Graduate Students

lab members looking at computer screen

The Department of Pharmacology offers opportunities for graduate research training, which can lead to the translation of basic discoveries into medically important knowledge and is directly relevant to areas such as neuroscience, neurological diseases and cardiovascular disorders.

Graduate students enter the department's research efforts through the following graduate programs:

Walter S. and Lucienne Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences (DGP)
In the DGP PhD program, students conduct three research rotations and then select a thesis laboratory.
Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program (NUIN)
The NUIN program provides PhD training that focuses on neuroscience.
Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)
Physician-Scientist (MD/PhD) training is conducted through the Northwestern University MSTP program; students may select our department laboratories for their PhD research.

Prospective graduate students should contact the DGP, NUIN or MSTP programs of study directly with inquiries.

Graduate Courses

The following courses are taught by our faculty as part of the programs above.

DGP 420 - Introduction to Pharmacology

This course covers general principles of drug action at the molecular level. Topics include receptor theory, drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, drug discovery and the pharmacology of various important classes of therapeutic agents.

DGP 435 - Signal Transduction and Human Diseases

This course features integrated discussions of different superfamilies of signaling receptors and their effectors. Pathways discussed include G-protein linked, growth factors and cytokines, nuclear receptors and transcription factors.

DGP 460 - Pharmacovigilance in Early Drug Development

This course equips students with an understanding of pharmacovigilance and patient safety in early drug development. Topics include concepts of benefit-risk, signal management and product safety monitoring in clinical trials. Students also learn about regulatory requirements based on FDA Good Pharmacovigilance Practices and differences between U.S. and European contexts.

Meet Our Graduate StudentsGrad Student Profiles