Graduate Programs

Our PhD program provides classroom and research experiences, helping students grow into professionals equipped with the experience to be great researchers. Providing students with an in-depth understanding of human physiology and advanced research skills is our hallmark. Our department houses state-of-the-art equipment, furthering our understanding of the physiological process. We do not currently offer an MS only option.


Students from Action Control Lab (Greenhouse)

Doctorate Degree

A PhD in Human Physiology is the pathway to a broad range of careers in university level research and teaching. Our PhD program provides students with the opportunity to grow as university-level educators, and it stands out for its exceptional classroom and research experiences. Each PhD student works closely with a faculty advisor, who helps mentor them on the development of their research skills and career plans.


Doctorate Program Handbook

Our Student Handbook for the Research-Intensive Graduate program holds important information about our graduate program. Please review it here. 

PhD Handbook


Profile photo of Jun San Juan

Your Path to Success in Human Physiology

“I am very grateful for my education at the University of Oregon. The doctoral program in the department of Human Physiology allowed me to develop skills needed for both research and teaching. I graduated feeling well prepared for my career in academia.”

—Jun San Juan, Human Physiology, '09


Courses

From research to individualized programs, your time in the Human Physiology doctorate program will give you the necessary skills to step into the career you want. Our faculty have expertise in a broad range of areas, from the subcellular, cellular, organ system to the whole-body level. Students are also encouraged to present their research at UO events, along with regional, national, and international conferences. Explore the opportunities across the graduate program below.


Funding Your Graduate Studies

The human physiology graduate program offers multiple opportunities for funding. In order to be eligible for scholarships, applicants must be currently pursuing a doctoral degree at the UO, hold a GPA of 3.5 or higher, and have attended the UO for more than one year or have earned at least 27 credits. Additional support can stem from teaching or research, and many of our students work with their advisors to apply for external fellowships.

Funding and Research Support


Prepare for the Professional World

Students who complete their PhD through the human physiology graduate program go on to great success in the world of practical healthcare or research. Half of our alumni go on to postdoctoral fellowships, and many others go on to university faculty positions that balance a combination of both research and teaching.

Career and Professional Development


Profile of Emily Larson

Finding Community in Human Physiology

“As I considered different graduate schools, it was really important to me to find a program with a strong sense of community. Human Physiology places a strong emphasis on developing this community through orientation and teaching workshops, regular department-wide seminars, and a common sequence of classes for all first-year graduate students taught by different department faculty members. I was fortunate that some of my fellow graduate students in different research areas soon became my close friends.”

—Emily Larson, Human Physiology, current graduate student


two students sitting on steps

Our Graduate Students

Because of the relatively small size of our PhD program, students are able to connect easily during their time at the UO. They work closely together through teaching undergraduates and build a community through their research projects or exploring everything Eugene has to offer.

Resources for the Graduate Community


Events

UO Olympic Studies Week
May16
UO Olympic Studies Week May 16
Cinema Studies Presents:  “From Research to Industry: Connecting Hidden Histories and Present Realities of Women’s Labor in Animation”  
May16
Cinema Studies Presents:  “From Research to Industry: Connecting Hidden Histories and Present Realities of Women’s Labor in Animation”   May 16 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)
UO Olympic Studies Week - Industry Session
May16
UO Olympic Studies Week - Industry Session May 16 John E. Jaqua Academic Center for Student Athletes
Phi Alpha Theta and the History Dept. Present: Group Advising Pizza Party 
May16
Phi Alpha Theta and the History Dept. Present: Group Advising Pizza Party  May 16 McKenzie Hall
NSF-GRFP Information Session
May16
NSF-GRFP Information Session May 16
O-I-M Seminar: Boekelheide Lecture Series – Transforming Organic Chemistry Education Through Community and Innovation
May16
O-I-M Seminar: Boekelheide Lecture Series – Transforming Organic Chemistry Education Through Community and Innovation May 16 Willamette Hall
UO Olympic Studies Week
May17
UO Olympic Studies Week May 17
UO Olympic Studies Week
May18
UO Olympic Studies Week May 18
Physical Chemistry Seminar - 3rd Year Talks
May19
Physical Chemistry Seminar - 3rd Year Talks May 19 Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall
Native American and Indigenous Studies Research Colloquium—A Shift from Indigenous Identities to Mainstream Western Culture Among Maya Indigenous Individuals in Guatemala
May19
Native American and Indigenous Studies Research Colloquium—A Shift from Indigenous Identities to Mainstream Western Culture Among Maya Indigenous Individuals in Guatemala May 19 Many Nations Longhouse