Application Process
Ph.D. Curriculum
Graduate training at the Miller School takes advantage of the outstanding research opportunities available in our clinical and basic science departments and many research institutes. MSTP students are able to pursue their Ph.D. degrees in the eight graduate training programs affiliated with the Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS), which includes traditional basic sciences and interdisciplinary graduate programs, as well as in Public Health Sciences or Biomedical Engineering.
Research Rotations and Selection of Research Mentor
Students carry out three rotations during MS1 and MS2 to explore different research areas before deciding on their Ph.D. concentration and dissertation mentor. Training faculty include Ph.D.s, M.D.s, and M.D./Ph.D.s, many of whom are based in clinical departments, thus providing robust opportunities to carry out research relevant to human disease processes and translational medicine.
Research rotations are usually carried out the summer before starting medical school, during the summer between MS1 and MS2, and during the summer after MS2. MSTP directors and graduate program directors provide mentoring and advice to make sure that students find a good fit for their research home. Most students select their graduate program and mentor by the start of graduate courses in the fall after their first two years of medical school.
Programs in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS)
During graduate school year one, basic science MSTP students participate in the PiBS curriculum and select additional courses to fulfill their program requirements. Some components of PiBS and specific graduate program requirements are waived for MSTPs, which streamlines didactic coursework. By the end of their first year, most MSTPs in PiBS training programs have completed the bulk of their classwork and thereafter can devote most of their time to dissertation research. Basic science MSTP students are encouraged to complete qualifying exams and dissertation proposals by the middle of the second year of the Ph.D. phase.
PiBS-Affiliated Biomedical Science Programs
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Cancer Biology
- Cellular Physiology and Molecular Biophysics
- Human Genetics and Genomics
- Microbiology and Immunology
- Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology
- Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology
- Neuroscience
Other Available Ph.D. Programs for MSTP Students
Students interested in Public Health can obtain a Ph.D. in the following doctoral programs:
Students interested in public health science Ph.D.s should seek further information about prerequisites, requirements, and other program details through Public Health Sciences.
Students interested in public health must declare their interest at the time of application to the MSTP.
Biomedical Engineering (BME)
Biomedical Engineering students can take advantage of the many research collaborations between BME professors in the College of Engineering and faculty in multiple clinical departments and research institutes across the medical school.
MSTP applicants pursuing a Ph.D. in BME should have an undergraduate or graduate degree in biomedical engineering or related science and engineering field. All applicants will be reviewed for their qualifications for the Ph.D. in BME during the admissions process.
Fellowship Applications
All MSTP students apply for NIH NRSA F30 or F31 diversity fellowships for M.D./Ph.D. students. The program provides mentoring and SPD workshops on fellowship writing tailored to M.D./Ph.D. trainees. Also, a grant writing course for mentored fellowships, Grant Writing Basics for Biomedical Graduate Students (PIB 790, 1cr), is offered summer and fall each year.