and multicultural city of Chicago, UIC's PhD Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences is one of the strongest and largest of its type in the United States. Our college is consistently ranked in the top ten in terms of funds secured annually from the National Institutes of Health and by US News and World Report. We pride ourselves on giving students from all types of backgrounds the tools they need to become independent researchers. Students in the program select one of the program concentrations, described below.

Important dates Heading link Copy link

We are so pleased you are considering graduate studies in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago! Although Pharmaceutical Sciences is one of the best graduate programs of its kind in the country, our real pride is mentoring students into independent researchers who become leaders in our field. The program has some unique strengths, including providing flexibility to carry out internships in your later years. Have a look around our website. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] . We look forward to reading your application! Debra Tonetti, PhD  |  Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Program Coursework Heading link Copy link

All students in the Pharmaceutical Sciences program take the following courses. Additional concentration coursework is also required and is shown in each of the concentration tabs.

• Drug Discovery, Design, and Development (PSCI 501, 3 credit hours)
• Training in Research Presentation (PSCI 502, 1 credit hour)
• PSCI 503: Biostatistics for Pharmaceutical Scientists (1 credit hour)
• BSTT 400: Biostatistics I (4 credit hours) [Note: BSTT 400 is required for the Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery concentration]
• Scientific Ethics and the Responsible Conduct of Research (GC 501, 1 credit hour)
• Research Rotation (PSCI 592; 3-4 credit hours)
• PSCI PhD Course Requirements
• PSCI Department Course Descriptions

Program Concentrations Heading link Copy link

Five concentrations comprise the PhD program in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Click on the tabs below to learn more about each of them. To see the faculty mentors for each concentration, visit the Faculty Mentors page .

Chemistry in Drug Discovery

Concentration description.

Faculty in the Chemistry in Drug Discovery concentration use the tools and techniques of chemistry to discover and develop new chemical probes and potential therapeutics. Students in this concentration learn how to design, synthesize, characterize and analyze small molecules, peptides, and proteins.

Concentration Coursework

Students in the Chemistry in Drug Discovery Concentration take the following courses:

• Fundamental of Drug Action I (PHAR 422, 4 credit hours)
• Principles of Medicinal Chemistry (PSCI 530, 5 credit hours)
• Electives (9 credit hours)

Concentration Coordinator

Prof. Terry Moore ([email protected])

Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics

The Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics concentration is designed to provide advanced understanding of fundamental causes of diseases, strategies that identify new drug targets, and mechanistic explanations of how drugs work (or fail) from the perspective of the target and systems they impact. Faculty affiliated with MMT integrate a wide variety of molecular, biochemical, genetic, bioinformatic, and bioengineering approaches to study mechanisms of pathogenesis ranging from infectious diseases to cancer. Students will enroll in fundamental molecular and cellular biology courses and select elective courses in areas of their focused research.

Students in the Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics Concentration take the following courses:

• Biochemistry (e.g., GEMS 501 or equivalent graduate-level biochemistry course, 3 credit hours)
• Molecular Biology (e.g., GEMS 502 or equivalent molecular biology course, 3 credit hours)
• Biostatistics I (BSTT 400, 4 credit hours)
• Molecular Genetics (GEMS 511, 3 credit hours)
• Receptor Pharmacology and Cell Signaling (GEMS 515, 3 credit hours)
• Microbial Pathogenesis (MIM 560, 3 credit hours)
• Cancer Biology and Therapeutics (PSCI 540, 3 credit hours)

Prof. Alessandra Eustaquio ( [email protected] )

Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery

Faculty in the Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery concentration use the tools and techniques of physical and biologic sciences and engineering to understand and develop delivery systems and formulations for therapeutic molecules and control the biodistribution of therapeutic molecules. Students in this concentration learn how to design, synthesize, characterize and analyze novel materials and drug delivery systems and design and develop technologies related to therapeutic distribution in the body.

