# Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences
**Source**: https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/discover-opportunities/explore-programs/cardiovascular-and-respiratory-sciences-phd
**Parent**: https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/discover-opportunities/explore-programs/biomedical-engineering-msc-thesis
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Thesis-based program
[Start your application](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/how-apply)
## Program overview
The graduate program in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences engages students in advanced research through the Cardiovascular Group, the Smooth Muscle Research Group and the Airways Inflammation Research Group. Students' individual research programs are supported by multidisciplinary, laboratory environments that encourage collaboration and exposure to new techniques and model systems.
Students gain a foundation in molecular biology, organ and vascular systems, cardiovascular and respiratory physiology and pharmacology. The program is supported by state-of-the-art facilities and direct contact with patient-oriented research. Students typically advance to careers in health care-focused professions, as well as research opportunities in academia and industry.
### Completing this program
- **Courses:** The amount of required course work is determined by the student's supervisory committee.
- **Research Ethics:** Students are required to attend Research Integrity Day sessions in the first year of their program. Additional Research Ethics requirements may apply, depending on the type of research being done.
- **Sex & Gender Module:** Students are required to complete one of the CIHR sex and gender online training modules found at discoversexandgender.ca in the first year of their program.
- **Thesis:** Students will be required to submit and defend an original research thesis.
- **Seminars:** Student participate in a journal club and work-in-progress seminars for their research group, and will present one seminar per year.
- **Candidacy:** Students will complete both oral and written candidacy exams.
### Outcomes
Researchers at academic institutions, education, medicine, government agencies, health organizations, private sector/industry, biotechnology start-up companies, clinical trials coordinators, research-oriented positions in pharmaceutical/biotech companies and Fortune 500 businesses.
**A PhD in cardiovascular and respiratory sciences is usually considered a final degree; graduates may go on to pursue post-doctoral research.**
### Thesis-based program
Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.
### Courses
Three courses, depending on academic background
[Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar](https://calendar.ucalgary.ca/programs/MDCVPHD)
### Classroom delivery
### Time commitment
Six years maximum
### Supervisor
A supervisor is required, and must agree to oversee the student's research before admission will be granted
### Fees and funding
See the Graduate Calendar for information on [fees and fee regulations,](https://calendar.ucalgary.ca/uofcregs/tuitionandfeesoverview/grad) and for information on [awards and financial assistance](https://calendar.ucalgary.ca/uofcregs/studfinsupport/awardsgrad).
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## Supervisors
Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.
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1. [Ejaife Agbani](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/ejaife-agbani)
Accepting Inquiries
Platelet Biology, Thrombosis and Haemostasis., Procoagulant Membrane Dynamics (PMD) Analysis and Translation, Medical Device Innovation
2. [Todd Anderson](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/todd-anderson)
Accepting Inquiries
Atherosclerosis, lipids, endothelial function
3. [Andrew Braun](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/andrew-braun)
Accepting Inquiries
Vascular Physiology and Ion Channel Function
4. [Steven Greenway](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/steven-greenway)
Unavailable
Cell-free DNA, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Microbiome
5. [Fui Boon Kai](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/fuiboonkaiucalgaryca-fuiboonkaiucalgaryca)
Accepting Inquiries
The role of extracellular matrix dysregulation in fibrotic lung disease
6. [Justin MacDonald](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/justin-macdonald)
Accepting Inquiries
Vascular smooth muscle biology, Chronic inflammation, Chemoproteomic drug discovery
7. [Robert Newton](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/robert-newton)
Seeking Students
Inflammation - Anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids
8. [Aaron Phillips](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/aaron-phillips)
Accepting Inquiries
Research Area, Collaborations, Tools, Trainees
9. [Dr. Marc J. Poulin](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/dr-marc-j-poulin)
Accepting Inquiries
human physiology, healthy brain aging and dementia, sleep, intermittent hypoxia & high altitude, industrial physiology
10. [Satish Raj](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/supervisor/satish-raj)
Accepting Inquiries
Human, Cardiovascular Autonomic Physiology and Pharmacology, Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, Vasovagal Syncope, Orthostatic Hypotension
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## Admission requirements
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#### GPA
A minimum of 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.
#### Minimum education
An MSc degree or equivalent.
#### Work samples
None
#### Documents
Official transcripts are required.
#### Reference letters
Three
#### Test scores
None
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#### **English language proficiency (ELP)**
An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in different ways. For accepted criteria, please refer to the program “Admissions” tab in the [**Academic Calendar.**](https://calendar.ucalgary.ca/programs/MDCVPHD)
*\*Please contact your program of interest if you have any questions about ELP requirements.*
#### Deadlines
**For January Admission**
International application deadline: August 1
Domestic application deadline: October 1
**For May Admission**
International application deadline: December 1
Domestic application deadline: March 1
**For September Admission**
International application deadline: April 1
Domestic application deadline: June 1
If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about
[international requirements](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/international-students)
## Are you ready to apply?
[Application process](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/how-apply)
## Learn more about this program
### Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences
UCalgary Foothills Campus, Health Sciences Centre (HSC) Building, Office Suite G329, 3330 Hospital Drive NW,\
Calgary, AB T2N 4N1
[Contact the Graduate Program Administrator](mailto:cvrgrad@ucalgary.ca)
[Visit their website](https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/gse/current-students/current-student-program-overview/cardiovascular-respiratory-sciences)
### Cumming School of Medicine
Health Sciences Centre\
Foothills Campus, University of Calgary\
Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4
[Visit the Cumming School of Medicine website](https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/)
Learn more about UCalgary by taking a
[virtual tour](https://virtualtour.grad.ucalgary.ca/)
## Related programs
If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.
#### [Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences](#collapse801362502)
[Thesis-based MSc](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/cardiovascular-and-respiratory-sciences-msc-thesis)
#### [Biochemistry and Molecular Biology](#collapse1327577030)
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[Thesis-based PhD](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/biochemistry-and-molecular-biology-phd)
#### [Kinesiology](#collapse1133138685)
[Thesis-based MSc](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/kinesiology-msc-thesis)
[Course-based MKin](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/kinesiology-mkin-course)
[PhD](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/kinesiology-phd)
#### [Microbiology and Infectious Disease](#collapse1167665718)
[Thesis-based MSc](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/microbiology-and-infectious-diseases-msc-thesis)
[PhD](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/microbiology-and-infectious-diseases-phd)
## Curious about the University of Calgary?
Located in the nation's most enterprising city, we are a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude.
[Learn More about student life at UCalgary](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/student-life)