These Guidelines provide graduate students, faculty, the Graduate Affairs Committee and the Directors of Graduate Studies with a description of the program and policies for graduate study in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics. These departmental Guidelines are nested within those put forth by the Faculty Council Policy on Graduate Education.
The Department values the diversity of all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, gender identification or sexual orientation. Diversity leads to excellence. We strive to create and foster an inclusive environment that is safe and gives voice to all members of the department: students, trainees, staff and faculty.
A Graduate Affairs Committee (GAC), chaired by the Directors of Graduate Studies and consisting of five other faculty members will be responsible for administering all facets of the graduate program, including admissions. The Director of Graduate Studies and the other members of the Committee are appointed by the Department Chair.
The Department of Physiology and Biophysics of the State University of New York at Buffalo is one of six basic Medical Science Departments in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. It is a Department with University-wide teaching responsibilities for approximately 180 medical, 90 dental, 50 graduate, and 2,000 undergraduate students per year. The Department's degree programs are exclusively at the graduate level. The Department currently offers Ph.D. and M.S. programs in Cellular and Molecular Physiology.
The program emphasizes both extensive training in molecular, cellular, and systems physiology and intensive training in current topics in physiological research. Students can pursue research in neurobiology, cardiovascular, cellular, gastrointestinal, and renal physiology. The program offers training in the laboratories of an exceptional departmental research faculty. Students also have the opportunity to pursue collaborative research in other related departments or areas of the university.
The goal of the MS program is to produce graduates who are well founded in the principles of organ system and cellular physiology and are able to perform research in specialized areas of physiology.
The candidate should have demonstrated above-average academic performance. Entry into the program is contingent upon award of the baccalaureate degree.
The Graduate Affairs Committee evaluates these credentials, conducts interviews with promising candidates, and will make an offer of admission to the program.
Applicants to the M.S. Program in Biomedical Sciences are required to submit the following:
If you are applying from outside the United States, apply as early as possible to ensure time for application and visa processing.
Regardless of your program’s deadline, it is recommended that you apply at least 6-9 months prior to the term start date (depending on your country of origin).
International applicants must present a valid English Language Proficiency test score. It is university policy that test dates be no older than two years when students enter a program. We recommend uploading scanned copies of your results at the time of application in order to expedite the review process.
Accepted Tests and Minimum Score Requirements
Once you submit your application online for formal review, you will be provided with a link to our online payment system, where you can pay the application fee.
During the first semester, students are normally advised on academic matters by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). The DGS will advise the student on any academic matters concerning classwork and will also offer guidance on choosing an appropriate research rotation and mentor for the MS degree. Students are also encouraged to consult with the Graduate Coordinator and other faculty members, as needed or desired.
It is expected that by the end of the first semester, MS students will have chosen their research advisor or mentor. The mentor should have a primary appointment in the Physiology and Biophysics department. From that time on, the mentor will be the primary advisor for the student, along with a member of the Graduate Affairs Committee, who will be assigned to the student to provide guidance as needed and will serve on the student’s Master’s Committee.
The Master’s Committee is chaired by the mentor, and consists of a minimum of three graduate faculty. The Physiology and Biophysics Department Chair is an ex officio member of all Master’s Committees and can resolve disputes if necessary.
Objectives of the curriculum are to provide an education in the principles of physiology: instruction in the basic sciences relevant to the understanding of physiological principles and instruction in research methodology including experimental design, instrumentation, and analysis.
A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate study is required; 24 of these must be completed at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Continuous registration for a minimum of one semester hour each Fall and Spring term is required until all requirements for the degree are completed. One of the following courses of study are required of all students entering the program unless they have completed equivalent graduate-level courses elsewhere.
PGY 505 - Cellular and Molecular Physiology, 4 credits
PGY 507 - Laboratory Exercises in Physiology, 4 credits
*Electives–4 credits
PGY 607 - Cellular and Molecular Basis of Disease, 3 credits
PGY 508 - Laboratory Exercises in Physiology (Research), 4 credits
*Electives–5 credits
Research, 0-12 credits
Elective courses are taken to provide opportunities for advanced education in specialized areas relevant to the student's research and advanced general education. Courses may be elected by the student in consultation with the student’s thesis/project adviser. Some suggested elective courses include:
Students are required to attend the departmental seminar series. Students will often be given the opportunity to discuss research findings or career opportunities with the seminar speakers.
Research is conducted under the guidance of the student’s major professor and research advisory committee.
There are two research paths:
Thesis research will culminate in a written thesis dissertation and an oral thesis defense.
This path usually requires third and fourth semesters to complete.
Third Semester
PGY 701 - Thesis Research, 3 credits
Fourth Semester
PGY 702 - Thesis Research and Defense, 3 credits
The thesis research is conducted by the graduate student under the guidance of his/her thesis adviser and thesis advisory committee. The student and thesis adviser recommend three members of the graduate faculty (two from inside and one from outside the department) to serve on the thesis advisory committee.
Individuals who are neither members nor associate members of the UB graduate faculty may serve as additional committee members if their expertise would be of significant value to the student and the core members of the committee. The committee is appointed by the director of graduate studies and chaired by the thesis adviser.
The thesis research will culminate in a written thesis dissertation, which is an original contribution, written in English. Thesis preparation is critically monitored and supervised by the thesis adviser and the thesis advisory committee, both of whom must approve the thesis prior to the oral defense.
The oral defense of thesis is scheduled after the candidate’s thesis advisory committee has approved the thesis. The thesis is presented to the department in a seminar followed by an oral defense.
