A Comprehensive Foundation for Modern Biomedical Research
As biomedical research moves forward in the 21st century, the lines between traditional scientific disciplines become thinner and thinner. Accomplished researchers must possess more than an in-depth knowledge of one specific field – they need a broad understanding of principles and techniques from disciplines across the biomedical sciences. Since 1992, graduate students at Vanderbilt have received a comprehensive educational foundation for a successful career in biomedical research through the graduate programs here at Vanderbilt University.
We have two biomedical PhD pathways to graduate training in the biological and biomedical sciences. We provide a personalized, flexible approach to accommodate a wide range of educational backgrounds and specific interests. We provide our students the strongest possible cross-disciplinary education, and we constantly update and modernize our topics, content, and approach to our curriculum.
Which Biomedical PhD Pathway is Right for Me?
In both the IGP and QCB, students spend the first year choosing their research lab by dong 4 required research rotations. Students in both pathways have access to the same faculty and choose to participate in the same 11+ departments and programs . Both programs have guaranteed stipend support and their own specialized curriculum.
The Quantitative and Chemical Biology Pathway (QCB)
The Quantitative and Chemical Biology pathway (QCB) is a good choice if you have a background mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, or engineering but limited biology instruction. This Ph.D. track, multidisciplinary pathway is focused on hand-on training during extended research rotations for students who wish to pursue a doctoral degree at the interface of the computational, chemical, physical, and biological sciences. Many students in QCB choose to work in interdisciplinary fields such as chemical biology, structural biology, imaging sciences, molecular and cellular biophysics, systems biology, pharmacology and biochemistry, among many others.
The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences (The IGP)
The Interdisciplinary Graduate Pathway in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (IGP) is a good choice for applicants with a strong background in Biology. Undergraduate majors in Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry offer strong preparation for the IGP curriculum. Students in this program pursue several different research areas across disciplines. Affiliated departments and programs are: Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Cancer Biology, Cell & Developmental Biology, Human Genetics, Microbe-Host Interactions, Molecular Pathology & Immunology, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Neuroscience, and Pharmacology.
Our online application for Fall 2027 opens on August 1, 2026.
Learn more about our Application Process and Requirements here.
If you have questions about which program is right for you, you can Contact Us
Virtual Information and Workshops
Please join us to learn more about the IGP and QCB, and about how you can submit the strongest possible application to our programs.
Other PhD Progams
Vanderbilt is home to Biomedical Ph.D. programs ranging from Biostatistics to Neuroscience to Epidemiology. While admission into many of our Biomedical PhD programs is through the Interdisciplinary Graduate Pathway (IGP) and Quantitative and Chemical Biology Pathway (QCB), we also have many programs for which you can apply directly. Please see the chart below for information on admission procedures and the appropriate page for more program-specific information.
Program Comparison Table
Connect with Us!
Interested in our biology and biomedical PhD Programs? Take the next step and explore our website, admissions information, and student resources. Please contact us with any questions you may have.