biochemistry

• Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics
• McIntyre Medical Sciences Building
• 3655 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Room 1325
• Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6
• Canada

• Telephone: 514-398-3623
• Fax: 514-398-2045
• Email: gradstudies [dot] pharmacology [at] mcgill [dot] ca
• Website: www.medicine.mcgill.ca/pharma

The Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics offers training leading to M.Sc. (Thesis) and Ph.D. degrees.

The Department also offers the Chemical Biology Interdisciplinary Graduate Option, together with the Departments of Biochemistry and Chemistry. Students interested in training in this option must first be accepted for graduate studies by one of the participating departments. Information on this option can be found at: www.mcgill.ca/biochemistry/chemicalbiology.

Pharmacology is a multidisciplinary science that deals with all aspects of drugs and their interactions with living organisms. Thus, pharmacologists study the physical and chemical properties of drugs, their biochemical and physiological effects, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic and other uses. The Department offers broad exposure and training in both basic and clinical research in a range of areas of specialty, including neuropharmacology, reproductive, endocrine, receptor, cardiovascular, cancer, developmental, autonomic, clinical, and biochemical pharmacology, molecular biology, and toxicology.

The present 52 full and affiliate members of the Department have research laboratories located in the McIntyre Medical Sciences Building and in a variety of hospitals, institutes, and industry including the Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Allan Memorial Institute, Montreal Children's Hospital, Montreal General Hospital, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal Heart Institute, Lady Davis Research Institute, Pfizer Canada, and Merck Frosst Canada Inc. The participation of researchers from both industry and government ensures the relevance of the Department's applications-oriented training programs.

Candidates are required to hold a B.Sc. degree in a discipline relevant to the proposed field of study; those with the M.D., D.D.S., or D.V.M. degrees are also eligible to apply. A background in the health sciences is recommended, but programs in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physical sciences may be acceptable.

Admission is based on a student's academic record, letters of assessment, and, whenever possible, interviews with staff members. Students are required to take the Graduate Record Examination Aptitude Test (GRE) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the equivalent, except as follows, in accordance with McGill policy, only those whose mother tongue is English, who graduated from a recognized Canadian institution (anglophone or francophone), or who completed an undergraduate or graduate degree at a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction are exempt from providing proof of competency in English.

Inquiries relating to all aspects of graduate study should be directed to the Graduate Coordinator, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, as early as possible in each academic year.

Admissions Requirements – Chemical Biology Option

As for the regular graduate programs of the participating departments, acceptance into the Chemical Biology option consists of two steps:

1. Preliminary approval by the Department's Graduate Committee based on the student's transcript, references, and other documents submitted with the application. The criteria for assessment at this level are the same as those for the regular graduate programs of the participating departments.
2. Acceptance by an individual research director. For students wishing to participate in the Chemical Biology option, the director must propose a research project for the student that provides training in the methods and philosophy of chemical biology. Project proposals are assessed by the Chemical Biology Program Committee.

McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.

See Application Procedures (for All Admissions Starting Summer 2013) for detailed application procedures.

Please refer to our website (www.medicine.mcgill.ca/pharma) for complete deadlines.

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Applicants must have a B.Sc. or an equivalent degree with an extensive background in the physical and biological sciences. An academic record equivalent to or better than a CGPA of 3.2 out of 4.0 at McGill is required for at least the two final full-time years of undergraduate training, with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 overall.

Applicants to graduate studies whose mother tongue is not English, and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction or from a recognized Canadian institution (anglophone or francophone), must submit the GRE and TOEFL examinations in order to be properly evaluated as to their suitability.

Students are normally accepted into the M.Sc. program, and those candidates showing exceptional ability may be permitted to transfer into the Ph.D. program after one year of training.

Applicants who already possess an additional degree (M.Sc., M.D.) and have some research experience may be allowed to register in the Ph.D. program directly.

For further information, applicants may contact the Teaching Office, Department of Pathology.

McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.

See Application Procedures (for All Admissions Starting Summer 2013) for detailed application procedures.

All applications will be evaluated by the Graduate Students Committee. Candidates found suitable must then be accepted by a research director, and adequate funding must be obtained for both personal support and research expenses.

