Graduate Field
Biomedical and Biological Sciences
Program Description
The Biomedical and Biological Sciences (BBS) graduate program is an interdisciplinary program consisting of outstanding graduate students conducting state-of-the-art basic, clinical and translational life sciences research alongside their world-renowned faculty mentors and other research professionals. Housed in the heart of biomedical research at the Cornell-Ithaca campus in the College of Veterinary Medicine, the BBS program takes advantage of outstanding research facilities, the vibrant Cornell undergraduate campus and strong links to the Weill Cornell Medical College campus in New York City. The BBS program fosters a nurturing, student-centered community of scholars that is accessible, engaging, and committed to ensuring that our graduate students reach their full potential in research, teaching, and professional development. Students in the BBS field will select special committee chairs associated with one of five concentrations: immunology and infectious disease, molecular and cellular medicine, population medicine and epidemiology, translational medicine, and zoology and wildlife conservation.
Concentrations
Population Medicine and Epidemiology
Represents the study of health and disease in a population and the underlying factors that lead to these conditions. The goal of this research is to prevent the spread and/or future incidents of illness. As such, it is considered the cornerstone of public health, production medicine, and preventive medicine.
Immunology and Infectious Disease
The concentration of immunology and infectious disease has a substantial cadre of faculty members and students working in the areas of infection and immunity, cellular immunology, immune regulation, immunogenetics, and immunopathology. There are also members currently carrying out studies in the areas of immunotoxicology, membrane biochemistry, developmental immunology, immunoparasitology, and related fields.
Molecular and Cellular Medicine
Faculty and trainees are engaged in investigations of fundamental cellular processes and the mechanisms that control them in health and disease. Research projects range from molecular interactions, protein folding, and membrane biophysics to development and function of organ systems and whole animals. Fundamental research, using cutting-edge technologies, enables researchers at Cornell to make significant advances in broad scientific disciplines such as cell and developmental biology, genetics and genomics, neurobiology, pharmacology, and physiology.
Translational Medicine
Translational medicine seeks to leverage basic science discovery for the development of new therapies that will improve the health of animals and humans. Basic scientists and clinicians partner in drug and biomarker discovery, stem cell and regenerative medicine, and development of imaging technology to tackle problems in reproductive biology, infectious disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other clinically relevant areas.
Zoology and Wildlife Conservation
Zoology and wildlife conservation integrates two broad fields of biology: animal biology and conservation biology. Opportunities exist for study and research in comparative and functional anatomy, developmental biology, and comparative and experimental embryology. The survival of threatened and endangered species requires innovative and integrative ideas and approaches to wildlife conservation, and our faculty are those innovators – conservation studies focus on individual animals, species, and ecosystems.
Program Information
- Program Mode of Delivery: In Person
- Program Location: Ithaca, NY
Program Requirements
- Minimum semesters to degree: 8
Graduate School Milestones
- Responsible Conduct of Research Training: Required
- Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID): Required
- Student Progress Reviews (SPR) begin: First Year
- Examination for admission to candidacy (A Exam): before beginning their seventh semester of registration in the Ph.D. Program, typically by Fall of 3rd year
- Defense of Dissertation (B Exam): Spring of 7th year, average time to degree is 5.4 years
Field Specific Milestones
- Annual Individual Development Plan (IDP)
- Teaching experience in 2nd or 3rd year
Course Requirements
- BIOAP 6100 By Scientific Design: Skill Building for a Career in the Life Sciences (Fall 1st year)
- BIOAP 7100 By Scientific Design: Skill Building for a Career in the Life Sciences II (Spring 1st year)
- VTBMS 7200 Biomedical and Biological Sciences Seminar Work-in-Progress (WIP) for 4 years with satisfactory attendance and completion of evaluations
- Attendance at 8 seminars per semester (e.g. BBS3, M&I, CVG, stem cell, etc.).
- You should track your seminar attendance for use in your annual Student Progress Review (SPR)
- Ethics, which includes both BIOMG 7510 AND annual RCR training (BIOMG 7510 is offered in the spring and must be taken in year 2 or 3)
Graduate School Enrollment Requirements
Course Requirements
- Course requirements are determined by the student’s Special Committee.
- Enrollment in a GRAD research course or the equivalent field specific research course is expected of all students each semester through graduation. These courses include:
University Graduation Requirements
Requirements for All Students
In order to receive a Cornell degree, a student must satisfy academic and non-academic requirements.
Academic Requirements
A student’s college determines degree requirements such as residency, number of credits, distribution of credits, and grade averages. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the specific major, degree, distribution, college, and graduation requirements for completing their chosen program of study. See the individual requirements listed by each college or school or contact the college registrar’s office for more information.
Non-academic Requirements
Conduct Matters. Students must satisfy any outstanding sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed or agreed to under the Student Code of Conduct (Code) or Policy 6.4. Where a formal complaint under the Code or Policy 6.4 is pending, the University will withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the adjudication process set forth in those procedures is complete, including the satisfaction of any sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed.
Financial Obligations. Outstanding financial obligations will not impact the awarding of a degree otherwise earned or a student’s ability to access their official transcript. However, the University may withhold issuing a diploma until any outstanding financial obligations owing to the University are satisfied.
Learning Outcomes
A candidate for a PhD degree in the Biomedical and Biological Sciences (BBS) Graduate Program is expected to demonstrate mastery of knowledge in the field, and to contribute significant, original research to our understanding of biology within their sub-discipline. In so doing, the candidate will have demonstrated the following upon completion of the program:
- Made an original and substantial contribution to the field.
- Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of one area of expertise.
- Demonstrated a broad knowledge of theory and research across several subdisciplines in the field.
- Learned and followed ethical guidelines for working in the field.
- Written and spoken effectively to professional audiences about issues in the field.
Admissions
Application Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadlines
Fall, December 1
Requirements Summary
- All Graduate School requirements
- Statement of purpose
- This essay is an important part of your application and is your opportunity to tell the committee more about yourself. Please be sure to include a discussion of your past research experience. You can talk about one project or several, but focus on your role in each project. Please also describe your potential future research interests (if you have settled on any), and why you chose the BBS program for your Ph.D. degree.
- If there is anything else you think the committee should be aware of, please feel free to include that as well. If you would like to include the additional information separate from your statement of purpose you may upload a short (2-3 paragraph) additional writing sample.
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended must be uploaded to online application.
- English language proficiency requirement for all applicants. Learn about minimum scores and exceptions.
- Letters of recommendation: two letters minimum, four letters maximum. Alert your recommenders of the December 1 deadline.
- Resume - uploading a resume to your online application is optional.
Note: GRE test scores are no longer required for application to this program.
Admissions Contact Information
Email: BBS@cornell.edu
Phone: 607-253-3276
Campus Address: S3-009 Schurman Hall
Website: https://www2.vet.cornell.edu/education/biomedical-biological-sciences-bbs-phd-program
