Graduate Students

Harvard Graduate Students in HSCRB

HSCRB labs are home to students who are passionate about understanding the intricacies of stem cell, developmental, and regenerative biology. Our Ph.D. students are registered in a variety of programs across the university.

All Ph.D. students at Harvard are enrolled in the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS). The school provides academic, financial, and personal support to Ph.D. students throughout their careers at Harvard.

Integrated Life Sciences

Harvard’s graduate education philosophy promotes interdisciplinary collaboration in research. We encourage our students to explore a range of opportunities according to their research interests, no matter what Ph.D. program they join.

Flexibility and exploration in the life sciences is made possible by Harvard Integrated Life Sciences (HILS), which comprises 14 Ph.D. programs and subject areas across the university. HILS provides an easy way for life-science students to find and apply to the right programs. Through it, students can apply to up to three programs on a single application. HILS students may study with faculty across the University, including Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Medical School, and the T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Applying to Be a Graduate Student in HSCRB

Our graduate students are all advised by HSCRB faculty, but may be enrolled in one of many different programs (see below). If you are interested in stem cell and regenerative biology:

  1. Find out which of Harvard’s 14 life sciences PhD programs would be right for you.
  2. Consider whether you would like to boost your research experience before applying
  3. Apply to the program through Harvard Griffin GSAS.
  4. Each program will offer you an opportunity to select a lab, but the process and timing may differ.

Graduate Program in Developmental and Regenerative Biology

Academic Co-Directors: Professors Jeffrey Macklis and Trista North
Graduate students in the DRB program have a particular interest in understanding how life develops and regenerates. Developed and directed by HSCRB, DRB offers an exceptional educational experience, advanced training, and a supportive community. Its faculty members are affiliated with Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) and Harvard Medical School (HMS).

Other Graduate Programs

In addition to the DRB graduate program, Ph.D. students working in our department may be enrolled in any HILS program. In a typical year, our students might be enrolled in any of the following programs (listed A to Z):

Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics (BIG) trains future leaders in the field of bioinformatics and genomics by providing graduate students with the tools necessary to conduct original research in the development of novel approaches and new technologies to address fundamental biological questions.

Chemistry and Chemical Biology (CCB) graduate students choose faculty advisors and begin active research during their first year. They explore problems of intrinsic interest and importance at the frontiers of chemical science. With many opportunities for interdisciplinary studies, the program actively encourages interaction with other departments and groups, both within Harvard University and at other research centers in the Boston area.

The Molecules, Cells, and Organisms (MCO) graduate program cultivates versatility as well as depth of expertise by exposing its students to the full spectrum of modern biology. MCO provides training in all areas of modern biology. Its faculty members are affiliated with five scientific departments in Harvard’s FAS, as well as the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

The Program in Neuroscience (PiN) spans the neuroscience community throughout Harvard University. Our graduate students carry out their Ph.D. thesis research in laboratories in the Harvard Medical School Neurobiology department, Harvard-affiliated Hospitals, or HSCRB.

Systems Biology graduate students explore how higher-level properties of complex biological systems arise from the interactions among their parts. The program fuses concepts from many disciplines, including biology, computer science, applied mathematics, physics, and engineering.

Virology researchers at HMS conduct basic research defining new molecular structures of viruses and virus-encoded enzymes, new mechanisms within cells for molecular and organelle trafficking and function, and new mechanisms that control cell growth. This program provides extraordinary opportunities to conduct graduate studies on the frontier of biomedical science.

Guidance and Mentoring

Dr. Bill Anderson, Director of Education, leads the HSCRB team that provides guidance and mentoring to graduate students.

Maria Para, Undergraduate and Graduate Programs Administrator, coordinates graduate student research appointments, as well as course teaching fellow appointments.

Training to Teach

The Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning at Harvard University helps create transformational learning experiences, and is a source of inspiration and support for graduate students. The Bok Center supports experimentation, innovation, and evidence-based practices, and cultivates excellent instruction through training.
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