“Sanford Burnham Prebys’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences is an interdisciplinary program that offers training in a wide range of biological research areas. The PhD is designed to provide students with a strong foundation of knowledge, enhanced critical thinking, an opportunity to perform high-quality scientific research and develop communication skills that will prepare them for their successful professional career.”
Alessandra Sacco, PhDProfessor and Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Curriculum
Students are required to take six core courses and eight tutorials by the end of their second year.
Core Courses
Molecules to Systems (M2S) An expansive survey course designed for first-year graduate students to obtain broad exposure to a variety of scientific approaches and research in a wide variety of scientific disciplines related to biomedicine. The course is divided into five modules with 20 faculty lecturers.
Responsible Conduct of Scientific Research (RCSR) Discussion-based course on key ethical issues in scientific research.
Scientific Communication Designed for first-year graduate students to develop and enhance their scientific oral and written communication skills. The course will help students achieve their GSBS program milestones and effectively communicate their research to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.
Introductory Statistics Covers the statistical methods most commonly used in biomedical research.
Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (CBB) Provides an introduction to bioinformatics by introducing students to RNA-seq data analysis, as well as mining genomic databases for –omics data interpretation.
Modern Drug Discovery Techniques (MDDT) Covers the basic principles of a wide range of drug discovery approaches using real examples, including current projects at Sanford Burnham Prebys. Lecturers include faculty and staff involved in drug discovery as well as outside speakers from pharma and biotech.
Tutorials These are a hallmark of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Graduate Program, offering students their choice of small, individualized group sessions led by a faculty expert.
Course Catalog and Student Handbook
The Handbook (pdf) contains information about admission requirements, curriculum, student expectations and graduation requirements. The Course Catalog (pdf) contains descriptions of required courses and tutorials.
We discover and explore the roots of human biology in the context of translational biomedical science, with small classes, focused courses, a low faculty-to-student ratio, individualized tutorials and a highly collaborative environment.
Areas of research vary with program faculty. Please explore our website for more detailed information regarding the research interests of each faculty member.
The PhD Program is full-time. Most students are unable to take on additional, or even part-time, commitments while completing this program.
All enrolled students in good academic standing receive a stipend. The stipend for the 2024-25 academic year is $47,000 per year.
Stipends are paid bi-monthly in accordance with the Sanford Burnham Prebys payroll schedule. Stipends are paid on the 7th and the 22nd of the month. Should the 7th or 22nd of the month fall on a weekend day, stipend checks will be issued on the Friday before the weekend. If a payday should fall on a holiday, stipend checks will normally be issued the day preceding the holiday.
Yes, students are offered the same health benefits as faculty and staff. The premium cost varies depending on the plan selected and the number of people covered.
No.
No. However, emergency back-up daycare is available to students and employees whose primary daycare is temporarily unavailable.
Please visit the Prospective Students section of the website from more information on applying to our program.
While time-to-degree varies, the average is 4.9 years.
As of Spring 2024, the program has graduated 65 scientists.
87.4%.
You can reach the Graduate School by phone at (858) 646-3100 or by email
Want to Know More?
If you have questions about the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, please contact us.
General Inquiries
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute 10901 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla, CA 92037 (858) 646-3100 email
Admission Inquiries
Admissions Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute 10901 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla, CA 92037 email
