Name

Jason Kehrl

School

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Degree Program

Fifth year PhD student in Pharmacology

Previous Degrees

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Illinois Institute of Technology, 2004

Dissertation Title

Heterotrimeric G-protein Control of Seizure Threshold

Research Interests

Mental health; brain functions

Advisor

Rick Neubig

Advisor’s Research Focus

Inhibitory G-protein family

Hobbies

Tennis, mixing music, philosophy, politics

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school and program?

I chose the University of Michigan’s PhD program in pharmacology over 11 other programs because of the school’s location, the research interests of its faculty and a personal contact I had with a professor there. Many of the programs I considered focused on related biomedical fields, such as medical chemistry. In the long term, I wanted to develop a career in understanding bipolar disease and identify novel targets, so I chose pharmacology, a discipline that focuses on the mechanism of the action of drugs and receptor signaling within the body. I was torn between a few programs and dug up the phone number of Professor Rick Neubig at University of Michigan. I called his home phone on a weekend and left a message on his machine, only to have him call back two hours later apologizing for the delay. While I did still ask him some questions, it was his availability and dedication to helping a potential recruit that persuaded me to attend University of Michigan. He later became my advisor.

What did you do to prepare yourself for graduate school?

To prepare for graduate school, I thought carefully about what I wanted to be doing 10 years in the future and how a PhD would get me there. I also worked in a research lab and took the time to understand everything that I was doing so that I would understand the field I was about to enter.

Did your application requirements include standardized test scores?

Yes, my PhD program at University of Michigan required me to take the GRE. That test consists of 3 sections, which are math, vocabulary and written essays. The math portion was actually easier than what I studied in high school, so I didn’t have to prepare much for that. I mostly used flashcards to study the vocabulary sections, and I also wrote some practice essays to prepare for the writing section.

What kind of information did you include in your personal statement?

For my personal statement, I wrote about the experiences that had shaped my career goals and how graduate school was going to help me accomplish those professional goals. My initial draft was fairly personal, but as I spoke with other people I revised it to focus more on my career goals.

How did you choose faculty to approach for letters of recommendation?

I requested letters from faculty members who I interacted with closely while doing independent-study research projects, my boss when I was working as a technician, and my supervisor from a summer internship.

What types of questions were asked in your admissions interview?

In the interviews I did with particularly competitive schools, I was asked to explain my research methods and accomplishments as well as the rationale behind them. For example, in one project, I purified RNA using a kit. Faculty will expect you to understand the molecular principles that allow the kit to function, in addition to the broader aims of your prior research projects. The advisors at other schools asked more broad questions about my personality and my motivations for graduate study.

To prepare for the admissions interviews, I researched the faculty of each school so that I would know what kind of work the professors at each of my prospective schools were doing. I would highly recommend that students who are preparing for doctoral admissions interviews do that. Most faculty members love to talk about their own research, and if you demonstrate interest in their work the interview will go well.

Do you have any other tips for a student who is considering applying to graduate school in pharmacology?

Students should pick schools that have labs with strong publishing histories because it indicates a serious and quality research program. Additionally, prospective students should ensure that the programs they are considering have a track record of enrolling students who complete their research, publish their findings and exit the program in a timely fashion.

Graduate School – The Program

How long is your program and how is the curriculum distributed?

Most people complete University of Michigan’s pharmacology PhD program in 6 years. The first 2 years are similar to a masters degree program. One takes a lot of classes then has to defend a project in front of 5 faculty members. Beginning in your third year, research is your main focus, with only one semester of teaching required. You may also take one class per semester, with your mentor’s permission. This allows you the opportunity to obtain a certificate in one of many programs offered, including health informatics, providing a great opportunity to differentiate yourself from other PhDs on the job market.

What is the focus of your dissertation research?

My dissertation is titled Heterotrimeric G-protein Control of Seizure Threshold, and I have just started writing the introductory chapter. Once I entered the program and had an advisor assigned, I had limited choice as to my dissertation topic. I had to select from studies that were already occurring in the lab.

I recommend students carefully consider how interested they are in the projects that are pitched to them by their advisors before they commit to a program. Students should also make sure that their dissertation committees are supportive of whatever topic they choose, because the committee’s involvement is critical for project success.

Can you describe the process of researching for and writing your dissertation?

I can’t speak too much to the actual dissertation process, because I have just begun. I can tell you that my dissertation will be a collection of publishable research papers presented in a single document. In time, my dissertation will be the main focus of my doctoral study.

I know that many students wait until the last minute to start writing their dissertation, but I am starting early to avoid a time crunch. I plan on graduating in the spring of 2013, which gives me a year and a half. There is no official deadline for dissertation completion, but the school does not look well upon students who do not complete the program in a timely manner.

