2026-2027 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog
Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Program
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Return to: School of Medicine
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Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Program
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Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Program
Through the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Program, students may be admitted into one of the following 2 PhD degree-granting programs in the School of Medicine:
Students will not be admitted to pursue a master’s degree. However, students who cannot complete the PhD program due to extenuating personal, financial, academic, or medical reasons may be awarded a master’s degree.
The Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Program is flexible and accommodates students whose research interests are still evolving by introducing them to a variety of fields through interdisciplinary courses and laboratory experiences. For those students who have a clearly defined research interest, the program offers the opportunity to move quickly into a laboratory and accelerate their study.
For more information on Admissions, Financial Assistance, Training Faculty, etc. please visit www.gradbiomed.pitt.edu
Contact Information
Aliya Khan, IBGP Coordinator
Office of Graduate Studies
M240 Scaife Hall
3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh PA 15261
412-383-4879
Fax: 412-648-1077
E-mail: ibgp.som@pitt.edu
www.gradbiomed.pitt.edu
Academic Standards
Students must maintain a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.00. In addition, a minimum of a B grade must be earned in each of the required courses and in each of the degree-granting program core courses.
General Degree Requirements - All Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Students
The first term core course, Foundations of Biomedical Science, is required of all students and is followed by increasingly specialized course work in the discipline-specific program the student has chosen. A course in biomedical experimental design and analysis and a course in research ethics are also required of all students. The first year includes three laboratory research rotations. (See listing of Required Courses below.) Students are guided through their first year of graduate study by a faculty mentor assigned by the program.
The mentor helps to identify rotation laboratories, provides advice on classes, and ensures that students reach appropriate milestones in the first year of the program. At the end of the first year, a preliminary student performance evaluation is conducted by the Program Steering Committee. When a student has successfully completed the preliminary evaluation and chosen a dissertation advisor, the student transfers into one of the degree-granting programs.
Evaluation following the first year is undertaken by the degree-granting program and includes course performance and a comprehensive exam at the end of the second year of study. The comprehensive exam is in the form of an original research proposal followed by an oral examination before a faculty committee. Upon successful completion of the comprehensive exam, the student nominates a dissertation advisory committee composed of a minimum of 5 members. A majority of the committee (including the major advisor) must have graduate faculty status. The student then presents a dissertation proposal to the committee and is admitted to candidacy. The training program is completed by execution of an original and independent research project and defending a dissertation. Please see Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Degrees.
Required Courses-All Students
The following courses are required of all students in the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Program:
INTBP 3000 - FOUNDTNS OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
INTBP 3005 - FOUNDATIONS JOURNAL CLUB
MSCMP 2280 BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF PROFESSIONALISM AS RELATED TO GRADUATE EDUCATION
INTBP 2013 - D2K: FROM DATA TO KNOWLEDGE- BIOMEDICAL EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS
INTBP 2290 - SCIENTIFIC ETHICS AND THE RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH
INTBP 3010 - LABORATORY RESEARCH ROTATION
A minimum of 72 credits (32 course credits and 40 PhD dissertation research credits) beyond the baccalaureate degree is required for the PhD degree.
Cellular and Molecular Pathology (PhD)
Core Courses
The Cellular and Molecular Pathology graduate program offers an exciting, interdisciplinary training environment at the intersection of cell biology, molecular biology, immunology, and artificial intelligence, all focused on understanding human disease. With a strong emphasis on translational research and regenerative medicine, CMP bridges basic science and clinical investigation to address fundamental questions about tissue development and homeostasis, disease mechanisms, and innovative therapeutic strategies. Students engage in cutting-edge research using the latest technologies, exploring topics such as cellular reprogramming at the Center for Transcriptional Medicine (CTM); liver development, disease, and therapy; developmental neuroscience; gene regulation; cancer biology; angiogenesis and the vasculature; pulmonary disease; inflammation and autoimmunity; genetics; and molecular diagnostics. The integration of computational tools and machine learning through the Computational Pathology & AI Center of Excellence (CPACE) further expands the scope of discovery. Research takes place in state-of-the-art laboratories across the medical center campus, fostering collaboration between basic scientists and clinician-investigators (MD’s, PhD’s, and MD/PhD’s), preparing students to become leaders in biomedical research.
Apart from the general degree requirements for all Interdisciplinary Biomedical Science Graduate students, the following are core courses for the Cellular and Molecular Pathology program:
Additionally, we require at least 5 terms of:
As well as two electives of your choice
from either the above electives or from courses throughout the School of Medicine on diverse topics of interest to students such as the following CMP-sponsored courses (partial listing):
Molecular Pharmacology (PhD)
Biomedical research in the Molecular Pharmacology program is focused on cutting-edge discovery of molecular and cellular mechanisms of intracellular signaling using a combination of biochemical, molecular biological, biophysical, ultrastructural, and imaging approaches. Basic research into cellular communication in health and disease is the main emphasis of the program with the added advantage of an array of translational opportunities into the development and testing of novel therapeutic agents. Applications of this common theme are directed toward research in molecular biology of cancer, neuropharmacology, cell and organ system pharmacology, signal transduction, neurodegenerative diseases and drug discovery. Formal collaborative interactions with the Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, the Center for Neuroscience, the Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (PIND), the Division of Clinical Pharmacology, the University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh Structural Biology Imaging Center, the Vascular Medicine Institute and the Center for Biological Imaging provide a broad multidisciplinary approach to training in modern molecular pharmacology.
Core Courses
Apart from the general degree requirements for all Interdisciplinary Biomedical Science Graduate students, the following are core courses in the molecular pharmacology program:
Additionally, we require MSMPHL 2350 (F & Sp) 1 Cr. RESEARCH SEMINAR and MSMPHL 3320 (F & Sp) 1 Cr. JOURNAL CLUB
Admission Requirements and Procedures
Students with at least a baccalaureate degree in biological or physical science or in mathematics, computer science or engineering are encouraged to apply. Admissions are based upon the student’s academic record, letters of recommendation, previous research experience, written statement of interest, and a personal interview. Applicants who are citizens of countries where English is not the official language (and the Province of Quebec in Canada) are required to submit evidence of English Language proficiency by submitting the official results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum TOEFL score of 600 (paper) or 100 (iBT), IELTS score of at least 7.00, or a minimum score of 120 on the Duolingo is required for admission to the IBGP. Applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree or a higher degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States are exempt from submitting English language proficiency test results.
Additional information and a link to the online application can be a found at
https://www.gradbiomed.pitt.edu/
Financial Assistance
All full-time students receive a stipend, educational enrichment fund, computing and network service, and individual health insurance (with option to purchase additional family coverage) during their graduate training.
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