Degree: PhD in Pharmacology
Area of Knowledge: Health
Specialization: Pharmacology
Faculty: Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
University Decree: 008655 of 2023

Program Coordinator: Prof. Jenny Fiedler
Email: jfiedler@ciq.uchile.cl

Application Dates:

• Start: September 5, 2024
• Deadline: October 21, 2024

Costs:

• Tuition Fee 2024: $185,300
• Enrolment Fee 2024: $5,515,250
• Discounts: Up to 100%, following the socioeconomic evaluation by the faculty’s Social Worker

Note: For international students, when applicable, fees are charged in U.S. dollars (USD) based on the official exchange rate of the day.

Objectives

The fundamental objective of the PhD Program in Pharmacology is to train researchers with a solid conceptual foundation in the discipline, capable of conducting research that generates new knowledge, innovatively and creatively, through the development of scientific-technological research projects.

Graduates are expected to acquire the necessary skills to develop academic and productive activity at the highest level in such a way that they become effective promoters of the development of the discipline, both in its essential aspects and in its clinical applications and technological either in the molecular design of drugs, drug-receptor interaction, molecular pharmacology, bioequivalence, pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenomics, and clinical pharmacology, among others.

Lines of Research

• • Neuropharmacology (CNS and Autonomic)
  • Cardiovascular Pharmacology
  • Drug Development and Targeting
  • Cancer Pharmacology
  • Immunopharmacology
  • Antimicrobial Pharmacology

Program Structure

The program is designed with an academic load of 240 credits, where 1 credit is equivalent to 27 hours of student´s academic workload. The central activity is the development of a thesis, which accounts for 180 credits.

The curriculum of the Doctorate Program will consist of curricular activities, all in Spanish, with English titles provided for reference only, as follows:

a) Mandatory Introductory Courses:
Students are required to complete the following courses:

• Introduction to Molecular Pharmacology
• Molecular Biology
• English

b) Mandatory Specialized Courses:
These are specific courses in pharmacology. Students must select two (2) of the following courses based on their interests:

• Cardiovascular Pharmacology
• Neuropsychopharmacology
• Immunopharmacology
• Pharmacology of Anti-Infectious Therapy
• Pharmacology of Antineoplastic Therapy
• Drug Modeling and Design

c) Elective Courses:
Students may choose from the postgraduate course offerings at the University of Chile that align with their interests. Courses must be approved and validated by the Academic Committee.

d) General Formation Courses:
These courses aim to provide a comprehensive education. Students must select two (2) courses according to their interests, such as:

• Project Formulation and Evaluation
• Biostatistics
• University Teaching
• Bioethics
• History and Philosophy of Science
• Leadership
• Scientific English
• Seminar on Scientific and Technological Innovation and Entrepreneurship I

Qualification Exam

The Qualification Exam involves a thorough defense of the thesis project and aims to:

• Verify that the student has acquired broad, up-to-date knowledge in Pharmacology and Basic Sciences.
• Assess the student’s ability to integrate this knowledge with a mastery of fundamental concepts.
• Evaluate the student’s capacity to propose theoretical or experimental developments to address new problems independently.

A candidate who has completed all mandatory curricular activities, excluding the thesis, may request permission from the Academic Committee to take the Qualification Exam.

Thesis

The thesis is the central component of the Doctorate Program. It involves solving an original scientific problem within the field of pharmacology.

The final document includes background information, the working hypothesis, general and specific objectives, results, and a discussion of the research conducted. It also summarizes published works and preliminary findings obtained during the thesis work. The thesis must be supported by at least one paper accepted by an international ISI journal with an editorial committee at the time of the thesis defense, in which the candidate is the first author. Additionally, the doctoral candidate must present at least one Thesis Progress Report annually to the Thesis Evaluation Committee throughout the development of the thesis.

Applications Academic Year 2024

• OPENING: Tuesday, September 5, 12:00 p.m.
• CLOSING: Monday, October 21 at 11:59 p.m.

• 🔗 APPLICATION

Required Documents:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Certificates of Degrees and/or Academic Titles, or proof that they are in process (legalized for other Universities and Foreign Students)
• Undergraduate or Master’s Degree Transcript (with QR code, Verification Code, or Notary Certification)
• Graduation Ranking Certificate (if unavailable, a letter from the institution stating that it is not provided)
• Letter of Commitment and Dedication
• Letter of Intent 
• Simple copy of identity card or passport

Selection and Admission Process Information

• 🔗 Selection and Admission Process Information

Eligibility and Application Process

Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Biological, Chemical, or Medical Sciences, or an equivalent qualification, awarded by the University of Chile or other recognized national or international institutions that ensure an equivalent and satisfactory level of training for the program.

Applications must be submitted to the Graduate School of the Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Universidad de Chile. Applicants must upload the required documentation to the designated platform within the established application deadlines.

This program is offered in Spanish. Therefore, knowledge of the Spanish language is an essential requirement for enrolling in the program.

Scholarships and Benefits

For doctoral studies, students can apply for the following scholarships:

• ANID Scholarship
• Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Scholarship
• Fee Reduction: Students may apply for a fee reduction based on a socioeconomic evaluation conducted by the Social Worker.

International students can also apply for doctoral funding scholarships in Chile through institutions in their home countries. Requirements must be verified directly with the relevant institution. Here are two examples:

• Senescyt (for students from Ecuador only)
• Pronabec (for students from Peru only)

Students may apply for all scholarships, but they cannot be combined. Scholarships are renewed annually. For more information, please contact:  posgrado@ciq.uchile.cl.