A PhD program in pharmaceutical sciences allows students to choose concentrations relating to pharmaceuticals, performing advanced research within these concentrations. Popular concentrations include medical chemistry, natural products, molecular pharmaceuticals, pharmacotherapy, experimental therapeutics and pharmaceutical outcomes and policy.
In addition to specialized knowledge, PhD students gain a broad understanding of pharmaceutical sciences and related disciplines, including chemistry, biology, economics and engineering. PhD students may need to take courses such as pharmacogenomics, advanced pharmaceutical chemistry, spectrometry in biomedicine, immunopharmaceuticals, advanced pharmacokinetics, drug discovery and design, intracellular drug delivery and targeting, sciences, research and ethics, and molecular genetics.
Another advantage of a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences is student access to the infrastructure of the university's research center. This infrastructure includes laboratories, university premises and other research facilities. Students also have access to scholars conducting research in areas adjacent or similar to their areas of study. They also receive guidance from established university researchers and professors.
An individual with a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences is eligible for employment in both academia and industry. He is qualified to work as a college or university professor, or can pursue a career as a researcher working for pharmaceutical companies, hospitals or non-profit foundations.