Does your program have a practicum component?

No, there is no internship or practicum requirement, and it is uncommon for students in my program to undertake one. There is a certificate program which offers a summer internship to doctoral students, but I have chosen not to participate.

What role does your advisor play in your education?

I selected my advisor from the small group of professors I was placed with during my first year because our research interests matched and we worked well together. I was initially given multiple advisors so that I had an opportunity to evaluate how compatible different advisors were with my research interests.

My advisor’s primary role in my studies is to evaluate and critique my research. He also advocates for me during dissertation committee meetings and provides me with opportunities to explore untapped areas of research. Basically, he is available whenever I have questions or problems.

Because it is so important for a doctoral student to work well with his or her advisor, I would have been given the opportunity to work with as many different advisors as I needed in order to find the right one. Even if I had chosen an advisor who later did not work out for me, the graduate program committee would have taken whatever steps were necessary to match me with someone else, including transferring me to a different lab.

Does your doctoral program require comprehensive exams prior to graduation?

Fortunately, University of Michigan’s PhD program in pharmacology does not require a monstrous comprehensive exam. Instead, my program has something called a prelim, for which I wrote and presented a grant proposal covering research that I could accomplish in 3 years. During the oral portion of the prelim, faculty asked questions related to my proposal. To answer the questions, I had to understand the principles of pharmacology that are being applied and synthesize answers.

Graduate School – Paying for It

How much does your PhD program cost?

They actually pay me to go to school. I am given a stipend for tuition and living expenses, and I pay for nothing out of pocket. I think part of the overall cost may be more related to lost opportunity. If I had started working right after receiving my bachelors degree in computer science, instead of going on to graduate school, I could have made $50,000 a year or more. Therefore, if I compare my graduate education to other options, it seems to cost a lot.

How are you funding your education?

In my program I receive a stipend covering tuition plus all additional costs, as long as I remain an active student. I also received a $500 one-time bonus before I started the program to offset my moving expenses. You are also encouraged to apply for external funding. We have a great class to teach you how to write a grant. We have also had 3 students in a row win a PhRMA predoctoral training grant, which is one of the most prestigious in our field. I won the award last year, and it is paying for the majority of my stipend until I graduate.

Graduate School – Living Life

What are the time commitments for a PhD in pharmacology?

Right now, I perform research for about 10 hours a day, Monday through Friday. I do additional work on the weekend if I need to. I do not have much free time, but I spend what time I do have going to the gym for my daily workout to help reduce stress. Research has a lot of ups and downs, and you want something in your life where you can feel a regular sense of progress. The gym does that for me.

To manage my responsibilities, I have learned to multitask. Multitasking is imperative for PhD students who conduct research, because it seems like we need to be able to complete many different tasks at once. I also keep lists to stay focused on the things I need to do. During my downtime, I look at my list of duties to remind myself what I need to work on.

How has graduate school affected your personal life?

My studies have taken a toll on my personal life, particularly in the social realm. The move from Chicago to Ann Arbor really reduced my dating options. Plus, planning recreation time is difficult. Other graduate students in business or law programs have less strict schedules than mine. If they want to do something social in the middle of the week, they have the option of making up their work later. Much of my research happens at set times, so I do not have that option.

So I have to prioritize my work. It often disrupts my plans, and people who are not actively engaged in research do not understand and do not respond well when I cancel or when I am late. This effectively limits my social network to others involved in the sciences.

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I enjoy how the sciences teach critical thinking and problem-solving. Unfortunately, I entered the pharmacology field just as it started to become stagnant. Academic funding is rocky, so I am uncertain about my future in academia. Thankfully, the skills you learn in a PhD program can be leveraged into many different careers. I really enjoy business, and I hope to translate those skills into business strategy consulting, working with one of the big 3 strategy consulting firms, which are McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group and Bain.

Graduate School - Advice

What insights can you offer a student who is interested in pursuing a PhD in pharmacology?

If you are interested in pharmacology, I urge you to consider why you want to do it, and see if there are other options that will allow you to accomplish your professional goals. I first got into research because I wanted to see the direct, positive impact my research would have on people. But I found out that research work does not normally offer this. I would compare research work to the music industry. For every artist who produces a smash hit that reaches millions of people, there are thousands of aspiring singers who work crazy hours and end up having little impact. You should know that a career in pharmacology may lead to 15 years of research on a disease without a new medication.

Another point to keep in mind is that research is not a very social subject. Within life sciences, medical doctors have more direct interaction with people, whereas PhDs work in socially isolating settings. If you are a bookworm that does not like dealing with other people directly, it may be right for you. But if you are a people person, be forewarned it lacks the interaction with people that a physician has.