HILS Home > Programs of Study > Biological and Biomedical Sciences
 |
The PhD Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS) offers concentrated training in the fundamentals of cell and molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, developmental biology, translational medicine, computational biology, and the biochemistry of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Faculty and affiliates from six basic science departments at Harvard Medical School (Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Cell Biology, Genetics, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Pathology, and Systems Biology) come together to provide a unique interdepartmental, interdisciplinary approach to research training.
|
The BBS program emphasizes flexibility in choosing an area of study open for pursuit, and strongly encourages student leadership and community among students as means to maximize the learning experience.
Faculty in the BBS program are located at the main research quadrangle at Harvard Medical School and at affiliated hospitals and institutions, providing students with several distinct training environments spanning pure basic research through translational research that is clinically motivated.
For example, Human Biology and Translational Medicine (HBTM), a new BBS subject area set to launch in Fall 2008, will provide PhDs with training in the translation of basic research into clinical practice and disease prevention. HBTM will engage physician-scientists from Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals as well as research faculty from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences; candidates for admission may apply to HBTM starting in Fall 2007.
For more information, visit the BBS Website.
The BBS Program offers a series of core courses that provide rigorous in-depth coverage of cell and molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, developmental biology, translational medicine, computational biology, and the biochemistry of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms.
In the first and second years, students work with a faculty mentor to design a curriculum that meets their individual needs. The only required course in BBS is a critical reading course taken in the first semester.
Students choose core courses or advanced courses to round out their first year studies as befits their background and interests. Coursework is designed to develop a solid foundation in modern biology and to develop the ability to read critically in all areas related to a student’s research.
Laboratory rotations form an integral part of the program, allowing students to investigate several research areas before choosing a thesis laboratory. Students also perform research rotations during their first year and ordinarily choose a thesis laboratory by the end of the first full year of study.
In subsequent years, students focus on their doctoral research, supervised largely by their thesis advisor, but also periodically by an advisory committee of the student’s choosing. The thesis advisory committee guides the timely progress of his/her thesis work.
During this time, students will also take any additional advanced courses needed to meet the program requirement of eight courses. Ordinarily, about four years are required to complete the thesis research, culminating with a defense of the written thesis.
Students considering graduate work should request an application from the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Online submission of the application is encouraged; see www.gsas.harvard.edu for forms and more information.
Students should request information and an application from:
Harvard University
1350 Massachusetts Avenue
Holyoke Center 350
Cambridge, MA 02138-3654
telephone: 617-495-5315, 617-495-5396
e-mail: admiss@fas.harvard.edu
The Office of Admissions and Financial Aid is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.
Classroom and laboratory instruction are conducted primarily by the 250 faculty members that participate in the BBS graduate program. BBS faculty are drawn from Medical School faculty located at the main Medical School quadrangle and at affiliated research institutions. The diversity of topics under study by the BBS faculty provides unparalleled research options for graduate work.