Biology & Biomedical Sciences

The Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences at Washington University offers exceptional doctoral education at one of the nation's preeminent biomedical research centers. The Division includes 12 doctoral programs:

  • Biochemistry, Biophysics, & Structural Biology
  • Biomedical Informatics & Data Science
  • Cancer Biology
  • Computational & Systems Biology
  • Developmental, Regenerative, & Stem Cell Biology
  • Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Cell Biology
  • Molecular Genetics & Genomics
  • Molecular Microbiology & Microbial Pathogenesis
  • Neurosciences
  • Plant & Microbial Biosciences

A collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to research and education is a hallmark of Washington University and the Division. As a university-wide consortium, the Division transcends departmental lines and removes traditional boundaries of scientific fields. Faculty and graduate students regularly cross disciplines, devising novel questions and approaches that might otherwise go unexplored. The Division consists of over 700 PhD and MD/PhD students, with more than 700 faculty members from 38 departments.

Washington University in St. Louis provides unique opportunities for translating basic science into practical application. In addition, the Division's associations with internationally prominent local institutions provide exciting opportunities. Students in the biomedical sciences enrich their work with the clinical perspective of our outstanding medical school; students in plant, population, evolutionary and ecological sciences benefit from our close affiliation with the internationally renowned Missouri Botanical Garden, the Tyson Research Center, and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.

To help prepare graduates for careers in academia, government, industry or another field of their choice, educational opportunities are offered for skills development and career exploration. The DBBS offers career-planning curriculum, and students can pursue noncredit elective credentials to build transferable professional skills in four areas that apply to a wide variety of scientific careers: leadership, entrepreneurship, science communication, and teaching. Through the Initiative for Maximizing Student Development Career Pathway Talks program, professionals from a variety of fields (e.g., biotech startups, patent law) provide presentations and Q&A sessions to students throughout the year. In addition — through partnerships with groups such as the Teaching Center, the Career Center, and student organizations such as ProSPER, InPrint, Sling Health, the BALSA Group, and the Young Scientist Program — students have additional opportunities to develop experiences relevant to their future career goals.

DBBS students can reference the DBBS Student Handbook for student guidelines across all Division programs.

Additional Information

Further information, including full program descriptions, may be obtained in the following ways:

Mailing address:
Division of Biology & Biomedical Science
Washington University in St. Louis
660 S. Euclid Ave., CB 8226
St. Louis, MO 63110

Physical location:
Bernard Becker Medical Library, Fourth Floor
660 S. Euclid Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110

Contact Info

Email:dbbsphdadmissions@wustl.edu
Website:http://dbbs.wustl.edu