Graduate School of Biological Sciences
Multidisciplinary Training AreasAll predoctoral students at Mount Sinai enjoy a highly individualized opportunity for training in their area of interest. Training is currently organized into eight Multidisciplinary Training Areas (MTAs), each of which are overseen by two co-directors and a Steering Committee. As of August, 2007 Cancer Biology (CAB), Immunology (IMM), and Pharmacology and Systems Biology (PSB) represent new MTAs that replace the pre-existing more broadly focused MTA, Mechanisms of Disease and Therapy (MDT). Seven of the eight MTAs culminate in a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences with specialization in the designated MTA, whereas Neurosciences is an independent degree granting program that results in a Ph.D. in Neurosciences. The training faculty in the MTAs are drawn from diverse academic units in Mount Sinai School of Medicine:
With the exception of students entering directly into the Neurosciences Ph.D. Program, all students enter the Ph.D. and MSTP in a flexible entry mode whereby they formally declare a training area after the first academic year, usually after they have chosen a preceptor. The students are encouraged to explore potential faculty members from a broad array related to their interests (all students except advanced transfer students must complete at least two rotations). Events to introduce incoming students to potential faculty preceptors occur during the orientation period. Students entering with highly focused interests may, of course, affiliate as closely as they wish with an identified MTA and confine their rotations to the faculty group of their interest. During the first year, students complete the Core Requirements as well as additional course requirements for each MTA. Neurosciences has an independent series of required core courses (please see Neurosciences site for details). Further information about the requirements may be found on MTA websites and in the Graduate School Student Handbook in chapter 6 section 3 Graduate School Courses: Typical Ph.D. Curricula. MTA Requirements |
