PhD, MSc and Certificate Programs

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has a long tradition of research excellence and training by a world-class faculty committed to mentoring the next generation of investigators. We are looking for highly motivated students to continue this tradition. Explore the following links to learn more about our PhD, MSc and Certificate programs.

Center for Biomedical Informatics
The center offers the PhD, Master of Science and Certificate. The program provides training in knowledge based systems and medical artificial intelligence; simulation and modeling of complex phenomena; information retrieval, problem solving and cognition; system evaluation, social/organizational factors, and health services research; machine learning, data mining and knowledge discovery; enterprise computing: integrated architectures and clinical and biomedical application of the Internet; organization and representation of multimedia biomedical information (text and images).

Center for Neuroscience Training Program
This university-wide program offers the PhD and Master of Science. The program is designed to develop competence in conducting laboratory research, general competence in neuroscience and specific expertise in one or more areas of neuroscience, and general professional competence in oral and written expression necessary for a career in science and/or teaching. Specific areas of training are: The Molecular Basis of Cellular Communication, Psychiatric & Neurological Disorders, Information Processing in Brain Circuits, Neural Development & Cellular Growth, Cognitive Neuroscience, and Homeostatic Regulatory Systems.

Clinician Educator Training Program
This program offers both a Master of Science degree and a Certificate in Medical Education. The program is designed for a diverse group of individuals whose career focus is medical education and clinical teaching.

Clinical Research Training Program
This program offers both a Master of Science degree and a Certificate in Clinical Research. The program aims to teach trainees the skills necessary to design and conduct high quality clinical research involving human subjects.

Clinical Scientist Training Program
This program offers both a Master of Science degree and a Certificate in Clinical Research. The program is designed to prepare medical students for a career in academic medicine and clinical investigation.

Joint CMU-Pitt PhD Program in Computational Biology
The joint PhD program in computational biology is a relatively new program offered between the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. The goal of the this program is to provide intensive interdisciplinary education to enable outstanding students to become leaders in identifying and solving tomorrow's biological problems using computational and/or mathematical methods and fundamental principles of life and physical sciences. The program will provide students with cross-disciplinary training in established as well as newly emerging fields of computational biology. Students will have access to a community of faculty mentors from both institutions thereby providing a breadth of research areas for investigation. Five areas of specialization are available: Computational Genomics, Computational Structural Biology, Cellular and Systems Modeling, Bioimage Informatics, and Computational Neurobiology.

Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Program
This interdepartmental, interschool program provides the opportunity to earn a PhD in the following areas: Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cell Biology & Molecular Physiology, Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Immunology, Molecular Pharmacology, Molecular Virology & Microbiology and Neuroscience.

Program in Integrative Molecular Biology
PIMB is a new Ph.D. program designed for well-prepared students with a focused and developed interest in understanding and exploring the structure and function of molecules that comprise living systems. The program is sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the School of Arts and Sciences. The program provides training in two research areas: Genomics, Proteomics, and Gene Function and Cell and Developmental Dynamics.

Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology Program
The Molecular Biophysics & Structural Biology (MBSB) Graduate Program at the University of Pittsburgh is an interdisciplinary program at the interfaces of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and other traditional disciplines. Molecular Biophysics aims to unravel and explain biological phenomena and processes in atomic and molecular detail. Research conducted by faculty of the MBSB program cover a diverse range of topics in Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology. Areas of study are focused on understanding fundamental principles involved in reactions and interactions in biological systems. Research projects attempt to address and elucidate answers to questions such as: How do proteins fold and can we prevent misfolding? Can we design proteins with novel functions? How does the coordinated interaction between proteins and nucleic acids lead to cellular differentiation and the formation of an organism? How do macromolecules assemble into molecular machines or viruses and how do they operate? And how do signals traverse membranes?