The focus of a research project is generally more applied than that for a thesis and will culminate in a written project report.
This path usually requires the third semester to complete.
Third Semester
PGY 950 - Research in Physiology, 6 credits
Research conducted by a graduate student can result in a master’s research project rather than a thesis. The project research is conducted by the graduate student under the tutelage of his/her project adviser and project advisory committee. The project advisory committee will consist of the project adviser and two members of the department Faculty.
The focus of the research for a master’s project is generally more applied than that for a thesis, with the student often defining a problem and developing a solution for it. The project will be a scholarly undertaking that results in a tangible outcome (e.g., a technical report, a computer program, a manuscript), but that does not fit neatly within the framework of a traditional scholarly thesis paper.
The final project must be accompanied by a report written by the student that introduces, analyzes and contextualizes the project, and demonstrates the student's familiarity with the relevant literature of the field.
The master’s project final paper must be approved by the graduate student’s project adviser, project advisory committee, and the director of graduate studies for physiology.
Students are expected to obtain a grade of B or better in all required courses and to maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better. A grade of B minus (B-) or below in a required course may be grounds for dismissal from the program and will be a matter of discussion by the Graduate Affairs Committee of the Department. An overall GPA of lower than 3.0 will result in academic probation. A student on academic probation has 1 semester to bring his/her GPA to 3.0. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the program.
Graduate students not meeting the written terms of their academic probation may be academically dismissed from the program by the director of graduate studies or chair of the department. Such dismissals shall be done in a timely fashion but no later than three weeks after the completion of the term. The Graduate School will be notified in writing of all such academic dismissals.
Graduate students who are dismissed for academic reasons from a graduate program will have a "GRD" (Graduate School) service indicator placed on their academic record to prevent future registration.
Normally there is neither financial support nor tuition waivers for master’s students. Review the University at Buffalo Financial Aid website for more information on available aid.
Funding for Conferences/Travel: Departmental funding may be available for MS students who present a poster or oral presentation at a conference. Requests should be submitted in writing to the Director of Graduate Studies and the Chair of the Department. Students may also want to apply for department travel funding using the Travel Funding Application
Department policy is that students will have available to them 2 weeks of leave per year to use for vacation. Those students who need a longer vacation period because of extended travel times may pool two years’ allowance into a single trip; otherwise, the annual leave time shall be non-accumulating. In regards to vacation leave, the period chosen should result from discussion between the student and mentor and should be consistent with the educational and research commitments associated with the student’s academic and research objectives and responsibilities.
Master’s students who are not U.S. citizens and who travel home to foreign countries should be aware that visa renewals may take extensive time to process or maybe rejected. Thus, it is not generally recommended that students travel outside the country unless necessary.
Students shall also be allowed reasonable medical absences for sickness or treatment. Time spent fulfilling Departmental assignments or responsibilities are not considered vacation or leave time (e.g., assisting in courses, student mentoring and recruitment, organizing Research Day).
Although the mentor cannot forcibly deny a leave request, she or he can certainly view such a request as inconsistent with the student’s commitment to these training and/or research objectives.
If disagreements arise which student and mentor are unable to resolve: the Department Chair and Director of Graduate Studies should be informed by either the student or mentor or both and an effort will be made to mediate the dispute.
Petitions must be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies and/or the Graduate School (and approved by the Divisional Committee in the latter case) for the following purposes:
A.) Extension of time limit for completion of degree: Students must submit a petition listing justifying reasons for an extension beyond two years for completion of the M.S. degrees.
B.) Leave of absence: If a student wishes to take a leave of absence a petition must be submitted detailing the reasons for the leave.
C.) Change of status: A petition to change status from M.S. status to PhD status (upon approval by the mentor) must be submitted in the form of a letter to the Director of Graduate Studies. A petition for a switch from the M.S. to the Ph.D. program is subject to the admissions process and will only be approved if the student has shown adequate abilities in their coursework and research.
The Graduate Affairs Committee will discuss the petition and either approve or deny it. A copy of the petition letter and the Graduate Affairs Committee approval must accompany the student’s program form when it is submitted to the Graduate School.
D.) Change of Thesis Advisor: The same procedure for a letter is followed as in C, above.
E.) Course requirements: If a student requests that an exception be made to the normal course requirements, the same procedure is followed as in C, above.
The Department of Physiology and Biophysics follow and adhere to the Graduate School Grievance Procedures.
Students should feel free to contact the Director of Graduate Studies or the Chair of the Department on personal and academic matters or with grievances. On matters under departmental jurisdiction in which a student believes they have been aggrieved, a formal grievance review may be requested. The request must be in writing from the student concerned to the Chair of the Department and must be filed within one month of the alleged grievance. It must clearly state the charge of grievance, its effects, and summarize the particulars concerning it.
The Chair of the Department, in consultation with the parties concerned, will appoint an ad hoc committee with student representation to investigate the grievance within 20 academic days of receipt of the student’s appeal. The ad hoc committee’s action is restricted to procedures or administrative matters, as opposed to judgments of academic performance. All hearings of the Grievance Committee will be closed. No formal minutes will be taken. The committee will report its recommendation for resolution of the grievance within one week after filing. Grievance reviews for graduate students are also available through the Graduate School.
Additional department resources for current PGY graduate students can be found here: Resources for Current Physiology Graduate Students.
Resources provided by UB and the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences can be found here: Resources for Current Jacobs School Graduate Students.