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Cardiac electrophysiology and biophysics is a discipline that encompass all the electrical activity of the heart, includes both basic science and clinical components, and spans a spectrum from the molecular to the complete body. Research in this area addresses some of the most basic questions of how cells, organs, and the body function and also seeks to develop methods, interventions, and devices that could have profound impact on diseases of the heart and vasculature. Despite dramatic improvements in clinical detection and care, cardiovascular diseases remain the leading causes of death in developed countries. Research in cardiac electrophysiology makes use of the most advanced technologies in areas such as bioinstrumentation, multichannel signal acquisition and processing, molecular biology, imaging across many modalities, mathematical simulation and modeling, and all aspects of computer technology.
As a result of this diversity of biomedical and technical opportunities, students with graduate training in cardiac electrophysiology and biophysics receive a very broad education in both physiology and biomedical technology and will be extremely well equipped for careers in academia and industry. The program makes use of background courses from several departments as well as specialized training in the discipline through both courses and extensive laboratory experiences. Because of the outstanding research emphasis on cardiac electrophysiology at Utah, there also exist rich opportunities for interaction with a wide range of experts in the field as well as involvement in interdisciplinary projects within teams of related researchers and students.
M.S. students in the Cardiac Electrophysiology and Biophysics Track must successfully complete the course requirements outlined below, as well as the total course credit hour requirement of the M.S. degree program.
Ph.D. Qualifying Exam. Ph.D. students in the Cardiac Electrophysiology and Biophysics track are expected to have general knowledge in electrophysiology and biophysics of the cell, tissue, and whole heart as well as in one field of special application. A student who, for example, applies computational methods to problems in cardiac electrophysiology, should have knowledge in both areas. The material for the qualifying exam will be based on topics covered in the three required courses and there will be a strong emphasis on the integration of electrophysiology across scales, explaining, for example, features of the body-surface ECG from cellular and tissue level behavior of the heart.
The course selection that will be appropriate for each student in the Cardiac Electrophysiology and Biophysics track will vary and depend highly on the specific research project in which the student participates. It will be especially important to choose courses that provide both the scientific background and the technical skills required to carry out this research. The Program of Study is a list created by the student and the supervisory committee of all courses to be completed by the student as part of the requirements for the Ph.D. The Program of Study requires formal approval by the student’s advisor, Dissertation Supervisory Committee, and Director of Graduate Studies.
Below is a collection of courses available at the University of Utah that may be appropriate for the Cardiac Electrophysiology track.
Questions regarding the Cardiac Electrophysiology and Biophysics track should be directed to Dr. Rob MacLeod
