What to Expect
Our PhD is a part of the Biomedical Sciences Training Program, which has 11 different PhD options under the biomedical sciences umbrella. This interdisciplinary approach allows you to specialize in biochemistry while also taking electives in related disciplines. For instance, if you choose to conduct X-ray, crystallography, or protein structure and function research, you might also need to take physical chemistry.
Your faculty advisor will be with you every step of your PhD journey—which is typically about six years. Your first year will be packed with that educational foundation plus research opportunities, followed by that plus a qualifying exam in your second year. This is when you’ll decide what your research project will focus on.
As you develop your research specialty, consider this: On average, our graduates publish five papers, so your CV will start off strong as you enter into your career.