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• Department of Human Genetics
• Stewart Biological Sciences Building
• 1205 Dr. Penfield Avenue, N5/13
• Montreal, QC H3A 1B1
• Canada

• Telephone: 514-398-4198
• Fax: 514-398-2430
• Email: grad [dot] hg [at] mcgill [dot] ca
• Website: www.mcgill.ca/humangenetics

M.Sc. and Ph.D. Degrees in Human Genetics

The Department of Human Genetics offers a clinical master’s program in Genetic Counselling, as well as research training at both the M.Sc. and Ph.D. levels. Both the M.Sc. and Ph.D. research programs require the completion of a thesis, which is the major focus of the student's effort. A minimal amount of coursework is required, but specific course choices are flexible and vary according to the student's previous training and current research interest. The Department also offers a Bioinformatics option. Information on the Bioinformatics option can be found at: www.mcgill.ca/mcb/academic/graduate.

Most of the faculty of the Human Genetics Department are located in McGill teaching hospitals, reflecting the medically learned knowledge at the core of human genetic studies.

Faculty have a wide variety of research interests, which embrace: cancer genetics, cytogenetics, reproductive biology, neurogenetics, and genomic and genetic basis of human diseases. Detailed information regarding faculty research interest can be found on the Department web page at www.mcgill.ca/humangenetics/prospective-students/supervision.

Students accepted into the Human Genetics research graduate program will receive a minimum stipend of $15,000, plus tuition and fees.

Tuition Differential Fee Waivers

A certain number of tuition differential fee waivers will be offered to incoming out-of-province/international students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement. Students who have a CGPA of 3.5/4.0 or above (as converted by McGill GPS guidelines) and who submit online application and documents by Jan. 31 (Summer), March 31 (Fall), Sept. 30 (Winter) will automatically be considered for a tuition waiver.

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M.Sc. in Genetic Counselling

Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree – 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/4.0 for the last two full-time academic years. Recent (five years or less) university-level courses in the Basic Sciences (basic biology, cell and molecular, biochemistry, principles of human genetics, or basic genetics with a significant “human” component) and a minimum of two Social Sciences (social psychology, abnormal psychology).

Prerequisites or corequisites: Recent (five years or less) university-level course in statistics.

Applicants must have obtained some experience (either paid or volunteer) working in a counselling or advisory capacity, ideally in a health care setting.

Applicants to graduate studies whose mother tongue is not English, and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction or from a recognized Canadian institution (anglophone or francophone), must submit a TOEFL score of 600 on the TOEFL paper-based test (or 100 on the Internet-based test), with each component score no less than 20, as the minimum standard for admission.

M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Human Genetics

Prerequisites: B.Sc. – minimum CGPA 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/4.0 for the last two full-time academic years. Applicants must have a minimum of 6 credits in cellular and molecular biology or biochemistry, 3 credits in mathematics or statistics, and 3 credits in genetics. Applicants to graduate studies whose mother tongue is not English, and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction or from a recognized Canadian institution (anglophone or francophone), must submit a TOEFL score of 600 on the TOEFL paper-based test (or 100 on the Internet-based test), with each component score no less than 20, or 7 on the IELTS, as the minimum standard for admission.

Admission is based on an evaluation by the Graduate Training Committee and on acceptance by a research director who has agreed to provide adequate funding for the duration of the academic program. Prospective graduate students should complete the online application form and indicate at least three faculty members they are interested in working with.

McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.

See Application Procedures (for All Admissions Starting Summer 2013) for detailed application procedures.

Applications for thesis programs submitted after these deadlines may be considered, if a suitable supervisor can be secured. However, these applications will not be considered for departmental funding or entrance awards.

* M.Sc. Genetic Counselling program accepts applications for the Fall term only. No late applications or applications for Summer or Winter terms for the Genetic Counselling program will be considered under any circumstances.

** The Department of Human Genetics is not willing to consider any applications to the M.Sc. (Thesis) for the Summer term.

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• Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
• Strathcona Anatomy and Dentistry Building
• 3640 University Street, Room 1/60
• Montreal, QC H3A 0C7
• Canada

• Telephone: 514-398-6335
• Fax: 514-398-5047
• Website: www.mcgill.ca/anatomy

In addition to laboratory-specific activities, students will attend weekly seminars presented by nationally and internationally recognized researchers (www.mcgill.ca/anatomy/seminar-series). Students will also present their results once a year to other students in the program in the Research in Progress seminar series.

