Professor�Dept of Drug Discovery and Development�Walker 3211g; x48358 �driese@auburn.edu

Senior Scientist

Cancer Biology & Immunology O’Neal Comprehensive

Cancer Center

University of Alabama-Birmingham

What Is Graduate Study and Why Should You Be Interested?

​

David Riese

June 8, 2022

https://aub.ie/WhyHCOPGraduateStudy

Slide 2

The Harrison College of Pharmacy Offers Two Academic Programs

1. We educate students to earn the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree and to pursue careers in pharmacy practice
2. We also educate students to earn the Master of Science (MS) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees and to pursue careers in pharmacy research.
1. They discover new drugs
2. They investigate how drugs work
3. They develop better strategies for treating patients

​

Slide 3

The MS and PhD Programs Are Structurally Different From the PharmD Program

1. PharmD program – four years of post-undergraduate study
• Three years of coursework
• One year of clinical rotations
• Primarily large and small group learning
• Tuition for in-state student is approximately $22,000/year
2. PhD program – open-ended post-undergraduate study
• Two-plus years split between coursework and research
• Two-plus years devoted entirely to research – you graduate when you complete your research project
• Primarily individual and small group learning
• Programs are administered through the Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy and the Department of Drug Discovery and Development
• MS program is commonly considered to be a shortened version of the PhD program
• Minimal tuition and fees and students typically earn an annual stipend of $20,000+

Slide 4

Examples of Research by Health Outcomes Research and Policy Graduate Students

• How do we improve patient access to health care providers?
• How can we use smartphones and smartwatches to improve health care?
• How can we reduce opioid addiction?
• How do nutritional supplements affect the action of prescription drugs?
• How can we improve health care outcomes and reduce health care costs?

Slide 5

Examples of Research by Drug Discovery and Development Graduate Students

• How can we improve the treatment of the most aggressive forms of breast, prostate, skin, and other cancers?
• How does cigarette smoking by pregnant women affect the child, even after it has been born?
• How can we improve detection of illegal drug use?
• How can we improve the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions?
• How can we improve the prevention and treatment of diabetes and associated conditions?
• How do nutritional supplements affect the action of prescription drugs?
• How do we improve the delivery of drugs to the affected tissues and cells?
• How do we improve the detection and treatment of pathogenic microorganisms?
• How do we improve the treatment of atherosclerosis and heart disease?

Slide 6

Questions?

Slide 7