Physiology Graduate Track of EEOB
Physiology deals with how organisms work: the functions and integrated activities of entire organisms, organs, tissues or cells. Depending on the level at which the physical, chemical, and biological phenomena involved are studied, animal physiologists apply a vast array of different methods. These range from molecular and cellular techniques to quantitative genetics to laboratory studies of organismal performance to behavioral tests and ecological and evolutionary analysis of physiological traits in natural habitats. Hence, the physiology group has strong ties with other areas of graduate research specialization, including Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience, Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics, Biomedical Sciences, and Evolutionary Biology.
To prepare for a graduate specialization in Physiology, rigorous undergraduate preparation is recommended in Vertebrate Zoology and/or Invertebrate Zoology, Genetics, Embryology, Cell or General Physiology, Animal Physiology, and Statistics. Depending on the interests of the student, additional course work in Biochemistry, Physical Chemistry, Biophysics, Neurophysiology, Animal Behavior, Population Genetics, Ecology or Evolution may be desirable.
The basic requirements for a graduate (M.S. or Ph.D.) degree with emphasis in Physiology involve course work in a subset of Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Gross and Microscopic Anatomy, Cytology-Histology, Comparative and Human Physiology, Cellular and Systems Neuroscience, Comparative/Ecological/Evolutionary Physiology, and/or Immunology. The specific coursework depends on the student's interests, but will often include both cell physiology and organ-system physiology (some of these requirements will probably have been met at entrance). Students in Physiology differ in their career goals and the emphasis and immediate application of their research. Accordingly, considerable flexibility is allowed in the courses chosen to cover basic requirements. Beyond this basic preparation, students will take additional courses emphasizing Comparative/Ecological/Evolutionary Physiology, Neurobiology or Regulatory (Mammalian) Physiology.
A diversity of research interests in Physiology are currently represented by Biology faculty and by affiliated faculty of the Departments of Neuroscience, Entomology, Psychology, and Biomedical Sciences:
Behavioral Endocrinology
Biomechanics
Comparative Physiology (how different kinds
of organisms "work" or are "designed" [but not intelligently!])
Developmental Physiology
Evolutionary
Physiology (how physiological traits evolve in
concert with behavior, morphology, etc.)
Neurobiology (organismal and cellular neuroscience)
Regulatory Physiology (especially mechanisms of water
balance and thermoregulation)
Phenotypic
Plasticity
Physiological Ecology (physiological adaptations of animals
to their environments)
The proximity of Riverside to a multitude of natural habitats, plus the availability
of the extensive UC Natural Reserve System,
facilitates the study of a wide variety of organisms.
Faculty in the Physiology track:
More information, including representative publications and an electronic mail address, is available on each faculty member. Prospective graduate students are strongly encouraged to contact faculty members with interests similar to their own early in the application process.- Baker, Mary Ann, Professor Emeritus (Biomedical Sciences)
Altshuler, Doug, Assistant Professor
Cardullo, Richard, Professor
Chappell, Mark, Professor
Curras-Collazo, Margarita, Associate Professor (Neuroscience)
Currie, Scott, Associate Professor (Neuroscience)
Farley, Roger, Associate Professor
Garland, Theodore, Jr., Professor
Hammond, Kimberly, Associate Professor
Hayashi, Cheryl, Associate Professor
Lytle, Chris, Associate Professor (Biomedical Sciences)
Platzer, Edward, Professor (Nematology joint appointment)
Razak, Khaleel A. , Assistant Professor (Psychology)
Reznick, David, Professor
Ruibal, Rodolfo, Professor Emeritus
Saltzman, Wendy, Assistant Professor
Santiago, Louis F., Assistant Professor (Botany & Plant Sciences)
Sassaman, Clay, Professor
Stanley, Glenn, Professor (Neuroscience, Psychology)
Last updated 7 Dec. 2007 by T.G.