Engage in profound scientific discovery through classroom and laboratory instruction led by members of the basic sciences departments and the affiliated hospital laboratories of the Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Division of Medical Sciences (DMS) at Harvard Medical School with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Harvard University offers six interdisciplinary programs leading to the PhD degree in the biomedical sciences: Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics (BIG), Biological and Biomedical Sciences (includes faculty from the Departments of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Phar­macology, Cell Biology, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Genetics, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Pathology, and additional faculty from other departments, hospitals and research institutes), and four programs with faculty from the medical school and university: Immunology, Neuroscience, Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology (SHBT) and Virology. These six programs share a common purpose: to foster a stimulating and supportive environment for research training in the biomedical sciences.

The Division of Medical Sciences was established at Harvard University in 1908. The Division was designed to provide students wishing to pursue careers in research and teaching with a broad education in basic biomedical science fields and specialization in one of them. Classroom and laboratory instruction are conducted primarily by the 450 faculty members of the basic sciences departments and affiliated hospital laboratories of the Harvard Medical School (HMS) in Boston. The Ph.D. degree is awarded by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) of Harvard University. For 100 years, this fruitful collaboration has spawned research achievements across the spectrum from basic science to experimental medicine. Since 1909, over 2,000 Division graduates, including six Nobel Laureates, have gone on to distinguished careers in biomedical research, university teaching, and a number of increasingly diverse careers.

Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics (BIG)

BIG is an inter-departmental Ph.D.  program that trains future leaders in the field of bioinformatics and genomics. Our mission is to provide our graduate students with the tools to conduct original research in the development of novel approaches and new technologies to address fundamental biological questions.

Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS)

BBS is an interdepartmental program, that offers interdisciplinary research training in the following areas: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, Pathology, Microbiology, Structural Biology, Pharmacology, Virology, and Developmental Biology.

Immunology

Immunology is an interdepartmental, multidisciplinary degree program. It operates on the principle that scientists working in modern Immunology must also have a general knowledge of Biochemistry, Genetics, and Cell Biology to work creatively in their field.

Neuroscience

Neuroscience is an interdepartmental program that links basic science and clinical faculties throughout the Harvard community.

Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology (SHBT)

SHBT is a tight-knit research community dedicated to multidisciplinary training in basic, clinical and applied approaches to the study of all aspects of human communication and the treatment of its disorders.

Virology

The Harvard Program in Virology provides extraordinary opportunities to conduct graduate study for the Ph.D. degree in these exciting areas of biomedical science.