PhD - Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Molecular Medicine

Queen's University

Program Overview

The Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine is a clinical department with a major research focus in cancer, homeostasis and vascular biology. Trainees therefore have opportunities to pursue comprehensive training in basic and translational biomedical research, an example being diagnostic, predictive and prognostic biomarker research.

The graduate programs offer opportunities to pursue advanced degrees under the supervision of an exceptional group of basic, clinical and translational researchers.

With a focus on cancer – 15 of our 20 investigators are cancer biologists – our department members deliver comprehensive diagnostic laboratory and clinical services to Southeastern Ontario through the Kingston General Hospital, offering great training for the next generation of biomedical research scientists and laboratory physicians.

Queen's therefore is a great setting to learn first-hand how the fast pace of molecular genetics research is changing clinical practice, leading to exciting new diagnostic and treatment approaches for cancer and other diseases.

Opportunities

Trainees have many opportunities to present their work at local, national and international scientific conferences. Interactions with clinician-scientists in the context of their translational research programs or exposure to their clinical service roles provides important practical context for our trainee’s own research. The department also provides funding for travel to distant laboratories to acquire specific techniques or skills that can be established in their home labs.

Multidisciplinary exposure is a major objective of our cancer training experience. The close relationship between the department and the Cancer Research Institute and its three divisions (Cancer Biology and Genetics, Clinical Trials, and Cancer Care and Epidemiology) provides a unique perspective on multidisciplinary research. This is also formalized in the Collaborative Cancer Graduate Program, which is offered to all trainees engaged in cancer-focused research.

Method of Completion

Ph.D.: Course work, research making novel contributions to the field of study and a thesis

Career paths - employment opportunities

Ph.D. Graduates: would be suited for all of these same settings, at a higher level with more leadership roles.

• Post-doctoral work
• Research and/or teaching positions at academic institutions or the private sector
• Venture capital investment advisory roles in the financial sector