Students in the Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Concentration take the following courses:

• *This 4 credit hour course will count 1 hour toward the program core statistics requirement and 3 hours toward the Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery concentration requirements. Students will not receive credit for two introductory statistics courses.
• Essentials for Animal Research (GC 470, 1 credit hour)
• Experimental Animal Techniques (GC 471, 2 credit hours)
• Principles of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery (PSCI 510, 3 credit hours)

Prof. Richard Gemeinhart ([email protected])

Pharmacognosy

Faculty research programs in the Pharmacognosy concentration aim to develop therapeutics from natural products and to study the mechanisms of pain, cancers, and a wide array of infectious and tropical diseases. Students of this concentration are trained in a combination of bioinformatics, synthetic biology, genetic engineering, chromatography, and spectroscopy to achieve these goals.

Students in the Pharmacognosy Concentration take the following courses:

• Research Techniques in Pharmacognosy (PSCI 520 or equivalent; 3 credit hours)
• Structure Elucidation of Natural Products (PSCI 521 or equivalent; 3 credit hours)
• Advanced Pharmacognosy (PSCI 522 or equivalent; 3 credit hours)

Prof. Brian Murphy ([email protected])

PharmD/PhD Joint Program Heading link Copy link

Pharmaceutical Sciences participates in the joint PharmD/PhD program, which trains students for careers in academic pharmacy and bench science research. Students admitted to this joint program participate in the PharmD curriculum and pursue original doctoral research projects in the laboratories of the university’s graduate faculty in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

The joint program offers the potential of reducing the time of earning both degrees in sequence (9 or more years) by approximately two years. The trade-off is that both degrees are awarded at the end of the training period and neither degree can be received before the other is completed.

The PharmD/PhD program is for exceptional, highly motivated and achieving students ready to meet the challenge of increased academic load and independent research project.

Program coordinator: Dr. Lindsey McQuade ( [email protected] )

• Joint PharmD/PhD Course Requirements
• Joint PharmD/PhD Program Page

PSCI Slideshow Heading link Copy link

• Go to slide 1
• Go to slide 2
• Go to slide 3
• Go to slide 4
• Go to slide 5
• Go to slide 6
• Go to slide 7
• Go to slide 8
• Go to slide 9

• Go to the next slide
• Go to the previous slide

Pride Points for PhD PSCI Heading link Copy link

$ 35,162 annual graduate stipend for students on teaching assistantship or research assistantship

33 internships completed by department graduate students in the last five years

19 students currently on training grant or fellowship

# 7 nationally ranked College of Pharmacy according to US News

# 7 nationally ranked total research funding among Colleges of Pharmacy according to AACP

Start your application Heading link Copy link

The Pharmaceutical Sciences Program at UIC offers a supportive, inclusive environment and rigorous academic preparation for students who are interested in careers in pharmaceutical sciences. If you have any questions about the program or about your application, please contact [email protected].

Get in touch: Contact Us

Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Medicinal chemistry and drug discovery.

The Master of Science in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery integrates aspects of contemporary medicinal chemistry and pharmacology, emphasizing topics most relevant to therapeutics design, discovery, and action.

The Master of Science in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery offered by the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, develops students' knowledge in the design, synthesis, and mechanisms of action of novel biologically active compounds using modern biochemical, biophysical, and pharmacological approaches. The core curriculum focuses on a combination of synthetic organic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and pharmacology courses. Through in-depth elective courses, the program offers students the opportunity to develop medicinal chemistry expertise that can be applied to a practice-oriented career in the pharmaceutical industry. Graduates of the program will also be well prepared to enter related PhD programs at the university.

More Details

Unique features.

• The University is strategically located within the Boston-area biomedical and pharmaceutical/biotech-industry ecosystem
• The MS program provides opportunities for original research experience in department labs, and the option to do a literature or laboratory-based master's thesis for credit
• The interdisciplinary and comprehensive program is structured with core and elective courses using laboratory and computer-based technologies
• Northeastern’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is consistently ranked first in NIH funding among all private U.S. schools of pharmacy.
• The program offers multiple opportunities for experiential learning through departmental and off campus internships and co-ops
• Program faculty includes industry-practiced scientists in drug discovery
• Those already employed in pharmaceutical/biotechnology careers can take specific courses for advanced training

Program Objectives

Upon completion of the MS in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery program, students will be able to:

• Explain current trends in organic synthesis as applied to therapeutics invention.
• Produce literature reviews encompassing retrieval, critical analysis, assessment, and written/oral presentation of current topics in drug discovery.
• Use organic-synthesis methodology and instrumentation in drug discovery.
• Apply experimental techniques to design, synthesize, and profile novel drug-like chemical entities.
• Maintain and use data, records, and notes/documentation according to ethical standards of research practice and academic integrity.
• Conceptualize and communicate to diverse constituencies in good oral and written English the principal concepts in medicinal chemistry as applied to drug discovery/development.
• Judge how social, economic, and ethical issues may impact drug discovery.
• Determine shortcomings of extant pharmacotherapeutics and how they may be overcome.
• Predict future trends in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery for synthesis of druggable chemical matter.
• Apply organic chemistry to advance drug discovery and development.
• Determine therapeutic areas where synthesis of new drug-like molecules is needed to satisfy unmet medical needs.

Career Outlook

Graduates of the Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery program often work in chemistry labs synthesizing new chemical matter as potential drugs. Some graduates from the department have established careers as independent:

• Industry scientists and administrators (Big Pharma, biotech)
• Clinical laboratory staff
• Academic biomedical researchers
• Science teaching faculty
• Medical liaison specialists
• Pharmaceutical product representatives
• Medical writers

Looking for something different?

A graduate degree or certificate from Northeastern—a top-ranked university—can accelerate your career through rigorous academic coursework and hands-on professional experience in the area of your interest. Apply now—and take your career to the next level.

Program Costs

Finance Your Education We offer a variety of resources, including scholarships and assistantships.

How to Apply Learn more about the application process and requirements.

Requirements

• Application
• Application fee
• Two letters of recommendation
• Transcripts from all institutions attended
• Personal statement
• TOEFL required for applicants who do not hold a degree from a U.S. institution and whose native language is not English.
• GRE scores are optional
• Mathematics (including calculus)
• Biochemistry
• Organic chemistry

 Please note: All international applicants will need to provide a WES

Are You an International Student? Find out what additional documents are required to apply.

Admissions Details Learn more about the Bouvé College of Health Sciences admissions process, policies, and required materials.

Admissions Dates

Domestic: August 1 International: June 1

Industry-aligned courses for in-demand careers.

For 100+ years, we’ve designed our programs with one thing in mind—your success. Explore the current program requirements and course descriptions, all designed to meet today’s industry needs and must-have skills.

View curriculum

Northeastern's signature experience-powered learning model has been at the heart of the university for more than a century. It combines world-class academics with professional practice, allowing you to acquire relevant, real-world skills you can immediately put into action in your current workplace. This makes a Northeastern education a dynamic, transformative experience, giving you countless opportunities to grow as a professional and person.

Our Faculty

Northeastern University faculty represents a broad cross-section of professional practices and fields, including finance, education, biomedical science, management, and the U.S. military. They serve as mentors and advisors and collaborate alongside you to solve the most pressing global challenges facing established and emerging markets.

You can see the faculty associated with the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences programs here .

By enrolling in Northeastern, you’ll gain access to students at 13 campus locations, 300,000+ alumni, and 3,000 employer partners worldwide. Our global university system provides students unique opportunities to think locally and act globally while serving as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions.

Below is a look at where some of our alumni work, the positions they hold, and the skills they bring to their organization.

Where They Work

• Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research

What They Do

• Healthcare Services
• Business Development
• Sales/Marketing
• Strategic Planning
• Competitive Surveillance
• Medical Liaison Specialists
• Pharmaceutical Product Representatives
• Medical Writers

What They're Skilled At

• Pharmaceutical Industry Practice
• Biotechnology
• Experimental Techniques in: Applied Pharmacology, Medicinal Chemistry and Human Biology
• Drug Design, Delivery, Action and Therapeutic Application

Learn more about Northeastern Alumni on  Linkedin .

Related Articles

5 Alternative Careers For Psychology Majors that Aren’t Counseling

5 Research Careers With a Master’s in Psychology

Is Getting a DPT Worth It?

• Partnerships

Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery (MS)

YOU ARE BOUVÉ

Learn to master therapeutics design and discovery.

The Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery MS Program integrates aspects of contemporary medicinal chemistry and pharmacology, emphasizing topics most relevant to therapeutics design, discovery, and action.

