Our EMT programs offer a unique and exciting synthesis of the fields of Biology (Molecular Toxicology) and Chemistry (Environmental Chemistry), which positions EMT to focus on creating, disseminating and applying new biomedical and biophysical knowledge to enhance the treatment and prevention of human disease, and to ensure the protection of the environment and public health. This integrated approach, combining both the biological and physical sciences, provides exciting training and research opportunities for graduate students and supports our state-of-the-art and internationally competitive research programs. EMT offers a highly collegial and exceptionally collaborative, research, and training environment dedicated to the success and advancement of all EMT students, faculty, and staff.

The current EMT department has a long and illustrious history, having evolved extensively over the years since 1883 when our very first faculty member was hired into the original Dept. Of Agricultural Chemistry here at OSU. Over the past 125 years, our department changed and adapted to the ever-evolving fields of agricultural sciences and toxicology, and in 1998 was reorganized and renamed Environmental and Molecular Toxicology to more clearly communicate the breadth, depth and research and training emphases of our current programs. 

Our Mission

The integrated mission of the Department of Environmental & Molecular Toxicology (EMT) is to educate students in the toxicological sciences, to conduct research on the effects of chemicals and other agents on humans and the environment and to engage the public through extension and outreach. The EMT Department focuses on creating, disseminating, and applying new knowledge to enhance the treatment and prevention of human disease and to ensure the protection of the environment and public health.

Programs We Offer

We offer PhD and Master degree programs in Toxicology, an undergraduate minor, and an Accelerated Masters Platform Degree in Toxicology and Risk Analysis.

Research Expertise

Our nineteen faculty direct state-of-the-art and internationally competitive research programs collectively aimed at understanding environmental hazards and their impacts on biological systems in order to protect human health and the environment. EMT research expertise is in 4 areas: Experimental Toxicology, Environmental Chemistry, Extensions Service Pesticide Information and Data Science.

Career Paths

Training in toxicology prepares students for careers in industry, government, and academic institutions. Biochemical, chemical, and molecular research approaches are emphasized, focusing on the following areas: analytical and exposure assessment, aquatic, biochemical, comparative, environmental, food, immuno- and neurotoxicology.

Financial Support

Financial support is available to doctoral students in the program through graduate research assistantships or from an NIEHS environmental health predoctoral training program. Typically Masters students are not eligible for graduate research assistantships. 

Application Deadline

Completing the application by the end of December for full consideration for the fall of that year.

Prerequisite/Curriculum

Students who wish to enter the program should have a BS degree (or equivalent) in a science-related field and are expected to select an MS or PhD curriculum related to their own area of specialization. Students will take a core set of courses typically completed within the first 1.5 years (27 credits) and will attend and participate in the toxicology seminar class. Upon entry into the EMT graduate program, students experience a one-week rotation in each faculty member's research environment during the Fall quarter. After this, Masters students will have an opportunity to identify a thesis mentor (if a thesis option is desired) and PhD students will identify faculty to conduct their Winter and Spring quarter rotation. Courses in toxicology also may be taken by students in engineering or the basic sciences.

Program Requirements for Applicants

PREREQUISITES

Applicants to the Dept. of EMT must have*:

• Bachelor's Degree in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, pharmacy, or other closely related fields
• One year of biology
• One year of organic chemistry
• One year of physics
• Mathematics through integral calculus
• GPA of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• GRE aptitude score - GRE test scores must be supplied to the Graduate School, but there is no minimum required score.
• Foreign applicants must score 550 or higher on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

*Students who do not meet all of these requirements may be admitted if their academic record is otherwise outstanding.

Applications are also invited from students with the M.S. degree in chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and related fields, or the D.V.M. or M.D. degree. Advanced placement can be accomplished by transfer of relevant course work to Oregon State University provided these courses meet the basic objectives of the EMT Graduate Program and are approved for transfer by the research (thesis) advisor, Dept. Head, and the Graduate School.

Reference Letters

Three letters of professional reference are required of all students. Please use the on-line program from the Graduate School to submit letters.

GRE Scores

GRE scores should be sent to: Institution Code: 4586 | Department Code: 0219 | Major Code: 9930. Applicants that have or will have a Master's Degree by the term they enter the TOX program does not require a GRE score.

TOEFL Score

All applicants whose native language is not English, or did not receive a bachelor or higher degree in an English speaking country, must meet the minimum English language proficiency requirements for admission. The ETS institution code for OSU is 004586. 

Current PhD Student Preliminary Exam Guidelines

Objective

The overall objective of the preliminary examination for advancement to PhD candidacy should assess whether a graduate student has the capacity and promise to:

1. understand the basic science of environmental and molecular toxicology;
2. be a creative and critical thinker;
3. understand the scientific literature;
4. conduct original and independent research; and
5. communicate the ideas and results of experiments.

Thus, the ideal examination format would select from these characteristics and prepare the student for the selective pressures that will be encountered upon completing the Environmental and Molecular Toxicology PhD degree program. In order to maintain high standards and produce quality graduate students, the examination must be rigorous and challenging. In addition, the exam format should set specific limits on the amount of time that the student dedicates to this process.

Exam Format

The preliminary examination format outlined below consists of both oral and written elements. This examination must be completed no later than the end of the eighth academic term (not including summer terms) after entering the program. In most cases, the student would schedule the exam in the fall term of the third year of residence although students may take the exam earlier, after completing at least one year in the program. The examination consists of a written and oral presentation of a research proposal that cannot be closely related to the student’s thesis project. As outlined, the student’s ability to develop, research, and defend original scientific ideas would be evaluated. The student is expected to demonstrate a capacity for critical thinking and a command of the specific field of focus. In addition, the student’s general knowledge of environmental and molecular toxicology would be evaluated.

