PhD Program

Transforming Healthcare with Cutting-Edge Research

The UT Health Science Center College of Pharmacy is a top-ranking research institution offering prospective PhD students the chance to elevate their research skills while preparing for a career in the pharmaceutical sciences.

Our mission is to advance pharmaceutical sciences through focused, cross-cutting, collaborative research and graduate education relevant to career advancement. The objective of the graduate program in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences is to provide graduate students at the PhD level with expertise in the area broadly defined as the pharmaceutical sciences.

About Our Program

The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences offers PhD degrees through the College of Graduate Health Sciences. The graduate program aims to equip students with comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical sciences while emphasizing their chosen area.

We provide expertise in four focused research areas:

Therapeutic Targets and Molecular Mechanisms of Disease
Research in this area aims to identify and validate new drug targets (endogenous proteins) relevant to treating diseases such as cancer, neurological conditions, metabolic disorders, and infectious diseases using biochemical and biological approaches.

Drug Discovery and Development
Research in this area includes the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of new chemical entities with potential use in treating diseases such as cancer, infections, and disorders of the endocrine, cardiovascular, central, and peripheral nervous systems.

Pharmacometrics
Research in this area includes the quantitative assessment of drug disposition (pharmacokinetics) and effects (pharmacodynamics) using mathematical models based on biology, physiology, pharmacology, and different disease states.

Drug Delivery and Targeting
Research in this area includes the design and evaluation of novel and translational drug delivery systems, which can lead to targeted delivery systems to different organs in the body to enhance the in vivo stability and permeability of novel molecules with reduced toxicity.

Program Highlights

Rotations & Direct Placement Options
Students can opt for direct placement by requesting direct entry to a specific research lab or choose a rotation path that allows them to explore various research labs before selecting their preferred one 

Student Life & Opportunities
PhD students are given ample room to study, congregate, and collaborate in the modern, purpose-built College of Pharmacy building, including a desk in a student area outside yet near the laboratory; access to a kitchen, study areas, and private student areas to interact; a personal PC with top tier software provided by the UT Health Science Center College of Pharmacy.

Students at the College also work to support and celebrate each other's successes and achievements. The Department hosts an annual luncheon where faculty and students come together to recognize student accomplishments, including prestigious fellowships, summer internships in the pharmaceutical industry, publications in high-impact journals, and earning notable awards from scientific societies. Annual development sessions to promote proficiency in artificial intelligence, communication, presentation skills, and professionalism.

Grants, Fellowships, and Patents
Students are encouraged to apply for grants and fellowships, and the Graduate College of Health Sciences provides cash incentives for each application submitted. Many students in the program have published in high-impact scholarly journals, often marking their first publication. They have also received awards from prestigious scientific societies, such as the American Heart Association, the American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the American Society of Pharmacology. Additionally, students have their names listed on patents for projects they have collaborated on with faculty members.

Internships
Graduate students are encouraged and supported to participate in internships during their time in the program. Students have joined internships at top-ranking companies and government institutions, including Merck, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Novartis, Astra Zeneca, and the US Food and Drug Administration.

Entrepreneurship
The college takes great pride in encouraging students to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities and start a business. Students interested in start-up companies receive entrepreneurship training in pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences. The UT Research Foundation teaches a three-credit course, Entrepreneurship in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, in which students are trained in developing and commercializing innovation and igniting startups.

Memphis Life

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is part of an investment region spanning downtown, Mud Island, South Bluffs, and the medical district. Twenty-six thousand residents enjoying the heart of the city trend younger, highly educated, and active. The city touts 167 parks totaling 3,219 acres, 60 miles of bike lanes, 300 bikes from 45 Bike Share stations, fleets of thousands of electric scooters, and miles of running/biking/walking paths along the Mississippi River, the Green Line, Overton Square, and Shelby Farms, the second largest urban park in the nation.

Although one of the most extensive metro areas in the Southeastern U.S., the region’s small-town atmosphere fosters a close-knit community, making it an attractive place for families to settle. Memphis has one of the lowest living costs in a large metro area. Rent prices and mortgage expenses are considerably lower than the national average. The median monthly rent rate is substantially lower than the national average. Expenses for food and services are also significantly lower than in other major regions. Home to FedEx, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Le Bonheur Children Hospitals, numerous sports and music venues, museums, and growth opportunities abound.

Admissions

The PhD program based in the College of Pharmacy is under the jurisdiction of the College of Graduate Health Sciences. The PhD is a research degree that prepares scientists to engage in basic research.

Requirements

Applications for the PhD program are accepted from students with a BS or MS degree in pharmacy, chemistry, biology, mathematics, engineering, or other appropriate disciplines. The standard admission time for new students is in the Fall Semester, which begins about mid-August. Prospective graduate students should submit a completed application form and supporting documents by March 15th for the Fall Semester. More information can be found on the College of Graduate Health Sciences admissions page. The admission requirements are:

• A minimum grade point average of 3.0
• A combined score (verbal and quantitative) of at least 300 on the Graduate Record Examination
• TOEFL or IELTS scores if your native language is not English or have graduated from an institution outside the US
• Three letters of recommendation
• No application fee

The GRE is optional, but in the absence of peer-reviewed publications, it is highly recommended.

Financial Aid

We offer a tuition waiver, stipend, and health insurance. Students may also apply for other fellowships.

Application Materials

Submit an Application Online

You may submit your application electronically. Complete the application form automatically submitted to the Office of Enrollment Services.

All admission documents should be uploaded directly into the WebAdmit application portal (i.e., test scores, letters of recommendation, etc.), not sent directly to the Office of Enrollment Services.

For non-US applicants, official test scores and three letters of recommendation should be sent directly from the contributing source and not by the student to the Office of Enrollment Services.  Transcripts from non-US institutions MUST be verified and certified to generate a grade point average (GPA).  Service agencies, include, but are not limited to, Educational Credit Evaluation (ECE) at www.ece.org, World Education Services (WES) at www.wes.org, and American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) at www.aacrao.org.  A document-by-document certification is not acceptable.  These agencies charge a fee for service, and applicants are responsible for payment. 

Documents and other supporting materials should be mailed to the following addresses:

UTHSC Transcript Processing Center
PO Box 9141
Watertown, MA 02471

UTHSC Transcript Processing Center
c/o Liaison International
311 Arsenal Street, Suite 15
Watertown, MA 02472

If you have questions regarding admissions, please get in touch with us at the following address:

Hassan Almoazen
Associate Professor and Director of PhD and Dual Degree PharmD/PhD Programs
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy
881 Madison Ave
Room 661
Memphis, TN 38163
OFFICE 901.448.2239
FAX 901.448.473
Email:halmoaze@uthsc.edu

Applicant Privacy

To comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy must limit conversations regarding individual students and/or their applications. The faculty and staff of the College may not disclose application information, including admission status, to anyone except the applicants themselves.

Program Documents

For additional information on the admission and application process, please refer to the documents below.