Current research projects include:

• cell biology of secretion
• cell biology of endocytosis
• signal transduction of cell receptors for growth factors and hormones
• synthesis and migration of glycoproteins
• subcomponents of the Golgi apparatus and their function
• biogenesis and function of lysosomes
• cell turnover in various tissues
• control of cell growth and proliferation
• molecular biology of extracellular matrix
• structure, composition, and function of basement membranes and connective tissue microfibrils
• cell and microfibrils
• cell and molecular biology of spermatogenesis
• genetic expression of proteins in the formation of cytoskeletal components of spermatozoa
• role of endocytosis and secretion by epididymal cells in sperm maturation
• molecular biology of Sertoli cell secretions and their interaction with germ cells
• synchronization of sperm production
• transferrin, transferrin receptors, and iron in germinal cells
• differentiation of B lymphocytes in bone marrow in relation to mechanisms of humoral immunity, immunodeficiency states, and B cell neoplasias
• control mechanisms and cytokines in B lymphopoiesis
• in situ organization and stromal cell-interactions of B lineage precursor cells in bone marrow
• microenvironmental regulation of hemopoiesis
• differentiation and regulation of cells mediating natural tumour immunosurveillance
• tumour cell biology
• cell and molecular biology of the formation of dental enamel, dentin, and bone
• structure of organic matrices and inorganic crystals of dental enamel
• role of hormones and their binding sites with calcified tissues
• secretion and degradation of the proteins of enamel matrix, hypothalamo-pituitary function and gonadotropin patterns in ovarian follicular development
• polycystic ovarian disease
• computer-assisted modelling of morphometric and kinetic data
• cell biology and molecular genetics of aging
• senescence and cell cycle-specific genes and their products
• cryo-electron microscopy

The Human Systems Biology Stream is offered as a complementary stream to the existing M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs entailing a multidisciplinary approach to achieving an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Cell Biology and Anatomy. The primary objective of this stream is to offer graduate students academic training in Human Systems Biology. This is an exciting and new multidisciplinary field that aims to understand molecular human diseases at the systems level.

Research in the Department investigates the dynamics and organization of molecules, organelles, cells, and tissues in several major systems of the body. The work makes fundamental contributions to a number of established and emerging multidisciplinary fields: cell and molecular biology, cellular immunology and hematology, reproductive biology, calcified tissue biology, tumour cell biology, developmental biology, neurobiology, and aging.

The Department offers contemporary facilities for the wide range of techniques currently employed in research. Modern methods of cell and molecular biology, immunology, and biochemistry are used in conjunction with specialized microscopy in a variety of experimental systems. Techniques used by Department members include:

• labelling with radioisotopes and other tracers
• radioautography
• immunocytochemistry
• histochemistry
• cryo-immune microscopy
• fluorescence microscopy
• high-resolution electron microscopy
• scanning electron microscopy
• backscattered electron imaging
• confocal microscopy
• 3D cryo-electron microscopy
• microinjection
• video-microscopy in living cells
• X-ray microanalysis
• electron diffraction
• freeze-fracture replication
• computer reconstruction and quantitation
• chromatography
• subcellular fractionation
• recombinant DNA technology
• in situ hybridization
• tissue grafting
• cell and tissue culture
• mutant and transgenic mice
• hybridomas
• monoclonal antibodies

The Department has one of the largest and best-equipped electron microscope facilities in the world. Currently in use are four modern electron microscopes, including a Tecnai F20 and a Titan Krios. Combined with some of these microscopes are computer-aided analytical equipment capable of elemental microanalysis, histomorphometry, reconstruction, and quantitation. The high-voltage microscope is particularly useful for certain analytical electron optical procedures such as electron diffraction, lattice imaging, and three-dimensional electron microscopy.

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M.Sc. and Ph.D. Programs

1. A B.Sc. degree in life sciences or any of M.D., D.D.S., or D.V.M. degrees from a university of recognized reputation.
2. Evidence of a high academic achievement with a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 on 4.0 as indicated in the general guidelines set up by GPS at McGill.
3. Students must follow the guidelines for English Language Proficiency at www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/prepare/requirements/proficiency.
4. M.Sc. and Ph.D. students are supported financially, at a minimum of $15,000 and $17,000 respectively, per year.

Graduate students are also expected to apply for the various internal and external fellowships. Detailed information is available at www.mcgill.ca/anatomy/graduate/fellowships. Graduate students are responsible for the payment of tuition fees to McGill University. Detailed information about these can be found at www.mcgill.ca/student-accounts/tuition-charges/fallwinter-term-tuition-and-fees/graduate-fees. For international students registered in the M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs, differential fee waivers up to $5,000 will be allocated to a maximum of eight students through the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, for the first year, with a possibility of renewal.

McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.

See Application Procedures (for All Admissions Starting Summer 2013) for detailed application procedures.

