Prospective Students

As biomedical research moves forward in the 21st century, the lines between traditional scientific disciplines are almost gone. Accomplished researchers must possess more than an in-depth knowledge of one specific field – they need a broad understanding of principles and techniques from disciplines across the biomedical sciences. Since 1992, graduate students at Vanderbilt have received a comprehensive educational foundation for a successful career in biomedical research through the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (IGP).

We provide a personalized, flexible approach to accommodate a wide range of educational backgrounds and specific interests. We have always had the goal of providing our students the strongest possible cross-disciplinary education, and we constantly update and modernize our topics, content, and approach to our curriculum.

With multiple core facilities and with the resources provided by the Biomedical, Research, Education, and Training (BRET) Office, students are supported in multiple ways throughout their graduate training.

The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program at Vanderbilt University provides students with a supportive and  highly collaborative environment for pursuing advanced studies in biomedical sciences. As a result, our students are able to gain a broad perspective on their research and develop a deep understanding of the complex issues facing the field today. Please explore our website to learn more!

If you have a background mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, or engineering but limited biology, you may be interested in our sister program, the Quantitative and Chemical Biology program (QCB). This Ph.D. track, multidisciplinary program introduces elements of biology to students who wish to pursue a doctoral degree at the interface of the chemical, physical, and biological sciences. The curriculum prepares students for research careers in any area of biomedical research. Many students choose to work in interdisciplinary fields such as chemical biology, structural biology, imaging sciences, molecular and cellular biophysics, or systems biology.

Our online application for Fall 2026 opens on August 1, 2025.

Learn more about our Application Process and Requirements here.

The First Year IGP Program

The goals of the first year program are to provide students with a strong, broad background in biomedical and biological sciences and research methods. Courses are based on the most recent literature in the subject fields of the sections of the course. This means that lectures and discussions are heavily dependent on recently-published journal articles.

Students have the flexibility to explore their research interests from the offerings of the 11 participating departments and programs prior to choosing a laboratory for their dissertation research. Students rotate in four laboratories in their first year; at the end of that first year, students will join a department or program and become students in that department or program.

Information on faculty research can be found on the individual department and program websites, and the BRET Training Faculty can be found here. Faculty profiles may be incomplete, but you can learn more by investigating their pages in their departments.

Please visit IGP Training Program to learn more about the first year curriculum.

Online Information Sessions

Join our Director of Recruitment and current Vanderbilt graduate students in a virtual information session on Zoom! We will cover basic information about the program and curriculum, what we are looking for in an applicant, and you will have an opportunity to ask questions of current graduate students in the IGP and QCB programs. Please register for any date and time that works for you.

• Monday August 11 @ 6 pm Central Time
• Wednesday August 27 @ 12N Central Time
• Tuesday September 9 @ 4 pm Central Time
• Monday September 29 @ 5 pm Central Time

What time is it where you are compared to Nashville, Tennessee Central Time (UTC-6)? Check here.

Building a Strong Application for Graduate School

In this Zoom workshop, the Director of Recruitment for Biomedical PhD programs will discuss the different aspects of the application, and will give examples of how to best highlight your experiences and motivations for graduate study in your application. Register for any date/time that works with your schedule.

• Tuesday August 19 @ 4 pm Central Time
• Wednesday September 3 @ 12N Central Time
• Thursday September 25 @ 7 pm Central Time
• Monday October 13 @ 4 pm Central Time

What time is it where you are compared to Nashville, Tennessee Central Time (UTC-6)? Check here.

Writing a Powerful Statement of Purpose

What makes a powerful and persuasive Statement of Purpose for your graduate school application? Here we will focus on this portion of the application and discuss how to show an admissions committee who you are and why you want to pursue a graduate degree. Register for any date/time that works with your schedule!

• Thursday September 4 @ 4 pm Central Time
• Monday September 15 @ 12N Central Time
• Tuesday October 7 @ 6 pm Central Time
• Wednesday October 15 @ 11 am Central Time

What time is it where you are compared to Nashville, Tennessee Central Time (UTC-6)? Check here.

2025 Biomedical Graduate Program Recruiting Fair Schedule

Would you like to meet a representative of our Biomedical Graduate programs? We would love to meet you too! We will be attending the following Graduate School Fairs. Please stop by so we can get to know you. You can also contact us with any questions you may have.

At Vanderbilt, fostering an environment where every individual feels valued, supported, and empowered to grow is at the core of who we are. We are committed to creating a community with the connections, varied viewpoints, and shared purpose that are necessary to tackle the complexities of an ever-changing world.