- The Learning Environment
The Learning Environment
*Not a baccalaureate degree program
Physiology courses provide students whose majors are in the life and health sciences with an understanding of body functions at the cellular and organ-system levels. A number of courses serve as prerequisites for majors with a healthcare focus. Students whose majors are not directly associated with the health professions are encouraged to take physiology courses as long as students satisfy course prerequisites.
Courses are either in lecture format or independent study. The lecture classes range in size from 20 to 450 students, and for the largest classes, some students receive instruction during class via remote video feed in overflow classrooms. We offer two types of introductory Physiology courses. One is a one-semester Human Physiology course, while the other extends over two semesters for students who want a more extensive view of the field. In addition, we offer a Pathophysiology course and a specialized course in Cell and Membrane Physiology.
About Our Facilities
Independent research takes place in individual faculty's laboratories, which are equipped for a wide range of cutting-edge methods, ranging from single-channel electrophysiology to multiple types of cell imaging, to stem cell technology. Students have hands-on experience that contributes to their gaining a deeper understanding of the experimental basis of physiology and allows them to determine whether they wish to pursue a career in research.
About Our Faculty
The Department of Physiology and Biophysics has a total of 17 faculty, including 1 SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor, 2 SUNY Distinguished Professors, 9 Professors, 2 Associate Professors, 1 Assistant Professor, and 2 Research Faculty members. Many of our faculty study the structure and function of ion channels and have led their field in developing sophisticated methods for interpreting data that show how small changes in structure have major impacts on the functions of molecules. The channels in question range from those at the neuromuscular junction, where nerves control muscle contraction, to those that control the balance of sodium in the body's fluids, to potassium channels that determine whether lungs function normally or are afflicted with cystic fibrosis or whether the heart works properly. The Department faculty have amassed numerous awards such as SUNY Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities, SUNY Chancellor's Award for Research, SUNY Distinguished Inventor Awards, National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) Independent Investigator Award, Asian Institute of NanoScience and Technology Award, Kenneth S. Cole Award of the Biophysical Society, among other.
Faculty List Directory
Please visit the Department of Physiology and Biophysics website for additional information about our faculty.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences955 Main Street Suite 3102
Downtown Campus
Buffalo, NY 14203
Dr. Susan Udin
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Kara Rickicki
Department Staff
PGY Courses
- PGY 300LEC Human Physiology Lecture
Functions of the human body; interrelationships of the organ systems as humans respond and adapt to their environment.
- PGY 405LEC Cellular and Molecular Physiology Lecture
The cell membrane is the boundary between a cell and its environment, but is not simply a lipid coating: it is a vital organelle. Embedded membrane proteins facilitate the flux of ions and solutes to maintain the distinct composition of the cell interior and mediate cell excitability, while the associated cytoskeleton provides structural integrity, modulates cell movement, and the response of cells to physical stress. Having completed this course, students will have a working knowledge of the importance of membrane and structural proteins to a wide variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes. Students aiming for a career in the health sciences will benefit from this exposure to the underpinnings of medical physiology taught by instructors from the medical school faculty. In the first half of the course students will learn the fundamentals of cellular and molecular physiology. In the second half, students will apply this knowledge in faculty-led discussions of recent research developments.
Credits: 4
Grading: Graded (GRD)
Typically Offered: Spring
- PGY 412LEC Applied Physiology
- PGY 451LEC Human Physiology I
- PGY 452LEC Human Physiology II
- PGY 495TUT Supervised Teaching Tutorial
Undergraduate teaching assistants will work in pairs to facilitate a PGY 300 review session for 2 hours every other week. Includes a review of recorded lectures, answering student questions, and providing clear explanation of class material. Other duties include facilitating a class blog on Blackboard and assisting with logistical support on exam days.
Credits: 1 - 3
Grading: Graded (GRD)
Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
- PGY 498TUT Physiology Research Tutorial
Students participate in original investigative work that includes both laboratory work and literature searching.
Credits: 1 - 8
Grading: Graded (GRD)
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
- PGY 499TUT Independent Study Tutorial
Undergraduate research tutorial.
Credits: 1 - 8
Grading: Graded (GRD)
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring