Department of Physiology and Biophysics

Return to: Keck School of Medicine of USC

Keith Administration Building 400
1975 Zonal Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90089-9037
(323) 442-1145
FAX: (323) 442-2494
Email: janet.stoeckert@usc.edu
Student Adviser: H. Kaslow, PhD, hrkaslow@usc.edu

Faculty

Berislav V. Zlokovic, MD, PhD, Chair of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Director of the Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration at the USC Zilkha Neurogenic Institute

Director, USC Research Center for Liver Diseases, Chief, Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, USC Associates/Thomas H. Brem Chair in Medicine, and Veronica P. Budnick, MD, Chair in Liver Disease: Neil Kaplowitz, MD

Professors: Michael Arbib (Computer Science/Engineering); Thomas Buchanan (Medicine/Obstetrics and Gynecology); Vito M. Campese; Timothy M. Chan (Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology); Casey Donovan (Exercise Science); Robert A. Farley* (Biochemistry); Caleb Finch (Gerontology and Neurobiology); Michael Goran (Preventive Medicine); Sarah Hamm-Alvarez (Pharmaceutical Sciences); Cage S. Johnson (Medicine/Hematology); Neil Kaplowitz (Medicine/GI Liver/Patient Care); Kwang Jin Kim (Medicine, Biomedical Engineering); Herbert J. Meiselman; Austin K. Mircheff; Janos Peti-Peterdi; Alan G. Watts

Associate Professors: Robert H. Chow; Harvey R. Kaslow; Richard L. Lubman (Medicine/Pulmonary Patient Care); Richard Watanabe; Jang-Hyun Youn; Alan S.L. Yu; Li Zhang

Assistant Professors: Steven Mittelman; Joyce Richey; Abhay Sagare

Adjunct Professor: Dwight W. Warren III

*Recipient of university-wide or school teaching award.

The administrative offices of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics are located on the Health Sciences Campus. Faculty of the department are predominantly located at the Health Science Campus and also at the LAC+USC Medical Center and the University Park Campus.

The graduate program in physiology and biophysics is designed to prepare students for a career in research and teaching in physiology, biophysics and related fields. Faculty of the department guide students toward becoming effective members of today’s scientific community by providing an integrated knowledge of physiological systems at several levels of organization. The course of study required of each candidate is planned to meet his or her individual interests and needs.

Faculty guidance and specialized facilities are available for advanced research in the four broad areas of research represented in the department: endocrinology, reproduction and metabolism; neurophysiology; fluid and electrolyte physiology; and cellular and molecular physiology.

Graduate Programs

Admissions

Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in one of the natural sciences. Undergraduate course work in mathematics (including one and a half years of calculus), physics (one year), organic chemistry (aliphatic and aromatic), and biological sciences (one year) is required. Prospective students should also have completed at least two courses from among the following areas: physical chemistry, advanced physics, electronics, histology, physiology, cell biology, computer science, or biochemistry. Equivalent work will be considered on an individual basis.

Students interested in applying must complete an application for graduate studies and submit official transcripts from all academic institutions previously attended, a personal statement of career objectives, financial statement of support, standardized test scores and three letters of recommendation.

Programs

Master’s Degree

• Medical Physiology (MS)

Courses

Medical Physiology

• MPHY 572 Systems Physiology and Disease I
• MPHY 573 Systems Physiology and Disease II
• MPHY 590 Directed Research
• MPHY 594a Master’s Thesis
• MPHY 594b Master’s Thesis
• MPHY 594z Master’s Thesis

Physiology and Biophysics