Students enrolled in the Biomedical Sciences (BMS) Graduate Program will earn a PhD degree in Biomedical Sciences. After completing the first-year core curriculum, students elect to follow one of eight thematic research areas within BMS as represented by our 250+ member laboratories. The curriculum is customized to a research area through choices of specific laboratory rotations, thesis lab, elective coursework, and participation in a thematic area's retreat, seminars, journal club, and other events, and may be customized to follow a more deeply translational path. During the first year in the program, students may rotate in any BMS-affiliated laboratory regardless of thematic area in order to allow flexibility in selecting a lab for thesis research.
The unique curriculum of the BMS program is designed to provide students with a wide range of opportunities for their development as biomedical researchers.
In the first year of the program, students will:
- complete core courses
- present in journal club
- complete three laboratory rotations
- select a thesis laboratory
In the second year, students will:
- begin research in their thesis laboratories
- take additional course such as electives and ethics training
- present in journal club
- serve as teaching assistants
- take their qualifying examinations
In later years students primarily focus on their thesis research and dissertation, although they may opt to take additional elective courses or participate in a wide range of other activities. Details of the academic program are provide through links on the left side of this page. It is expected that most students will graduate in about five years.