The core curriculum focuses on a combination of synthetic organic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and pharmacology courses. Specialized, in-depth electives are offered in these areas.

The program develops students’ knowledge of medicinal chemistry through design, synthesis, pharmacological, and profiling of novel pharmacotherapeutics as applied to helping solve unmet medical needs.

For this purpose, many program graduates have established research careers in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry. Undergraduate prerequisites are general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry or cell/molecular biology.

Degree type: – MS in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery Study options: – On ground (Boston Campus) – Fall semester admissions only – *Full-time or part-time

Application deadlines: International Students: Jun 1 Domestic Students: Aug 1

GRE: Optional

F1 Eligible: Yes

*International students must be full-time only

MS in Medical Chemistry and Drug Discovery

All Master’s programs in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences require a set of core courses taken by every MS student, regardless of program.

In addition, students in each program are required to take a defined set of discipline-specific courses and several general electives. The number of specialized and elective courses differs somewhat among programs. Students are expected to maintain a GPA of 3.000 (B) or higher in all coursework and cover 33 total semester hours.

The MS degree may be completed on either a full-time or part-time basis and may include an optional research thesis.

The curriculum includes opportunity for laboratory coursework and instruction in experimental design and data analysis.

International students are required to attend the program on a full-time basis. Students are expected to complete the degree requirements within two years if enrolled on a full-time basis, or within three to five years if enrolled on a part-time basis. 

Internships provide an experiential component of the graduate curriculum that fosters professional development through work in industry and hospitals. In order to participate in an internship, students must:

• Complete two semesters with a grade-point average of 3.200 or better
• Be in good academic and professional standing (i.e., have no Professionalism Concern forms filed)
• Have no instances of academic dishonesty or blocks on enrollment.

Learn more about internships

Sample Curriculum

Sample curriculum, subject to change.

The chart below describes a sequence of courses as taught in the recent past. This chart is not a planning document for what course will be taught in which semester (spring or fall) in the future. For that information, students should consult with their academic advisor or see the  university course catalog .

• Core Courses
• Thesis Option

Required Core

PHSC 5100 Concepts in Pharmaceutical Science PHSC 5102 Concepts in Pharmaceutical Science 2 PHSC 5212 Research Skills and Ethics or PHSC 6213 Ethical Problems in Health Sciences Research

Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Discovery

CHEM 5626 Organic Synthesis 1 CHEM 5628 Principles of Spectroscopy of Organic CompoundsCHEM 5672 Organic Synthesis 2 CHEM 5676 Bio-organic Chemistry PHSC 5400 Principles of Drug Design PHSC 6222 The Chemistry and Biology of Drugs of Abuse PHSC 6224 Behavioral Pharmacology and Drug Discovery PHSC 6290 Biophysical Methods in Drug Discovery

Please choose electives from the following areas:

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PHSC)

Pharmacology (PMCL)

Pharmaceutics (PMST)

Biology (BIOL)

Chemistry (CHEM)

Nanomedicine (NNMD)

Biotechnology (BIOT)

Thesis credits may count toward the required elective hours.

PHSC 6990 Thesis — this course may be taken twice if necessary

The following course may be taken if additional time is needed to complete the thesis:

PHSC 6996 Thesis Continuation

Admissions Requirements

Prerequisites.

Applicants must have at least two semesters of undergraduate courses (or their equivalent) in each of the following:

• Mathematics (including calculus)
• Biochemistry
• Organic chemistry

Please send all required documents directly to the  PharmGrad Application portal . Here is additional  information on how to submit documents .

Note: Applicants with deficiencies in their baccalaureate courses may be admitted to the MS Program and allowed to take undergraduate courses at Northeastern University concurrently with certain graduate courses. Students admitted with deficiencies must remove them within the first year of graduate study.

Admissions Checklist

A baccalaureate degree or its equivalent in biology, chemistry, medical technology, pharmacy, chemical engineering or a related field.

A minimum grade point average of 3.0 or higher

Two letters of recommendation  (academic and professional)

Personal statement of goals and expectations. Please see application for details.

TOEFL (International Students)

GRE scores are optional

Official transcript from baccalaureate program  and all college coursework. Applicants who have degree coursework from institutions outside of the United States must submit a credential evaluation. We require the iCAP WES package ( World Education Services, Inc. ) that evaluates your transcripts course by course.

Got questions?

If you have any additional questions about the graduate program please contact:

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Connect with us

Have more questions about Bouvé? We’re here to help.

Want to take the next step and start your journey at Bouvé?

Request more information

Interested in learning more about what Bouvé has to offer?

Graduate School

Biochemistry (ph.d.), biochemistry (ph.d.) | graduate.

Our Biochemistry doctoral students are at the forefront of biochemical research and molecular medicine, examining biological mechanisms underlying human disease; they are finding new ways to detect and attack diseases and immunological disorders like cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular disease.

Graduates of the Ph.D. in Biochemistry program at Howard's Graduate School are prepared for careers at top research universities and senior-level research positions in biomedical and related industries. The program's key strengths in molecular microbiology, proteomics and genetics, bioinformatics, and drug design and discovery make us a nexus for collaborative investigations between biochemistry researchers and clinicians. You'll learn to apply biochemical techniques, including NMR spectroscopy, crystallography, and single-molecule methods as well as contemporary approaches to cell culture and genetic analysis to answer key questions about the pathogenesis of specific diseases and the development of effective drug therapies. You'll also enjoy the close mentorship of faculty who are committed to your professional development. Our faculty are experts in several areas of biochemistry, including analysis of molecular structure, proteomics and genetics, tumor biology, structural biology, enzymology, RNA catalysis, stress response, and RNA modification. As you advance in the program, you'll become increasingly involved in laboratory research and the critical analysis of biochemical literature. Our graduate seminar series offers a venue to present your early-stage research. Students may pursue a dual M.D./Ph.D. degree.

Program Snapshot

      ❱  72 credit hours        ❱  Full-time       ❱  On-campus format       ❱  Degree: Ph.D.       ❱  Dual degree: M.D./Ph.D.

Application Deadlines

Spring 2024 entry:         ❱  No spring entry 

Fall 2024 entry:         ❱  Dec. 1, 2023 (early deadline)       ❱  Feb. 15, 2024 (priority deadline)       ❱  Apr. 15, 2024 (final deadline)

Applicants should submit their applications as early as possible for earlier consideration of departmental funding opportunities. Applicants have until the final deadline to apply. However, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the admissions cycle. 

Dr. Zaki Sherif

Dr. matthew george, jr., angela wilson, program details.

• Degree Classification: Graduate
• Related Degrees: M.D. / Ph.D., Ph.D.

Admission Requirements

Application for admission.

• Online GradCAS application
• Statement of purpose/ Statement of academic interest ( 500-1,000 words )
• GRE scores  not required
• Official transcripts sent to GradCAS
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or the international equivalent 
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Autobiographical statement ( 500-750 words )

GRE Required?

Gre preferred minimums.

• GRE Verbal Reasoning: N/A
• GRE Quantitative Reasoning: N/A
• GRE Analytical Writing: N/A

GPA Required Minimums

• Overall GPA minimum: 3.0
• Undergrad GPA minimum: 3.0

Prerequisite Courses

The following course prerequisites are required. Applicants are required to have at least a B average in these prerequisites.   No expiration date for recommended prerequisites.

• Biology (college-level courses, 8 semester credit hrs)
• General Chemistry (college-level courses, 8 semester credit hrs)
• Organic Chemistry (college-level courses, 8 semester credit hrs)
• Elementary Physical Chemistry (college-level course and lab, 4 semester credit hrs)
• Physics (college-level courses, 8 semester credit hrs)
• Calculus  (college-level course, 3 semester credit hrs)

Reference Requirements

Evaluator type accepted:

• Professor (Required)
• Supervisor/Manager
• Other 

Evaluator type not accepted:

• Family Member

Graduate Will Hughes turns his passion for chemistry into an opportunity to see the world

MAY 24, 2024 — As an undergraduate, William Hughes conducted research in the Organic and Medicinal Chemistry laboratory at UTSA as a member of the Larionov Group. Led by Oleg Larionov , the Robert A. Welch Distinguished University Chair in Chemistry, the research team conducts cutting-edge organic chemistry that has the potential to impact several industries, including health care.

