PhD in Biomedical Sciences at Pennsylvania State University

The Biomedical Sciences (BMS) Graduate Program with its Options in Biochemistry, Genetics, and Genomics, Cancer Biology, Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Translational Therapeutics, and Virology and Immunology provides students curricular training with a unique focus on human health and disease and the opportunity to concentrate in one or more disciplinary approaches including: biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, genetics, immunology, pharmacology, physiology, structural biology, and virology. Students receive rigorous training that provides the skills necessary to be leaders in biomedical research and other endeavors that benefit from advanced scientific training, including industry, education, intellectual property development, technology licensing, journalism, entrepreneurship, and public policy.

The BMS Graduate Program is an interdepartmental program that engages faculty from numerous basic science and clinical departments. This broad-reaching program provides students a wide-ranging understanding of multiple disciplines with specific expertise in a chosen area, and encourages interdisciplinary research that is the hallmark of biomedical sciences in the 21^st century.

1. Know: Graduates will demonstrate a) a broad base of the biological knowledge and concepts required to understand the molecular, cellular, and organismal processes related to biomedical sciences; b) a broad understanding of experimental approaches used to investigate biomedical problems; c) in-depth knowledge within their specific areas of research interests, and d) the highest standards of research ethics.
2. Create: Graduates will creatively synthesize theory and literature to generate questions, ideas, or hypotheses addressing current problems in human health and disease, and will devise critical experimental approaches to test these ideas and hypotheses.
3. Apply: Graduates will perform independent and original research studies that address current problems in biomedical sciences leading to rigorous and reproducible experimental outcomes.
4. Critical thinking: Graduates will critically evaluate experimental approaches and results of their own research and the research of others.
5. Communicate: Graduates will convey ideas, experimental approaches, and results in clear, concise, well-organized papers, posters, proposals, oral presentations, and discussions.
6. Professional practice: Graduates will collaborate in a collegial and ethical manner with other professionals within their field or with diverse scientific backgrounds.
7. Career development: Graduates will evaluate potential careers to pursue following graduation and choose their specific career interest(s).