{"id":11032,"date":"2016-07-08T16:17:59","date_gmt":"2016-07-08T20:17:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/?page_id=11032"},"modified":"2026-02-20T14:19:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T19:19:46","slug":"graduate-education","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/graduate-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Graduate Education"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Department of Biochemistry &amp; Cell Biology offers PhD and combined MD\/PhD degrees. Our graduate program is housed within Graduate Medical Sciences at the Boston University Chobanian &amp; Avedisian School of Medicine.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Our program is part of the<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/pibs\/\">Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS) <\/a><span class=\"s1\">\u00a0\u201cumbrella program\u201d <\/span>which provides rigorous training by integrating interdisciplinary biomedical coursework with<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"s1\">comprehensive research training in our state-of-the-art laboratories<\/span>.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>In addition to its core curriculum, PiBS offers students the opportunity to explore a variety of research areas by participating in laboratory rotations to help determine the research area that will be the focus of the PhD dissertation.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 Moreover<\/span>, we have a robust professional development program enabling students to explore a variety of biomedical career options. Our MD\/PhD program combines outstanding clinical and research training for aspiring clinician-scientists.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><a href=\"\/biochemcellbio\/files\/2026\/02\/BiochemHandbook2025-2026.docx\">Biochemistry &amp; Cell Biology Handbook<\/a>\u2014update 2\/2026<br \/>\n<strong><br \/>\nContact for additional information:<\/strong> \t<div class=\"profile-listing\">\n\t\t<div class=\"basic\">\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n               \t\n                \t\t<div id=\"letter-b\" class=\"letter-group active \">\n\t\t                \t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"profile type-faculty  has-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/profiles\/michael-blower\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure><img width=\"60\" height=\"60\" src=\"\/biochemcellbio\/files\/2020\/07\/Blower_202-1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"profile-name\">Michael Blower<\/span><span class=\"profile-title\">, Professor<br \/>\r\nDirector, Biochemistry &#038; Cell Biology Graduate Program<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"profile-interest\">Mitosis, transcription, chromatin structure<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t                \t\t\t<\/ul>\n                \t\t<\/div>\n                \n                \n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><!--\/.profile-listing-->\n<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Prospective Students<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">PhD in Biochemistry &amp; Cell Biology: Combined MD\/PhD Degrees<\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Our PhD program is part of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/pibs\/\">Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS)<\/a> an interdisciplinary, \u201cumbrella\u201d program. This program incorporates didactic coursework and biomedical research and professional career development. MD-PhD candidates must fulfill the requirements for both the MD and the PhD degrees. For complete information on the PIBS and MD\/PhD programs please use these links:<br \/>\n\u2022 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/pibs\/\">Program in Biomedical Sciences (PhD)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/students\/mdphd\/\">Boston University Chobanian &amp; Avedisian School of Medicine MD\/PhD Program<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Graduate training combines integrated coursework with extensive research training in our state-of-the-art <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/people\/faculty-2\/\">laboratories<\/a>. Coursework includes the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/pibs\/curriculum\/fibs\/\">Foundations in Biomedical Sciences<\/a> (FBS)\u00a0curriculum and a variety of discipline-specific elective classes.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In addition to the biomedical science coursework, our professional development curriculum offers our graduate students opportunities to consider careers in many areas including academia, biotechnology, law, communications, and government. Students enjoy a rich curriculum that includes credit-bearing courses as well as workshops, shadowing experiences and internships.<br \/>\n<strong><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Please note that faculty in Biochemistry &amp; Cell Biology do not directly accept students.\u00a0<\/strong><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Financial Support<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">PhD graduate students receive a competitive stipend, tuition, and health benefits. MD\/PhD students are supported through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/mdphd\/prospective-students\/funding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dean&#8217;s Scholarship<\/a> program or an NIH MSTP grant.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How to apply<\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Prospective students interested in our PhD program should apply directly to PiBS through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/admissions\/\">GMS admissions portal<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prospective students interested in our MD\/PhD program can learn more about the admissions process and requirements through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/mdphd\/\">BUSM admissions portal<\/a><\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Current Students<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Coursework requirements are outlined below. Please note that many of our faculty are members of other programs including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gpgg\/\">Genetics and Genomics<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/nutrition-metabolism\/\">Nutrition &amp; Metabolism,<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/busm-pm\/\">Pharmacology &amp; Experimental Therapeutics<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/mtm\/\">Molecular &amp; Translational Medicine<\/a> and the requirements vary among these programs.<\/p>\n<h3><span>Course\u00a0Work<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span>GMS FC711, FC712, FC713, FC714, (Foundations in Biomedical Sciences Modules I, II, III, IV); 12 credits<\/span><\/li>\n<li>FC764 Professional Skills; 2 credits<\/li>\n<li>FC708 Professional Development Skills; 2 credits<\/li>\n<li><span>FC762 Critical Thinking in Biomedical Research; 2 credits<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>BI777 Techniques in Biomedical Research; 2 credits<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Biostatistics; 2 credits<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span>Qualifying Examinations<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>Candidates for the PhD and MD\/PhD degrees must pass a combined written and oral qualifying exam.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span>Dissertation Advisory Committee and Defense<\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span>PhD and MD\/PhD candidates present a research proposal to a five-member Dissertation Advisory Committee. The committee is assembled at least once every 9 months to discuss the progress of the accepted proposal. Once the committee determines that the research work is complete, the student writes and defends the dissertation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Department of Biochemistry &amp; Cell Biology offers PhD and combined MD\/PhD degrees. Our graduate program is housed within Graduate [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1191,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":11,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/no-sidebars.php","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11032"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1191"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11032"}],"version-history":[{"count":51,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11032\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19528,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11032\/revisions\/19528"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11032"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}