The Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology (ERP) Program is a multidisciplinary degree-granting program designed to promote research in both endocrinology and reproductive biology, to provide training and experience for pre- and post-doctoral students interested in these fields, and to provide training in problems of endocrine physiology and reproductive physiology in animals and humans. The program trains master's and PhD candidates for teaching and research careers in all aspects of the interrelated fields of endocrinology and reproductive physiology—basic, clinical and translational. Students have access to a full range of research facilities throughout campus.

The multidisciplinary research and the diverse interests of the faculty make possible many approaches to the study of both endocrinology and reproduction, providing the individual student with a wide selection of research training experiences. Research opportunities are available, but not limited to: endocrine molecular signaling, endocrine physiology in body function and dysfunction, stem-cell programming, gamete and embryo biology, pregnancy, lactation, neuroendocrinology and placenta development. Research models range from molecular and cellular all the way to whole animal including nonhuman primates and humans.

A doctoral minor in Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology may augment the training for PhD students in a variety of biological sciences research fields. Students may seek greater exposure to clinical and translation research, and the human health implications of their PhD research; may want to learn more about pregnancy and development so as to consider the potential effects of an agent (e.g., a pharmaceutical or toxicological agent) on human development; may want to consider how changes to one system might affect another; etc. Due to its relevance across a wide range of research areas, as well as our unique courses on endocrinology, reproduction, pregnancy, and development, an ERP doctoral minor is one of the more popular doctoral minors relevant to biomedical sciences at UW–Madison.

For more information on ERP’s doctoral minor, you can view our doctoral minor form and contact the graduate coordinator (see Contact Information in sidebar).

If you are interested in obtaining a distributed minor (Option B), you can work with your major department to ensure that courses you take through the ERP program can count toward your doctoral minor.

Admissions

Students interested in learning if the doctoral minor aligns with their research and career goals may contact the program coordinator. A doctoral minor must be completed before a student advances to dissertator status. Students should plan accordingly.

To apply, students must submit the doctoral minor form (support from the program advisor and proposed doctoral minor advisor is required.) There are no deadlines to submit the doctoral minor form.

Based on the information submitted, program directors will determine if an Endocrinology Reproductive Physiology doctoral minor is appropriate and feasible.

All Graduate School students must utilize the Graduate Student Portal in MyUW to add, change, or discontinue any doctoral minor. To apply to this minor, log in to MyUW, click on Graduate Student Portal, and then click on Add/Change Programs. Select the information for the doctoral minor for which you are applying.

Funding

While most ERP MS and PhD students are funded through graduate appointments and fellowships, we do not generally provide funding for students obtaining an ERP doctoral minor. If the project is relevant to NICHD, an ERP doctoral minor may apply for funding through the Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology program's T32 training grant, if funding and space permits.

Requirements

Students must complete the following courses.5
OBS&GYN 710
 Reproductive Endocrine Physiology
AN SCI/​OBS&GYN/​ZOOLOGY  954
 Seminar in Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology (2 semesters, one presentation required)
Select two courses from the following (2 credits each):4
OBS&GYN 711
 Advanced Reproductive Endocrine Physiology
OBS&GYN 712
 Critical Thinking in Reproductive Endocrine Physiology
MEDICINE 720
 Endocrinology and Metabolism
Additional coursework selected in consultation with minor advisor1
Total Credits10

Endocrinology - Reproductive Physiology Annual Symposium

  • Required to attend annually
  • Required to submit an abstract for a poster / oral presentation each year until degree completion

People

For the most current list of faculty and descriptions of their research interests, visit the program website.