Department website: https://health.wvu.edu/research-and-graduate-education/graduate-education/phd-programs/biomedical-sciences/
Degrees Offered
- Doctor of Philosophy
Nature of the Program
A Ph.D. in the Biomedical Sciences at West Virginia University offers the student the unique opportunity to explore multiple disciplines and areas of research in the biomedical sciences but to also fast track into a dissertation laboratory and a graduate program within one semester. Earning the Ph.D. will be through one of the 8 degree granting programs in the Biomedical Sciences: Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Cancer Cell Biology, Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Clinical and Translational Sciences, Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Neuroscience, Pathophysiology, Rehabilitation, & Performance, and Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences. These programs share a common admission’s process and a common core curriculum in the first semester. Students will rotate through 3 laboratories during the fall semester and choose a mentor for a semester-long spring rotation. The dissertation mentor is finally selected at the end of the first year.
Doctoral study in these graduate programs allows the development of research and critical thinking skills as well as preparation in career development to prepare the student for entry into a myriad of careers in research, teaching, industry, government, and other positions that require specialized training at the graduate level.
All students will:
- start with an orientation that will prepare him/her to successfully transition into graduate studies, and to interact with an orientation adviser, faculty investigators, and current students;
- have the opportunity to match with a faculty mentor, or thesis or dissertation adviser through laboratory rotations during the first semester;
- have formal training in scientific writing;
- have the opportunity to participate in seminar series, workshops, experiential learning, and career-development sessions.
Faculty
Assistant Vice President for Graduate Education
- Julie Lockman - Ph.D.
Director, M.D./Ph.D. Program
- F. Heath Damron - Ph.D.
Director, Health Sciences Center Graduate Student Affairs
- Joseph Andria
Program Coordinator
- Logan Miller
Admissions for 2026-2027
All applications are accepted electronically and must be submitted electronically via the official WVU Graduate Education application: https://westvirginia.force.com/wvugrad/TX_SiteLogin?startURL=%2Fwvugrad%2FTargetX_Portal__PB.
Applications are reviewed beginning in November by a common admissions committee comprised of the graduate directors or faculty representatives of our eight Ph.D. graduate training programs and one or more senior graduate students. The Assistant Vice President for Graduate Education is an ex officio member. The deadline for receipt of applications is December 1st for admission in the Fall semester of the next academic year. Students are not admitted for the spring semester.
All students interested in one of the 8 Biomedical Ph.D. programs must apply through a common admissions portal. Choice of a specific graduate program occurs during the first year of graduate study after selection of an adviser for your dissertation research and choosing one of the degree granting programs. Applications include a Personal Statement, resume/CV, unofficial transcripts from all Colleges or Universities attended, and three letters of recommendation. If admitted, applicants must arrange to have official copies of transcripts sent directly to the WVU Office of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment, PO Box 6510, Morgantown, WV 26506-6510.
For maximum admissions consideration, we encourage applicants to apply as early as possible.
To review the programs and application process, please visit: https://health.wvu.edu/research-and-graduate-education/graduate-education/phd-programs/biomedical-sciences/
Major Code: 8344