In the lab, Hughes learned many career-related skills that have prepared him for doctoral studies such as evaluating others’ research, presenting his research findings to scientific and general audiences and collaborating on a team. This work has led to published papers in peer-reviewed journals Chemical Science and ACS Catalysis .

“I feel extremely blessed and fortunate to have worked in a group that allowed me to contribute significantly to multiple research projects,” Hughes said. “Publishing as an undergraduate is an amazing privilege and honor, and being able to say that I have contributed to the body of scientific knowledge and the discovery of new things is still wild to think about.”

Last week, Hughes crossed the stage with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.

This fall, the UTSA Top Scholar and 2024 UTSA National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) award winner will begin his doctoral studies in chemistry at Colorado State University (CSU). But he sees this opportunity as more than the next phase in his academic journey. It is an opportunity to expand his world view, he says.

“During this time, I hope to attend as many conferences as possible to see more of the U.S. and the world,” Hughes said.

UTSA Today  spoke with Hughes to learn more about him and what lies ahead.

The following story has been edited for length and clarity.

“I feel extremely blessed and fortunate to have worked in a group that allowed me to contribute significantly to multiple research projects.”

What attracted you to chemistry?

WH : I have always been more of a “learn and apply rules” student rather than a “memorize facts” student. Chemistry, specifically physical and computational chemistry, allows me to follow this mindset while fulfilling my interest in studying how the world works. The research I am interested in is a few steps upstream of directly impacting health care. To be able to prescribe drugs, we need to be able to create the molecules. To be able to create the molecules, we need to have a powerful and diverse array of tools. To be able to develop these tools, we need to understand our current tools better.

In chemistry, our tools are reactions, and I want to help the world understand them. This will have an impact on health care through a domino effect and in other realms where chemistry is important such as agriculture, materials and manufacturing, cosmetics, food and other industries.

Tell us about the person who was most influential in your educational journey.

WH : Dr. Gail Taylor , the assistant program director for the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement at UTSA, had a profound impact on my education. She convinced me that research was a viable career option for me. She also gave me the skills and knowledge I needed to excel in research as an undergraduate.

What advice do you have for your fellow Roadrunners?

WH : There are so many resources on campus for internships, research, networking, mentorship and professional development opportunities. Look around at what best fits your needs and take advantage of the resources UTSA provides. I took advantage of the cooking classes and the exercise facilities at the UTSA Recreation and Wellness Center, counseling services, tutoring through the Tomás Rivera Center, and met with faculty in my field who were always happy to give academic and career advice.

What is your next big adventure?

WH : I will begin a Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry at CSU in the fall. CSU has a great organic chemistry program with several accomplished faculty and an impressive set of instruments that anyone in the department can use. There are a few researchers who have done highly impactful work in computational chemistry, the field I am interested in, and I am excited to get to work for and learn from these faculty members. Fort Collins is also a beautiful town with a vibrant and interesting culture, and I will be happy to see snow for the first time in a few years. I am probably most excited to continue researching, learning more about chemistry, and contributing to scientific knowledge, as I really love what I do. A cross-country move is significant for me, as I have only ever lived in Texas, and leaving behind my family will be the hardest part of this next step in my adventure.

Ultimately, where do you see yourself long-term?

WH: Over the long term, I would like to research this kind of fundamental understanding of the tools that chemistry offers us as a researching professor in academia. I owe much of my success to the professors who have mentored and supported me during my time at UTSA, and I love performing research and furthering our understanding of chemistry. I would love to give back in a similar way to students in the future by teaching and leading a university research group.

— Ryan Schoensee

UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing , the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to [email protected] . Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today . Connect with UTSA online at Facebook , Twitter , Youtube and Instagram .

Submit an Event

University of Texas at San Antonio receives ‘transformational’ $40M gift

Utsa’s mission.

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA’s Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA’s Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSA’S Destinations

• UTSA will be a model for student success
• UTSA will be a great public research university
• UTSA will be an innovative place to work, learn and discover

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.

Related Links

• News Archive
• Sombrilla Magazine
• 50th Anniversary
• Social Media
• For the Media