We enable students with backgrounds in fundamental sciences to become leaders in pharmaceutical sciences
Located in the vibrant and multicultural city of Chicago, UIC's PhD Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences is one of the strongest and largest of its type in the United States. Our college is consistently ranked in the top ten in terms of funds secured annually from the National Institutes of Health and by US News and World Report. We pride ourselves on giving students from all types of backgrounds the tools they need to become independent researchers. Students in the program select one of the program concentrations, described below.
Welcome from the Program Director
Welcome to the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program at UIC’s Retzky College of Pharmacy.
Rooted in interdisciplinary research and innovation, our program offers training in cutting-edge areas of pharmaceutical sciences, including pharmaceutics and drug delivery, pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, and pharmacognosy.
Located in Chicago’s Illinois Medical District and supported by our campuses in Chicago and Rockford, you will have access to leading research labs, dedicated UIC faculty, and collaborative opportunities with top hospitals and biotech partners. As Director of Graduate Studies, I am proud to work alongside faculty dedicated to mentorship and scholarly excellence. We strive to foster a supportive and inclusive environment where you can grow intellectually, professionally, and personally.
If you are a prospective student, I invite you to explore our program and consider joining our vibrant academic community. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at  psci-program@uic.edu
Thank you for your interest in our program. We look forward to supporting your academic and research journey.
Upcoming Events
PhD Pharmaceutical Sciences Preview Day
Program Coursework
All students in the Pharmaceutical Sciences program take the following courses. Additional concentration coursework is also required and is shown in each of the concentration tabs.
- Drug Discovery, Design, and Development (PSCI 501, 3 credit hours)
- Training in Research Presentation (PSCI 502, 1 credit hour)
- Biostatistics (1 credit hour required). Requirement may be met by
- PSCI 503: Biostatistics for Pharmaceutical Scientists (1 credit hour)
- BSTT 400: Biostatistics I (4 credit hours) [Note: BSTT 400 is required for the Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery concentration]
- Scientific Ethics and the Responsible Conduct of Research (GC 501, 1 credit hour)
- Research Rotation (PSCI 592; 3-4 credit hours)
Program Concentrations
Five concentrations comprise the PhD program in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Click on the tabs below to learn more about each of them. To see the faculty mentors for each concentration, visit the Faculty Mentors page.
Chemistry in Drug Discovery
Concentration Description
Faculty in the Chemistry in Drug Discovery concentration use the tools and techniques of chemistry to discover and develop new chemical probes and potential therapeutics. Students in this concentration learn how to design, synthesize, characterize and analyze small molecules, peptides, and proteins.
Concentration Coursework
Students in the Chemistry in Drug Discovery Concentration take the following courses:
- Fundamental of Drug Action I (PHAR 422, 4 credit hours)
- Principles of Medicinal Chemistry (PSCI 530, 5 credit hours)
- Electives (9 credit hours)
Concentration Coordinator
Prof. Andrew Riley (apriley@uic.edu)
Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics
Concentration Description
The Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics concentration is designed to provide advanced understanding of fundamental causes of diseases, strategies that identify new drug targets, and mechanistic explanations of how drugs work (or fail) from the perspective of the target and systems they impact. Faculty affiliated with MMT integrate a wide variety of molecular, biochemical, genetic, bioinformatic, and bioengineering approaches to study mechanisms of pathogenesis ranging from infectious diseases to cancer. Students will enroll in fundamental molecular and cellular biology courses and select elective courses in areas of their focused research.
Concentration Coursework
Students in the Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics Concentration take the following courses:
- Biochemistry (e.g., GEMS 501 or equivalent graduate-level biochemistry course, 3 credit hours)
- Molecular Biology (e.g., GEMS 502 or equivalent molecular biology course, 3 credit hours)
- A minimum of 3 credit hours in the following courses:
- Biostatistics I (BSTT 400, 4 credit hours)
- Molecular Genetics (GEMS 511, 3 credit hours)
- Receptor Pharmacology and Cell Signaling (GEMS 515, 3 credit hours)
- Microbial Pathogenesis (MIM 560, 3 credit hours)
- Cancer Biology and Therapeutics (PSCI 540, 3 credit hours)
- Electives (9 credit hours)
Concentration Coordinator
Prof. Alessandra Eustaquio (ase@uic.edu)
Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery
Concentration Description
Faculty in the Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery concentration use the tools and techniques of physical and biologic sciences and engineering to understand and develop delivery systems and formulations for therapeutic molecules and control the biodistribution of therapeutic molecules. Students in this concentration learn how to design, synthesize, characterize and analyze novel materials and drug delivery systems and design and develop technologies related to therapeutic distribution in the body.
Concentration Coursework
Students in the Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Concentration take the following courses:
- Biostatistics I (BSTT 400)*
- *This 4 credit hour course will count 1 hour toward the program core statistics requirement and 3 hours toward the Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery concentration requirements. Students will not receive credit for two introductory statistics courses.
- Essentials for Animal Research (GC 470, 1 credit hour)
- Experimental Animal Techniques (GC 471, 2 credit hours)
- Principles of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery (PSCI 510, 3 credit hours)
- Electives (9 credit hours)
Concentration Coordinator
Prof. Seung-Young (Steve) Lee (ssylee@uic.edu)
Pharmacognosy
Concentration Description
Faculty research programs in the Pharmacognosy concentration aim to develop therapeutics from natural products and to study the mechanisms of pain, cancers, and a wide array of infectious and tropical diseases. Students of this concentration are trained in a combination of bioinformatics, synthetic biology, genetic engineering, chromatography, and spectroscopy to achieve these goals.
Concentration Coursework
Students in the Pharmacognosy Concentration take the following courses:
- Research Techniques in Pharmacognosy (PSCI 520 or equivalent; 3 credit hours)
- Structure Elucidation of Natural Products (PSCI 521 or equivalent; 3 credit hours)
- Advanced Pharmacognosy (PSCI 522 or equivalent; 3 credit hours)
- Electives (9 credit hours)
Concentration Coordinator
Prof. Brian Murphy (btmurphy@uic.edu)
PharmD/PhD Joint Program
Pharmaceutical Sciences participates in the joint PharmD/PhD program, which trains students for careers in academic pharmacy and bench science research. Students admitted to this joint program participate in the PharmD curriculum and pursue original doctoral research projects in the laboratories of the university’s graduate faculty in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
The joint program offers the potential of reducing the time of earning both degrees in sequence (9 or more years) by approximately two years. The trade-off is that both degrees are awarded at the end of the training period and neither degree can be received before the other is completed.
The PharmD/PhD program is for exceptional, highly motivated and achieving students ready to meet the challenge of increased academic load and independent research project.
Program coordinator: Dr. Lindsey McQuade (lmcquade@uic.edu)
PSCI Slideshow
Pride Points for PhD PSCI
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$ 37,500 annual graduate stipend for students on teaching assistantship or research assistantship
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33 internships completed by department graduate students in the last five years
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19 students currently on training grant or fellowship
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# 7 nationally ranked College of Pharmacy according to US News
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# 7 nationally ranked total research funding among Colleges of Pharmacy according to AACP
Start your application
The Pharmaceutical Sciences Program at UIC offers a supportive, inclusive environment and rigorous academic preparation for students who are interested in careers in pharmaceutical sciences. If you have any questions about the program or about your application, please contact psci-program@uic.edu.