General Information
The Department offers research facilities in the Surgical-Medical Research Institute (SMRI), the Alberta Diabetes Institute, the Heritage Medical Research Centre [HMRC Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation (LKS)], Medical Sciences Building (MSB), Katz Building, and the Cross Cancer Institute for graduate students who wish to register for the degree of MSc or PhD in experimental surgery.
The Department has several core facilities including surgical suites, an electron microscopy unit, clinical biochemistry and histology laboratory, and computer graphics and photography with technical staff in these laboratories who are able to assist graduate students who wish to carry out research projects. These facilities are well equipped to meet all the requirements of both the basic and clinical investigators from the Department of Surgery.
Facilities are available for the following projects which are presently being carried out: islet transplantation, the immunology of diabetes, perinatal physiology, burns/wound healing, xenotransplantation, stem cells, tolerance induction and immunoregulation, virology, neurological oncology, orthopaedics, surgical education, urological oncology, ischemia-reperfusion and organ preservation/transplantation.
Inquiries should be directed to the department prior to admission into the MSc or PhD program.
Entrance Requirements
Normally, an MD or BSc degree will be considered an entrance requirement for the MSc program. Applicants for the PhD program must be medical graduates or hold a master’s degree. The minimum requirements include a grade-point average of 3.0 in the last two years of undergraduate work (or graduate work) at the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution, and a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based) or 88 (Internet-based) where applicable (see English Language Requirement ). Applicants who are graduates of programs, including MD programs, where grades are not assigned will be assessed on an individual basis.
Financial Assistance
Funding is typically from supervisors’ operating grants. Candidates are encouraged and fully supported in applying to major granting agencies for financial assistance.