Overview
Dual-Degree and Ph.D. Molecular Medicine Programs Emphasize a Well-Rounded Education and Experience in Lab Research
The Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine (GPMM) is based in the Department of Medicine at Boston University (BU). It offers a Ph.D. to students holding B.A., B.S., M.Sc., or M.D. degrees. The curriculum for completing the Ph.D. is a three-part process.
In the first part, the student is enrolled in a year of science courses provided by the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences. During the second part, students focus on the Molecular Medicine Core Curriculum. These core courses serve as the focal point of the program, and include Genetics and Epidemiology of Disease, Cancer Biology, Immunity and Infection, Organ System Diseases, and Molecular Therapeutics. During the first two years, the student completes 3¿4 lab rotations within potential laboratories that could eventually become the "home" laboratory where the student will concentrate on Ph.D. work. At the end of the second year, students prepare for a Qualifying Exam that is focused on a dissertation proposal. The proposal will be utilized in the third part of the program to conduct necessary research in the Department of Medicine.
Interested students also have an opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. through alternative programs. The combined M.D./Ph.D. program is ideal for students who desire a career centered around clinical research. The CMB program is available in cell and molecular biology/molecular medicine. Students in the CMB program follow a strict first-year biology curriculum and then are admitted into a partner program, such as the GPMM, to complete their Ph.D. to center their careers around clinical research. Another combined degree program is available in cell and molecular biology/molecular medicine. Students may be admitted into one program and later be admitted to the partner program in either case.
Students Apply to the GPMM with an M.D. or B.A., and Take Advantage of Full Tuition Payment and an Annual Stipend
Potential Ph.D. candidates are pleased to find that the financial aid options at the Graduate Program of Molecular Medicine are virtually endless. Apart from traditional federal, state, and local aid options, BU is pleased to offer every admitted student full tuition paid by the program. An annual stipend is also paid to students pending their dissertation research. This enables virtually all interested and qualified applicants to completely fund their educations.
Applications are reviewed on an individual basis, and several different types of applicants are commonly seen by faculty members. Applicants who hold a B.A. are generally asked to submit GRE scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a statement of interest that outlines their career goals. M.D. applicants are also required to submit MCAT scores. Additional considerations during the review process include past relevant work experience, as well as the diversity an applicant will bring to the incoming class.
Graduates of the Molecular Medicine Ph.D. Program Pursue Faculty Positions, Internships, and Research Opportunities
Many of the graduates awarded a Ph.D. in molecular medicine from the GPMM decide to pursue careers in academic medicine or research fields. Open faculty positions can lead to an alumni staying at BU to teach or assist professors, or they may simply choose to continue research in an area that interests them. Fellowships also offer the opportunity for students to pursue special areas of study; several fellowships are funded and completed on the School of Medicine campus.
Of course, outside internships and research positions exist in and around BU's community. A summer internship upon graduation may offer additional educational opportunity, or simply allow continued work while searching for a specific type of position or waiting for fellowship funding. Many graduates also go on to work for one of the three medical schools in Boston, contributing to the growing biomedical field that is so prevalent in this academic community. Outside private organizations, laboratories, and even pharmaceutical companies are common employers of GPMM graduates.
Boston University School of Medicine is Found in the Cosmopolitan City of Boston's Historic South End near Its Epicenter
Boston University was founded in 1839, and is among the top 20 schools in the country involved in NIH-supported research. Voted as a Top 15 School, the Graduate Program of Molecular Medicine is housed on the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) campus in Boston's historic South End community. Found only one mile from the center of the city, the surrounding renewed neighborhoods are teeming with biotechnology industry and biomedical professionals.
There are a total of three medical schools found in Boston, which is known worldwide as a very cosmopolitan city attracting visitors and students to the East Coast for a quality education and interesting surroundings. The state of Massachusetts offers a wide range of cultural, recreational, and sports activities that are especially convenient for anyone with an adventurous spirit.
BU is known for its vast, modern research facilities. It is in these facilities that top faculty members conduct numerous studies in basic biomedical and translational science and demand academic excellence from students. These ongoing research projects focus on clinical outcomes and epidemiology, and typically involve several Ph.D. candidates and alumni of BUSM. All of these facilities are housed on the Boston University Medical Center campus in the Center for Advanced Biomedical Research and the Evans Biomedical Research Center. These labs contain all the necessary equipment to carry out various computations, testing rounds on mice and other animals, sequencing, and microarrays.
