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PhD Program Highlights

Highlights of the UMMC School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences (SGSHS) PhD Programs

Students receive highly competitive financial support for their PhD training.	Students enrolled in the PhD programs receive a full Dean’s Scholarship covering tuition, an annual living stipend of $28,000, and health care. With a better than national average time to degree of 5.2 years (compared to 6.6 years nationally), the SGSHS is investing greater than $175,000 per student!
The Jackson, MS metropolitan area has a low cost of living.	Jackson consistenly ranks as a top 25 city with the lowest cost of living. The city is known for its southern hospitality, rich arts heritage, culinary charm, cultural attractions, outdoor recreation and sporting events. With the competitive financial support and low cost of living, students can spend their time focusing on their education and research training.
Professional Skills training is part of the PhD curriculum.	All PhD candidates participate in training that provides the necessary skills to succeed in biomedical research careers. This includes interviewing skills, laboratory and budget management, conflict resolution, communication and much more.
The SGSHS directly supports student travel to scientific meetings.	PhD students who submit an abstract to a scientific meeting as a first author receive travel funds from the SGSHS to attend one meeting annually. If the PhD student successfully obtains an extramurally funded pre-doctoral fellowship, the SGSHS will support up to two meetings per year for that student.
The SGSHS supports training in cutting edge technologies.	Students are offered travel funds once per year to attend a workshop or visit a laboratory that will allow them to learn a new scientific method or technology.
PhD students at UMMC are actively engaged in scientific outreach.	The SGSHS recognizes the importance of communicating about biomedical science to the public. PhD students at UMMC have the opportunity to participate in community based scientific outreach sponsored by the SGSHS.
Career opportunity training is provided.	The landscape of scientific careers is ever changing and evolving. In order to have an informed student body, the SGSHS organizes a seminar series that brings scientists from all different career paths including industry, government, business, academic and legal sectors, to meet with PhD candidates.
The SGSHS offers training in teaching skills.	Most PhD scientists will engage in some form of teaching. For those that wish to make teaching a significant part of their careers, the SGSHS offers the Educator Training Program that provides coursework in teaching theory as well as practical teaching experience.
UMMC students have an advantage in the business world.	Science careers in industry require an additional set of skills beyond the laboratory. In order to provide this training, interested students can participate in a business education program that includes coursework in business theory and practice.
The UMMC graduate student body is a family.	The UMMC Graduate Student Body is a close knit and active group of students who plan social functions and philanthropic events. PhD students at UMMC are among the most active in these events, and this allows the students to support and know each other as does a family.