Life At UCLA/Pharmacology
A Robust Community
Molecular Pharmacology is a unique home area in that it highly overlaps with the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology. This allows the graduate training program to have a robust community where graduate students, post-doctoral scholars and fellows, professors, and staff come together to enjoy advancing science in a fun and rewarding atmosphere. Biweekly Pharm Friday seminars followed by Pharm Pubs and the annual off-site department retreat all provide opportunities for scientific discussions, professional development, and social activities to encourage camaraderie between all members of the department. The department is also focused on transferring science and technology from the lab to the commercial sector through collaborations, with the Technology Development Group and the Magnify at CNSI, an incubator space for start-up companies.
Life in Los Angeles
UCLA mirrors the vitality of the entire Los Angeles area – its diversity, cultural heritage, cosmopolitan lifestyle, and above all, in its friendly, warm embrace of those who make it their home.
The UCLA campus is situated in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. It’s a short drive to Southern California’s beaches, deserts and mountains. With glorious sun-filled days (average precipitation is a mere 14 inches/year), students can enjoy hiking, camping and other outdoor activities year-round.
The campus is adjacent to Westwood Village, a charming college town, where theaters, eateries, groceries, clothing, bookstores and other essentials are available within walking distance. Neighboring cities of Santa Monica and Culver City provide transportation, with regular bus routes between the campus and major Westside metro areas. A referendum was recently passed by the UCLA graduate student body that provides a free pass for Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Culver City transportation systems for all registered graduate students. Learn more about the free pass.
UCLA is home to the Geffen Playhouse theater and two museums: the Fowler and the Hammer Museum. Royce Hall is one of the largest university-affiliated performing arts venues in the country. Our department has a special relationship with the Norton Simon Museum, which houses one of the world’s greatest collections of art by the great masters.