Application for admission to graduate studies for the degrees of M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Cell Biology and Anatomy should be made to the Chair of Graduate Studies, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology.

Program guidelines are detailed at www.mcgill.ca/anatomy/graduate.

All applicants must first make arrangements with a faculty member of the Department for acceptance into his/her laboratory to carry out the thesis research (www.mcgill.ca/anatomy/graduate/appproc).

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• Institute of Parasitology
• Macdonald Campus
• 21,111 Lakeshore Road
• Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9
• Canada

• Telephone: 514-398-7725
• Fax: 514-398-7857
• Email: program [dot] biotech [at] mcgill [dot] ca
• Website: www.mcgill.ca/biotechgradprog

Non-thesis Graduate Certificate and M.Sc.(Applied) degree in Biotechnology.

The non-thesis program in Biotechnology offers a course-based curriculum with practical training in laboratory courses and internships offered through the Institute of Parasitology. The Institute is housed on Macdonald Campus of McGill University in beautiful Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue about 30 kilometers from the Montreal main campus downtown.

Graduates typically enter the biotechnology sector in research, management, or sales, or accept government positions.

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS

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Candidates for the Graduate Certificate and the M.Sc.(Applied) in Biotechnology must possess a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences or equivalent with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/4.0 GPA in the last two full-time years of university study for the Graduate Certificate, and a minimum of 3.2/4.0 CGPA for the M.Sc.(A.), as well as prerequisites or equivalents. Prerequisites or equivalents: applicants are required to have sufficient background in biochemistry, cellular biology, and molecular biology, preferably at an advanced level for the Master's Applied.

Qualifying Students

Some applicants whose academic degrees and standing entitle them to serious consideration for admission to graduate studies, but who are considered inadequately prepared in the subject selected, may be admitted to a Qualifying program if they have met the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies minimum CGPA of 3.0/4.0. The course(s) to be taken in a Qualifying program will be prescribed by the academic unit concerned. Qualifying students are registered in graduate studies, but not as candidates for a degree. Only one Qualifying year is permitted. Successful completion of a Qualifying program does not guarantee admission to a degree program.

Financial Support – Financial support for Biotechnology programs is very limited. Students must secure funding from governmental agencies or be self-sufficient. International students are strongly encouraged to secure funding from their home country or international agencies. More information is found at www.mcgill.ca/biotechgradprog/admissions/tuition.

McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.

See Application Procedures (for All Admissions Starting Summer 2013) for detailed application procedures.

It may be necessary to delay review of the applicant’s file until the following admittance period if application materials including supporting documents are received after the Dates for Guaranteed Consideration. International applicants are advised to apply well in advance of these dates because immigration procedures may be lengthy.

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General

The minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is 3.0/4.0 (second class – upper division) or a GPA of 3.2/4.0 during the last two years of full-time university study. High grades are expected in courses considered by the academic unit to be preparatory to the graduate program.

Ph.D.

Ph.D. candidates are required to have an M.Sc. degree in an area related to the chosen field of specialization for the Ph.D. program. Outstanding M.Sc. students may be permitted to transfer to the second year of the Ph.D. program following one year of study.

Qualifying Students

Some applicants whose academic degrees and standing entitle them to serious consideration for admission to graduate studies, but who are considered inadequately prepared in the subject selected may be admitted to a Qualifying program if they have met the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies minimum CGPA of 3.0/4.0. The course(s) to be taken in a Qualifying program will be prescribed by the academic unit concerned. Qualifying students are registered in graduate studies, but not as candidates for a degree. Only one Qualifying year is permitted. Successful completion of a qualifying program does not guarantee admission to a degree program.

Financial Aid – Financial aid is very limited and highly competitive. It is suggested that students give serious consideration to their financial planning before submitting an application. Normally, a student will not be accepted unless adequate financial support can be provided by the student and/or the student’s supervisor. Academic units cannot guarantee financial support via teaching assistantships or other funds.

McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.

See Application Procedures (for All Admissions Starting Summer 2013) for detailed application procedures.

It may be necessary to delay review of the applicant’s file until the following admittance period if application materials, including supporting documents, are received after the Dates for Guaranteed Consideration. International applicants are advised to apply well in advance of these dates because immigration procedures may be lengthy.

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Candidates for either the M.Sc. or the Ph.D. thesis research degree should possess a bachelor's degree in the biological or medical sciences with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2/4.0 (second class – upper division). High grades are expected in courses considered by the academic unit to be preparatory to the graduate program. Previous experience in parasitology is not essential.

Qualifying Students

Some applicants whose academic degrees and standing entitle them to serious consideration for admission to graduate studies, but who are considered inadequately prepared in the subject selected, may be admitted to a Qualifying program if they have met the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies minimum CGPA of 3.0/4.0. The course(s) to be taken in a Qualifying program will be prescribed by the academic unit concerned. Qualifying students are registered in graduate studies, but not as candidates for a degree. Only one Qualifying year is permitted. Successful completion of a Qualifying program does not guarantee admission to a degree program.

Financial Aid – Financial aid is very limited and highly competitive. It is suggested that students give serious consideration to their financial planning before submitting an application. Normally, a student will not be accepted unless adequate financial support can be provided by the student and/or the student’s supervisor. Academic units cannot guarantee financial support via teaching assistantships or other funds.

More information is found at www.mcgill.ca/biotechgradprog/admissions/tuition.

McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.

See Application Procedures (for All Admissions Starting Summer 2013) for detailed application procedures.

It may be necessary to delay review of the applicant’s file until the following admittance period if application materials including supporting documents are received after the Dates for Guaranteed Consideration. International applicants are advised to apply well in advance of these dates because immigration procedures may be lengthy.

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• School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition
• Macdonald-Stewart Building, Room MS2-039
• McGill University, Macdonald Campus
• 21,111 Lakeshore Road
• Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9
• Canada

• Telephone: 514-398-7762
• Fax: 514-398-7739
• Email: lise [dot] grant [at] mcgill [dot] ca
• Website: www.mcgill.ca/dietetics

In the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, cutting-edge nutrition research is conducted by its nine tenure-track professors and six faculty lecturers in all areas recommended by North American Nutrition Societies. These include molecular and cellular nutrition, clinical, community, and international nutrition. Domains emphasized by School researchers include: epigenetics; proteomics; metabolomics; embryonic and fetal origins of health and disease; the development of improved recommendations and policies for optimizing health in at-risk populations including Aboriginal populations, mothers and children, and the elderly; and the development of novel nutritional and/or nutraceutical approaches for treatment during surgery and recovery from disease.

Research is conducted in our on-site research labs, the Centre for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment (CINE), the Mary Emily Clinical Nutrition Research unit, and the MUHC Teaching Hospitals. Students can conduct research or participate in clinical rotations with the BITS – Barbados, IDRC – Ghana and field sites in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

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M.Sc. Thesis and M.Sc. Applied (Project or Practicum)

Applicants must be graduates of a university of recognized reputation and hold a B.Sc. degree equivalent to a McGill degree in a subject closely related to the one selected for graduate work. Applicants must have at least a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in McGill University’s credit equivalency of 3.2/4.0 (second class – upper division) during their bachelor's degree program. All eligible candidates to the M.Sc. (Applied) program may select the project option; those who have completed a dietetic internship and six months' work experience are eligible to apply for a practicum option.

Ph.D.

Applicants must be graduates of a university of recognized reputation and hold a B.Sc. and M.Sc. degree equivalent to a McGill degree in a subject closely related to the one selected for graduate work. Applicants must have at least a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in McGill University's credit equivalency of 3.2/4.0 (second class – upper division) during their bachelor's and master's degree programs.

Graduate Diploma in R.D. Credentialing

For information on admission requirements, applicants must contact Dr. Maureen Rose in the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition.

Qualifying Students

Some applicants whose academic degrees and Standing entitle them to serious consideration for admission to graduate studies, but who are considered inadequately prepared in the subject selected may be admitted to a Qualifying program if they have met the School's minimum CGPA of 3.2 out of 4.0. The courses to be taken in a Qualifying program will be prescribed by the academic unit. Qualifying students are registered in graduate studies, but not as candidates for a degree. Only one Qualifying year (two terms) is permitted. Successful completion of a Qualifying program does not guarantee admission to a degree program. Students must re-apply for admission to a degree program.

Financial Aid – Financial aid is very limited and highly competitive. It is suggested that students give serious consideration to their financial planning before submitting an application. Normally, a student will not be accepted unless adequate financial support can be provided by the student and/or the student's supervisor. While the school cannot guarantee financial support, teaching assistantships and other scholarships may be available.

McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.

See Application Procedures (for All Admissions Starting Summer 2013) for detailed application procedures.

It may be necessary to delay review of the applicant’s file until the following admittance period if application materials including supporting documents are received after the Dates for Guaranteed Consideration. International applicants are advised to apply well in advance of these dates because immigration procedures may be lengthy.

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