Procedural Outline

Research Proposal (written/oral)

1. Student submits outline descriptions (required elements listed below) of two potential research projects. The subject of each project must be chosen by the student based on their knowledge and review of the literature, and must describe original, hypothesis-driven research. The proposed projects cannot have been defined previously in published or unpublished form (i.e., manuscript, abstract, database of funded projects, submitted grant application, etc.), or cannot be known to be in progress. Proposed research also must not be closely related to the thesis research of the student. "Closely related" is defined as any research that conceivably could be part of the student’s thesis or that conceivably might be initiated by the student’s major professor.
   
   Project outlines (limited to one page each) must include:
   1. Description of an unresolved question relevant to the field of environmental and molecular toxicology. (1–3 sentences)
   2. Statement of specific hypothesis to be tested. (1–2 sentences)
   3. Description of an experimental approach designed to test the hypothesis, including a minimum of two specific aims, and a statement of the rationale (justification) for the proposed approach. (2–6 sentences)
   4. Statement of the significance of the proposed research. (1–2 sentences)
2. The student’s graduate committee reviews both outlines and approves one topic to be developed into a written proposal. The research topic is chosen based on originality, quality, potential significance, and the likelihood of expanding the student’s education and training. Approval of the topic would occur within one week after the outlines are submitted. During this period, the outlines would be returned to the student, and the student would receive feedback from the committee concerning the quality and design of the outlined projects. Major strengths and weaknesses in the experimental design or rationale would be identified.
3. The student develops a written research proposal using the format and topic guidelines of application for the EPA, NIH, NSF, or other appropriate granting agency. The written proposal must be completed and returned to the committee within four weeks after the topic was approved. The scope of the project will be equivalent to that of a "pilot project" proposal and if conducted would be expected to take approximately one year of research time. The proposal is limited in length to 10 pages of double-spaced text (12 point font with 0.5-inch margins), and must include the following elements:
   1. Specific Aims. State concisely and realistically what the research described in this application is intended to accomplish and what hypothesis is to be tested. Do not exceed one page.
   2. Background and Significance. Briefly describe the background to the present proposal, critically evaluating the existing literature and specifically identifying gaps, which the project is intended to fill. State concisely the importance of the research described in this application, and relate the specific aims to the long-term objectives. Limited to two pages.
   3. Research Design and Methods. Discuss in detail the experimental design and procedures to be used to accomplish the specific aims of the project. Describe the protocols to be used and the tentative sequence of investigation. Include the means by which the data will be analyzed and interpreted. Discuss the potential difficulties and limitations of the proposed research and alternative approaches to achieve the aims. Point out any procedures, situations, or materials that may be hazardous to personnel and the precautions to be exercised. Limited to seven pages.
   4. Literature Cited. Do not scatter literature citations throughout the text. List them at the end of the proposal. All papers cited in the text must be listed in the reference list and vice versa. The list of literature citations at the end of the proposal does not count toward the 10-page limit.
   5. Appendix. Students may include additional figures in an appendix, limited to five pages. The appendix may not be used to circumvent the page limits of the proposal.
4. The oral exam should be scheduled within two weeks of completion of the written proposal. This deadline can be extended with the approval of the student’s graduate committee.
5. During the exam, the student would present the research plan and defend the experimental approach. The presentation would involve a seminar format with slides/overheads and would be expected to last no longer than 30 minutes. Following the presentation, the student would be judged on the soundness of the hypothesis, their understanding of the subject matter, their ability to defend the proposed experimental design, and their general knowledge of the field of environmental and molecular toxicology. The exam is expected to last approximately two hours and is limited in length to three hours.

Examination Committee

The examination committee is the graduate student’s doctoral committee. The doctoral committee consists of a minimum of five members of the graduate faculty, including at least two members of the major department and a representative of the Graduate Council. If a minor is declared, the committee must include a member from the minor department. All committee members must be on the graduate faculty with appropriate authorization to serve on the student’s committee. The major professor would serve as the chairperson of the committee to oversee the exam. The decision concerning whether the student merits advancement to PhD candidacy would be the responsibility of the examination committee.

Evaluation

The basic question for the committee is whether or not they believe the student is adequately prepared to conduct doctoral level research and has a good chance of successfully completing such research. Following a discussion of the student’s performance on the examination, each committee member is then asked to vote on the basic question. It is appropriate for secret ballots to be used, and secret ballots must be used if requested by any committee member.

If there is one negative vote on this question, the student will pass. If there are two or more negative votes on this question, the student will not pass.

If the committee decision is that the student has not passed the examination, the committee must then decide whether or not to allow the student to take a re-examination. If the majority of the committee votes in favor of a re-examination, the recommendation for re-examination should be recorded. In addition, the committee must set a time interval that must elapse before the re-examination is permitted. If the majority of the committee votes against a re-examination, the recommendation to terminate the student’s work toward this degree should be recorded.

Undergraduate Programs

Minor

• Toxicology

Graduate Programs

Major

• Toxicology

Minor

• Toxicology

Kim Anderson, Department Head
1007 Agricultural and Life Sciences
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331-7301
Phone: 541-737-8501
Email: kim.anderson@oregonstate.edu
Website: http://emt.oregonstate.edu/

Faculty

Professors Anderson, Field, Harper, Jenkins, Kolluri, Marcus, Simonich, Stubblefield, Tanguay, William
Associate Professors Buermeyer, Tilton
Assistant Professors Garcia-Jaramillo
Professor of Practice Buhl
Assistant Professor, Sr. Research Annalora, Brander, Truong

Courtesy

Berman, Fairbrother, Shrivastava, Simmes, Teeguarden, Waters, Wu, Zelenvuk