Biomedical Graduate StudiesUniversity of Pennsylvania

Susan R. Ross, PhD, DirectorArnaldo Diaz, PhD

• Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics• Cell & Molecular Biology

• Microbiology, Virology, Parasitology• Genetics and Gene Regulation• Gene Therapy and Vaccines• Dev., Stem Cell & Regenerative Biol.• Cell Biology and Physiology• Cancer Biology

• Epidemiology/Biostatistics• Genomics/Computational Biology• Immunology• Neuroscience• Pharmacology

Biomedical Graduate Studies

Perelman School of Medicine

Dental Medicine

Veterinary Medicine

Nursing

Art & Sciences

Engineering & Applied Sciences

Wharton

Wistar Institute

Institute for Cancer Research/FCCC

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

NIH IntramuralProgram

(Immunology)

Mission of BGS

To recruit top-quality graduate students in the biomedical sciences

To provide students with advanced, comprehensive, interdisciplinary training and career preparation

BGS Students and Faculty

• 754 Students– 598 PhD– 139 MD-PhD– 17 VMD-PhD

• 653 Faculty– 76% in the School of

Medicine– 24% in other Schools

and Institutes

Admissions• Online Application https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=upenn-gmed.• Statement of purpose• Research statement• Resume/CV• Three (3) letters of recommendation• Transcripts from all institutions attended• Test scores sent directly from the testing service

o General GRE for all applicantso TOEFL for students for whom English is not the native

languageo BGS does not require any GRE subject tests

Admissions• Uniform Criteria and Admissions Process for all Graduate Groups• High Potential and Commitment to Career in Biomedical

Research– Research Experience Required– Letter(s) of Recommendation from a Research Supervisor

(preferably PI/Lab head)– Interview at Penn by members of Graduate Group

• 2011 Admissions– 1216 app./256 admit/112 matric.– GREs 620V - 750Q - 4.5W– GPAs 3.67

• Applicant Interviews Arranged by graduate groups• Central BGS Admissions Committee for Evaluating

Applicants• All Offers Fully-Funded –stipend, tuition, health

insurance

Admissions

Year 5+

Year 1 Year 2

Years 3 & 4Thesis Completion

Talks & Presentations

Scientific Meetings

Postdoc Search

Core Courses (cell biology, gene regulation)

Grad Group Specific Courses

Seminars / Retreats

Lab Rotations

Grad Group Specific Electives

Preliminary Exam

Seminars / Retreats

Lab Research

Thesis Research

Seminars / Retreats

Scientific Meetings

Lab

Rota

tion

Prep

cla

ss

Graduate School Career

Graduate School Curriculum

• Pre-dissertation - 18 months Required and Elective Courses 3 (or more) one semester long lab rotations

• Preliminary Examination - end of second year

• Dissertation Thesis Advisor Thesis Committee

• Thesis Defense Public Lecture Thesis Committee (and External Member)

• Responsible Conduct of Research - Annual

Combined PhD/Certificate Programs

HHMI Med into Grad Scholars (HMGS) Program• To provide training in human biology and physiology to basic science PhD

students • To prepare students to effectively interact with clinical scientists to address

medical relevant research problems• Funded by the HHMI

Public Health Certificate Program (PHCP) • To provide training in population-based approaches and applications for PhD

students in molecular, cellular, and biochemical sciences• To prepare students for careers in academic, industrial, and government

institutions

Certificate Program in Environmental Health SciencesTo provide training to span the disciplines of translational environmental health sciences

BGS-Sponsored Special Events and Career Development

• Career Counseling - Career Fair (With OPP), Seminar Series, Workshops

• Saul Winegrad Awards for Distinguished Dissertations• Convocation, Commencement Ceremonies• BGS Supports Graduate Group-Organized Seminars &

Retreats• Funding for travel to scientific conferences or special courses

Grad Student Organizations• BGSA (http://www.med.upenn.edu/bgsa/)

– Organizes career sessions and talks– Social events – Represents BGS at University-wide GS meetings

• EE Just (http://www.med.upenn.edu/eejust/)– Network for URM students– Organizes seminars– Social Events

• Grad Student Center• Career Services

Other BGS Programs

Summer Undergraduate Internship Program in the Biological Sciences (SUIP)

Summer Undergraduate Internship Program (SUIP)

• 10 week summer research rotation (Stipend, housing, travel to Penn)

• Seminars

• Career planning

• Bioethics training

• Leadership Alliance Conference

• Social events

Applying to SUIP

Applicants should submit the following: 1) Online application form http://www.med.upenn.edu/bgs/intern/index.html

2) Statement detailing your career goalswhich broad areas of biomedical science you are interested in researching this summer

3) Description of your research experience and/or lab courses you have taken

4) Two letters of recommendation from academic faculty or advisors

5) Official undergraduate transcript. Please include your Fall grades.

Areas of Research

Broad areas of research interest include:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics• Cell and Molecular Biology

Cell Biology and Physiology Cancer Biology Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative

Biology Genetics and Gene Regulation Gene Therapy and Vaccines Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology

• Genomics and Computational Biology• Immunology• Neuroscience• Pharmacology

Leadership Alliance National Conference

http://www.theleadershipalliance.org/

Penn Annual SUIP Research Symposium

2011 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students

From Left to Right: Anamaria Alexandrescu; Melissa Jarmel; Monica Thomas; Jose Vargas Muniz; Meilin Fernandez; Alejandro Arroyo Pachecho; Jesus M. Ayala

Other BGS Programs

Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Preparation Program (PennPrep)

Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Preparation Program (PennPrep)

• 1 to 2 years research experience (Stipend and health insurance)

• 1 graduate level course/semester

• Career planning

• Bioethics training/ Safety training

• GRE preparation

• Scientific Seminars

• Graduate School application preparation

• National Conference (ABRCMS, SACNAS, etc)

• Social events

Applying to PREP

Applicants should submit the following: 1) Online application form

2) Statement detailing science background, coursework, and any relevant research experience description of your interest in a research career justification as to why PREP program will fulfill your goals

3) Three letters of recommendation from academic faculty or advisors

4) Official undergraduate transcript

Useful Web Sites

• U of P: http://www.upenn.edu• Biomedical Graduate Studies:

http://www.med.upenn.edu/bgs/• City of Philadelphia general information:

http://www.gophila.com/regionalinfo/

Arnaldo J. Diaz, Ph.D.Recruitment and Special Programs

Biomedical Graduate Studies(email) diaza@mail.med.upenn.edu

(work) 215.898.2794(fax) 215.898.2671

http://www.med.upenn.edu/bgs/