Integrated Biosciences, Ph.D.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Integrated Biosciences (INBS) program trains students to solve complex problems using cutting-edge concepts in biological, biomedical, computational and pharmaceutical sciences. This program provides students from different disciplinary backgrounds with a multidisciplinary, comprehensive approach to the study of diseases associated with health disparity. Students can be mentored by faculty from three different departments in the College of Health and Sciences: Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

All students will participate in a unique core curriculum consisting of an integrated approach to addressing health disparities in human diseases. Students may choose from one of two concentrations: Biomedical Sciences or Pharmaceutical Sciences. The Biomedical Sciences concentration is designed for students with backgrounds and interests in biology, biochemistry, molecular biology or related disciplines. The Pharmaceutical Sciences concentration is designed for students with backgrounds and interests in chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacology, biochemistry or related disciplines. Domain/elective courses can be taken at NCCU or at local universities such as Duke University, UNC-Chapel Hill, and NC State University, allowing for a flexible curriculum.

A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher is required to be in good academic standing. A minimum of 75 credit hours is required for program completion, comprised of the following:

• 12 credit hours of core course work
• 11 credit hours of additional required courses
• 6 credit hours of track/elective courses
• 46 credit hours of research courses, as follows:
  • 4 credit hours of lab rotations
  • 9 credit hours of doctoral supervised research
  • 30 credit hours of doctoral research
  • 3 credit hours of dissertation preparation

GRE test scores are required upon application submission.

All students in the program receive the following support:

• Full tuition and fees payment
• Admitted students are provided funding by the INBS program for the first two years of the program
• Health insurance

NCCU has one of the most innovative biotechnology educational initiatives in the country. The University's Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE) is creating a pool of incredibly well-trained students ready to excel in biotechnology and biomanufacturing workplaces. Our institute has a strong research focus, particularly in the areas of drug discovery and manufacturing technology. Read more on BRITE's webpage.

NCCU is also the home of the Julius L. Chambers Bio-medical Biotechnology Research Institute (JLC-BBRI). The mission of BBRI is to conduct research focused on health issues that disproportionately affect minority and under-served populations while providing students with research experiences. The BBRI houses or is associated with programs in the areas of cancer, cardiovascular-metabolic studies, neuroscience, and human nutrition research. Read more on BBRI's webpage.

The Mary Townes Science Complex is home to four STEM programs: Mathematics and Physics, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Environmental Earth and Geospatial Sciences. Each program has research laboratory space to ensure that students will be trained to assume leadership roles in a globally diverse scientific community.

Read more on the department pages below:

• Biological and Biomedical Sciences
• Chemistry and Biochemistry Sciences

Faculty research can be viewed on the webpages under the research facilities and academic departments (Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences).

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