Vanderbilt’s Biomedical Research community blends scientific excellence with a friendly, engaging, and supportive environment. Here, discovery and collaboration are not at odds with each other, but rather embody our unparalleled approach to innovation. Combined with a reimagined, broad program curriculum in vibrant Nashville, TN, our research community is uniquely situated to provide professional and graduate students with an education and training that will propel them as scientific leaders.

Vanderbilt offers three Ph.D.-track programs in the biological and biomedical sciences. The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (Ph.D.), the Quantitative & Chemical Biology Program (Ph.D.), and the Medical Scientist Training Program (M.D./Ph.D.) provide unique opportunities for scientific training in a variety of research fields. Through these programs, students may train in any one of over 200 labs in the following areas: biochemistry, biological sciences, cancer biology, cell and developmental biology, chemical and physical biology, human genetics, microbe-host interactions, molecular pathology & immunology, molecular physiology & biophysics, neuroscience, and pharmacology.

The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biological & Biomedical Sciences (IGP) is a Ph.D.-track program that allows trainees to take foundational coursework to provide a solid background in the basic sciences. During the first year, students complete four laboratory rotations, and may choose any of Vanderbilt’s eleven basic science departments or programs. This opportunity allows students to explore several different areas of scientific inquiry before committing to a particular department. At the end of the first year, students select a lab in which to complete dissertation research. That decision will determine the department from which you will ultimately complete the graduate training.

Website: https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/igp/.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BiomedVandy

The Quantitative & Chemical Biology Program (QCB) is another Ph.D.-track umbrella program designed in a similar format to the IGP, but is specifically designed for individuals with backgrounds in chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computer science who wish to bridge the disciplines of biology and the quantitative sciences. Additional departments in which students may rotate include chemistry, physics, and mathematics.

Website: https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/qcb/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BiomedVandy

The Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) provides a strong core education in medicine and intensive training in scientific inquiry leading to completion of the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees. The individual curricula of the medical and graduate schools are integrated such that trainees prepare for investigative careers as physician-scientists and complete both degrees in 7 years. Through the MD-PhD program, students can complete their research training through one of our 16 affiliated PhD programs which include many programs in Biomedical Sciences, and other unique areas such as Epidemiology and Health Policy, Biomedical Engineering, and Biomedical Informatics.

Website: https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/mstp/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VanderbiltMSTP

The Vanderbilt Summer Science Academy (VSSA) is our summer undergraduate research program, which brings together all undergraduates conducting biomedical research at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. We host approximately 70 students each summer from institutions across the country. In addition to streamlining administrative aspects of individual summer programs, the VSSA offers research seminars, a wide rage of enrichment activities and lecture as well as social activities for those undergraduates engaged in research on our campus during the summer.

Website: https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/vssa/