Our Biomedical Science Graduate Program (BSP) includes 300+ faculty under the diversity of an umbrella program that includes some of the most elite programs at the University of Iowa, and several of the programs are ranked in the top 15 nationwide. After the first year, our students matriculate into one of seven subprograms. 

The programs interface closely with the highly ranked UI Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), and host the MD/PhD students for the PhD phase of their training.

The combined programs have:

• More than a half dozen NIH T32 training grants.
• Outstanding completion rates, time to degree, and post-degree placement success.

Well-funded and highly visible training faculty from 26 basic science and clinical departments in the CCOM, and from other biomedical-related departments across the campus (e.g., Biology, Engineering, Psychology), participate in training graduate students. A high proportion of the training faculty are clinician-scientists, providing graduate students uncommon opportunities to gain experience with clinical populations relevant to their bench science.

The programs attract stellar applicant pools each year, and matriculation is highly competitive and selective. Students across the biomedical sciences have a long history of:

• Success in winning extramural funding, including prestigious NRSA (F30, F31) and NSF fellowships.
• Being competitive for traditional career outcomes (e.g., independent scientist positions at research-intensive institutions).
• Being competitive for other career outcomes where PhD training is vital (e.g., teaching positions at liberal arts colleges and universities, research positions in biotechnology and industry, administrative positions in government, and media positions).

Please refer to the left side navigation links and discover information about our subprogram faculty, current students, and more!