Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
About the Program
The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) at Sanford Burnham Prebys in La Jolla offers a PhD degree in Biomedical Sciences. Our approach eliminates the need for rotations, and instead matches each prospective student with a faculty mentor as a prerequisite for acceptance to GSBS, meaning students can begin their doctoral work on day one of graduate school. As a result, our program’s time-to-degree averages 4.8 years, shorter than nearly all other Ph.D-granting programs in science. Applicants are encouraged to identify and contact potential faculty mentors as part of the application process.
Our graduate program prepares students for careers in scientific research through laboratory research and courses. The curriculum is highly personalized and tailored to the research interests of each individual student. In the first two years, students complete five multi-disciplinary core courses, eight “tutorials” (special-topics courses with 1-3 students), as well as numerous written and oral reports. This curriculum is designed to complement the extensive practical laboratory training under the supervision of a faculty mentor.
All GSBS students receive an annual stipend, which for 2025-2026 is $50,000/year and for 2026-2027 will be $51,500/year. Throughout their tenure, graduate students are also eligible for a merit-based supplement of up to 10% of their annual stipend. Students receive the same outstanding medical, dental and vision care as all other members of the Sanford Burnham Prebys community. Moreover, each student is allocated $500 annually for allowable educational support purchases.
Course Catalog & Student Handbook
Our Mission and Vision
Mission
We educate students to become the innovative biomedical scientists of the future.
Vision
With state-of-the-art technology, an entrepreneurial mindset and a highly personalized program, we are dedicated to educating the next generation of outstanding biomedical scientists who will drive future cutting-edge basic and translational research.
Unparalleled Education Opportunities
Message from the Dean
Scientific discovery is a rewarding profession, and the future is now, as new generations of scientists are learning their trade during a time of emerging, innovative tools and technologies that are accelerating knowledge acquisition at unprecedented rates.
While Sanford Burnham Prebys’ reputation for excellence in basic biomedical research dates back to its founding in 1976, the Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences is relatively young, established in 2006 to prepare new cadres of scientists to drive discovery.
Sanford Burnham Prebys’ Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences is founded on the Institute’s collaborative ethos. The program emphasizes our strengths in biomedical research and is supplemented by technologies developed here and elsewhere to accelerate breakthroughs in both thought and practice.
The great 16th century astronomer, engineer, physicist and polymath Galileo Galilei once said: “You cannot teach a person anything; you can only help them find it within.”
At Sanford Burnham Prebys, Galileo’s words reflect the didactic, tutorial and laboratory-based emphases of our graduate program, which is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in biomedical sciences while engaging in projects with our biological, chemistry, bioinformatics and engineering faculty and a specialized focus on main areas studied within a laboratory.
San Diego is renowned for both its scientific excellence and recreational opportunities. As a national and international hub for life sciences research, the region is home to numerous academic institutions and industry leaders. With a moderate year-round climate, pristine beaches to the west, and mountains and desert to the east, it’s an ideal place to live and learn. I encourage you to explore these pages to discover why pursuing science and graduate education at Sanford Burnham Prebys could be the right choice for you.
Alessandra Sacco, PhD
Professor and Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Graduate School Leadership
Graduate School Administrative Team
Diane Klotz, PhD
Chief Learning Officer
Accreditation Liaison Officer
Angelica Rocha, PhD
Director, Graduate School Administration & Institutional Research
Megan Elyamani
Academic Program Specialist and Registrar
Sara Sandoval
Recruiting and PhD Pathway Programs Manager
You can contact the Graduate School Administrative Team at gsbs@sbp.edu.
Learning and Development Team
Nisha Cavanaugh, PhD
Associate Director, Career Development and Postdoctoral Programs
Nicole Villa
Program Coordinator
You can contact the Training team at oetis@sbpdiscovery.org.
Latest News
Graduate School of Biomedical Science
Sep 23, 2026Erik Hultenius awarded Melvin and Phyllis McCardle Clause Scholarship
Sep 23, 2026The scholarship program for graduate students was created by the Clause family’s generous donation to Sanford Burnham Prebys.
Sep 22, 2026Biomedical Research Symposium celebrates science, community and 50 years
Sep 22, 2026The 25th annual Biomedical Research Symposium took on special significance this year as scientists and alumni gathered during the Institute’s…
Sep 21, 2026Sanford Burnham Prebys launches new graduate student scholarship as ARCS Foundation San Diego’s newest university partner
Sep 21, 2026The ARCS Foundation will fund two ARCS Scholars at the institute for the 2026-27 academic year, each receiving a $12,500…
Aug 26, 2026From the Lab to the Clinic: Graduate Student Helps Advance Promising Pancreatic Cancer Therapy
Aug 26, 2026When Patrick Hagan joined Sanford Burnham Prebys as a graduate student, he hoped his research would one day help patients….
Aug 6, 2026Sanford Burnham Prebys partners with Department of Health in Abu Dhabi
Aug 6, 2026Nonbinding pact intended to expand and accelerate biomedical research in both nations Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute has entered…
Jun 19, 2026Sanford Burnham Prebys Science Network hosts Community Outreach Symposium showcasing early-career research
Jun 19, 2026Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from across Sanford Burnham Prebys took center stage at the 2026 Community Outreach Symposium, sharing their…
Accreditation
The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences is accredited by the WASC Senior College & University Commission.
