×
Biochemistry Student in Lab

PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cancer Biology

The PhD program in Biochemistry, Molecular, & Cancer Biology is part of the Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences (IPBS) at Loyola University's Health Sciences campus. The goal of this program is to train students as independent investigators who will go on to post-doctoral fellowships following the completion of the degree, and eventually become independent academic researchers and teachers.

In the first year of study, PhD students complete three elective rotations in the laboratories of faculty members of their choice, and select an advisor by the end of the second semester. After selecting a research advisor, students may select the Neuroscience track for specialized coursework.  Required and elective courses are taken throughout the first and second years. The student must take and pass a qualifying examination by the end of the second year in order to be admitted to PhD candidacy.

Independent research is carried out in state-of-the-art laboratories under the direction of the student's advisor, with regularly scheduled meetings with the PhD committee selected by the student and advisor. A formal written dissertation on the student's research is required, and must be successfully defended at a public examination. The normal period required for completion of the degree ranges from four to six years.  

In order to join the Biochemistry, Molecular and Cancer Biology PhD track, students must apply to the Integrated Program for Biomedical Scienes (IPBS).

Course Catalog

Learn about the IPBS Core curriculum as well as the courses required for the PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cancer Biology in our Biochemistry, Molecular, and Cancer Biology Catalog.

Faculty

Clodia Osipo, PhD, Graduate Program Director
Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Oncology Institute
Email: cosipo@luc.edu
Phone: 708-327-3177

Susan C. Baker, PhD, Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Joanna Bakowska, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Jordan Beach, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology

Maurizio Bocchetta, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Oncology Institute  

John Callaci, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation

Valerie Chai, PhD, Professor, Department of Cancer Biology

Mashkoor Choudhry, PhD, Professor, Department of Surgery/Microbiology and Immunology

Mitchell Denning, PhD, Professor, Department of Cancer Biology, Graduate Program Director: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program

Qunfeng Dong, PhD, Professor, Center for Biomedical Informatics, Department of Medicine

Sean Fanning, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Cancer Biology 

Thomas M. Gallagher, PhD, Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Makio Iwashima, PhD, Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Simon Kaja, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience

Irida Kastrati, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Cancer Biology

Katherine L. Knight, PhD, Professor and Chairperson of Microbiology and Immunology

Phong T. Le, PhD, Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Oncology Institute

Bryan C. Mounce, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Michael Nishimura, PhD, Professor, Department of Surgery, Oncology Institute

Toni Pak, PhD Professor and Chair, Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology

Liang Qiao, MD, Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Wei Qiu, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Oncology Institute

Seth Robia, PhD, Professor, Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology

Andrew T. Ulijasz, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Susan Uprichard, PhD, Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Karen L. Visick, PhD, Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Alan J. Wolfe, PhD, Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Yee Ling Wu, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Nancy Zeleznik-Le, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Cancer Biology

Jiwang Zhang, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Pathology, Oncology Institute

Current Students

  • Carolyn Ashley
    St. Andrews University, Bachelors in Biology and Forensic Science
    Dr. Whelton Miller's Lab

  • Shreya Chandrasekar
    University of Iowa, Bachelors in Human Physiology
    Rosalind Franklin University, Masters degree in Biomedical Sciences
    Dr. Patrick Oakes and Jordan Beach Lab

  • Emma Fink
    Providence College, Bachelors in Biochemistry and Computer Science
    Dr. Fanning Lab

  • Brenna Flowers
    Western Washington University, Bachelors in Biology
    Dr. Irida Kastrati Lab

  • Eugene Ham
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Bachelors in Molecular Biology and Chemistry
    Dr. Wei Qiu's lab
  • Govinda Hancock
    Commonwealth Honors College at the University of Massachusetts, Bachelors in Biology
    Weill Cornell Medical College, Masters in Health Policy and Economics
    Dr. Sean Fanning Lab

  • Claudia Keating
    University of Notre Dame, Bachelors in Science-Business
    Dr. Wei Qiu Lab

  • Adam Kneebone
    William Paterson University, Bachelors in Jazz Studies
    Dr. Vaziri-Gohar's Lab

  • Raymond Kostlan
    Eastern Michigan University, Bachelors in Biology
    Eastern Michigan University, Masters in Molecular Biology
    Dr. Steve Kregel Lab

  • Sarah Kralicek (Knopf)
    Benedictine University, Bachelors in Molecular Biology
    Loyola University Chicago, Masters in Biochemistry
    Dr. Gail Hecth Lab

  • Ryan Mack
    Michigan State University, Bachelors in Physiology and Human Biology
    Dr. Jiwang Zhang Lab

  • Mary Murray
    Rosemont College, Bachelors in Biology and Chemistry
    Dr. Mashkoor Choudhry Lab

  • John Phoenix
    Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Bachelors in Microbiology
    Dr. Steve Kregel Lab

  • Madison Tschann
    University of Minnesota, Bachelors in Genetics and Cell Development
    University of Minnesota, Masters in Stem Cell Biology  
    Dr. Mashkoor Choudhry’s Lab

  • Margaret Utgaard
    Augustana College, Bachelors in Neuroscience
    Loyola University Chicago, Masters in Neuroscience
    Drs. Patrick Oakes and Jordan Beach Lab

  • John Yap
    Johns Hopkins University, Major in Biology
    Dr. Qun Sophia Zang's Lab

  • Kristen Young
    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Bachelors in Biochemistry and Biophysics
    Dr. Sean Fanning Lab

  • David Zak
    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Bachelors in Biochemistry and Neuroscience
    Dr. Fanning Lab 

  • An Zhang, M.D.
    HeBei Medical University, Bachelors in Clinic Medicine
    HeBei Medical University, Masters Gastric Cancer Surgery Treatment and Molecular Mechanism Research
    Dr Irida Kastrati Lab

News & Events

The PhD program in Biochemistry, Molecular, & Cancer Biology is part of the Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences (IPBS) at Loyola University's Health Sciences campus. The goal of this program is to train students as independent investigators who will go on to post-doctoral fellowships following the completion of the degree, and eventually become independent academic researchers and teachers.

In the first year of study, PhD students complete three elective rotations in the laboratories of faculty members of their choice, and select an advisor by the end of the second semester. After selecting a research advisor, students may select the Neuroscience track for specialized coursework.  Required and elective courses are taken throughout the first and second years. The student must take and pass a qualifying examination by the end of the second year in order to be admitted to PhD candidacy.

Independent research is carried out in state-of-the-art laboratories under the direction of the student's advisor, with regularly scheduled meetings with the PhD committee selected by the student and advisor. A formal written dissertation on the student's research is required, and must be successfully defended at a public examination. The normal period required for completion of the degree ranges from four to six years.  

In order to join the Biochemistry, Molecular and Cancer Biology PhD track, students must apply to the Integrated Program for Biomedical Scienes (IPBS).