Core Curriculum
Oncology 703: Carcinogenesis and Tumor Cell Biology
Fall Semester; 3 credits. Viral, chemical, and physical factors involved in tumor formation in humans and experimental
MED HIST 950: Responsible Conduct of Research
Topics will include: assignment of credit and authorship, privileged communications, appropriate recording and treatment of data, scientific misconduct, dual-use research, intellectual property, use of animals and humans in research, conflicts of interest, and issues related to gender and minority equity.
Oncology 725: Readings in Cancer Biology
Spring Semester; 2 credits. Cancer Biology Graduate Program, graduate student, or permission of instructor.
This course fulfills an important facet in the development of independent scientists by teaching them to critically read and review the current literature. This course is required for Cancer Biology PhD students and for students appointed to the NIH training grants in Cancer Biology and Virology.
Oncology 735: Current Problems in Cancer Biology
Spring Semester; 2 credits. This course is required for second-year Cancer Biology PhD majors as they prepare for their preliminary examinations.
Oral presentation and grant proposal writing experience are required for Cancer Biology PhD majors, and these skills are critical for students becoming independent scientists.
Oncology 778: Bioinformatics for Biologists
Spring Semester; 2 credits. Recommended for 2nd year students. Familiarize students with bioinformatics theory and principles; provides students with real-world experience they can apply to their own work; and provides students with a foundation of knowledge that students can use critically to evaluate existing bioinformatics tools that they can use in their work– and in the absence of an appropriate tool, identify the analyses that demand the development of novel tools. Topics include: i) Introduction to algorithms; ii) Introduction to data structures and flow control; iii) Global Alignment (Needleman-Wunshch); iv) Mismatch penalties; v) Introduction to Dynamic Programming; vi) Global Alignment; vii) Local Alignment (Smith Waterman); viii) BLAST; ix) Sanger Sequencing; and x) Contig Assembly.
Oncology 901: McArdle Trainee Seminar Series – Student/Postdoc
Fall & Spring Semester; 1 credit. This course is annually required for Cancer Biology PhD students (2nd Year plus) and for students appointed to the NIH training grants in Cancer Biology and Virology.