Future Students

Student in research lab.

How It Works

The PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (PPBS) allows you to experience different fields of research and laboratories before selecting a specialty area.

This fully-funded program provides an entry portal and a common first-year curriculum, equipping you with core knowledge and concepts to support your pursuit of a doctoral degree in one of our several participating disciplines. As a PhD student, you'll join one PhD program after your first year, while still collaborating across research areas.

PhD Program Options

  • Biochemistry
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biomedical Informatics
  • Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics
  • Microbiology and Immunology
  • Neuroscience
  • Oral Biology
  • Pathology and Anatomical Sciences
  • Pharmacology and Toxicology
  • Physiology and Biophysics
  • Structural Biology

Research Areas

  • Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry, Cellular Biology, and Molecular Biology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biomedical Informatics
  • Biophysics
  • Cancer Biology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Computational Cell Biology, Anatomy, and Pathology
 
  • Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics
  • Immunology and Inflammation
  • Microbial Pathogenesis
  • Neurobiology of Disease
  • Pharmacology and Addiction
  • Physiology and Pathophysiology
  • Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
  • Structural Biology and Protein Science
Explore Research Areas

Experience a Multidisciplinary Way of Thinking

All PPBS faculty members have a primary appointment in one of 11 departments or programs, which are built around our research areas. The interdisciplinary nature of our research means that faculty share interests, expertise and techniques with faculty from other programs. These themes identify common areas of research and potential areas of collaboration.

Research Areas

  • Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience
    7/31/25
    The study of behavioral and cognitive neuroscience focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying behavior and cognition. This is a multimodal scientific discipline that uses animal and human techniques to study the neural substrates of behavior and cognition in health and disease.
  • Biochemistry, Cellular Biology and Molecular Biology
    2/2/22
    This research area explores the foundation of biological processes and normal and abnormal states at the cellular and subcellular level using biochemical, molecular and genetic techniques.
  • Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
    9/11/23
    The common theme for this research area is the primary use of computational approaches, including computer science, information engineering, mathematics, and statistics, to analyze and interpret biological data and to understand important biological and biomedical systems.
  • Biomedical Engineering
    11/9/21
    Researchers in this field use engineering problem-solving skills to develop new approaches and devices to improve human health. 
  • Biomedical Informatics
    10/12/21
    This is the interdisciplinary field that studies and pursues the effective uses of biomedical data, information and knowledge for scientific inquiry, problem solving and decision making, motivated by efforts to improve human health.
  • Biophysics
    10/12/21
    Our biophysics researchers blend the skills of physics, chemistry, math, structural biology and engineering to address health issues in the biomedical sciences. It is based on the premise that quantitative techniques provide unique and fundamental insights that advance scientific discovery.
  • Cancer Biology
    8/26/25
    The study of cancer biology includes the study of a variety of aspects of oncogenesis and cancer treatment, including the study of tumor formation, growth and metastasis, as well as the development of cancer therapeutics.
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
    10/12/21
    This area of research studies the cellular processes of neurons and glia at a molecular level to seek an understanding of the fundamental mechanisms that underlie communication in the nervous system. This broad field employs a multidisciplinary approach to study nervous system development and function.
  • Computational Cell Biology, Anatomy and Pathology
    10/12/21
    Our faculty members who specialize in computational cell biology, anatomy and pathology employ a wide variety of genetic, cellular, molecular and state of the art computational imaging techniques to examine biological structures of cells, tissues and organisms in human biomedicine.
  • Genomics
    9/11/23
    This research area uses comprehensive and specialized studies that integrate genome-wide approaches and genetic models to answer important questions about development and human disease.
  • Immunology and Inflammation
    8/26/25
    The study of immunology and inflammation involves the latest genetic, biochemical and imaging tools in conjunction with -omics approaches to investigate the function of the immune system, its regulation and the pathological consequences of dysregulation due to mutation, infectious or autoimmune disease, as well as aging.
  • Microbial Pathogenesis
    2/10/22
    Experts in microbial pathogenesis use cutting-edge techniques in cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry and bioinformatics to study how bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi are able to engage with their host and cause disease. Researchers in this field study ways to identify novel targets for life-saving therapies.
  • Neurobiology of Disease
    10/12/21
    Researchers who study the neurobiology of disease focus on the neural systems, cells and molecules involved in neurological diseases including neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disease, as well as traumatic injury to the nervous system. This discipline seeks to understand the mechanisms of these diseases in order to develop new therapies. 
  • Pharmacology and Addiction
    10/12/21
    This area of research includes the study of drug discovery, toxicology and endocrinology, and it also includes the interaction of drugs with targets, cells, tissues, as well as the metabolic and physiologic responses of the organism to these interactions. 
  • Physiology and Pathophysiology
    10/12/21
    Researchers in these disciplines study how cells, tissues and organs of the body communicate and work together to maintain the body’s functional capacities in health and disease, using state-of-the-art computational, genomic, proteomic, cell biological and physiological techniques. These research areas provide fundamental insights that form the foundations of health care (translational research).
  • Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
    2/2/22
    This area of research has the potential to revolutionize modern medicine by providing the building blocks for tissue regeneration. Successful translation of stem cell breakthroughs into cell therapies requires interdisciplinary approaches that draw from biology, medicine and bioengineering.
  • Structural Biology and Protein Science
    10/12/21
    The study of structural biology and protein science aims to investigate biomedical processes and diseases from the perspective of biological macromolecules with a goal of understanding how protein sequence and structure relate to biological and biochemical function in important cellular processes. 

Put Your Passion Into Practice

Our well-structured interdisciplinary curriculum gives you the opportunity to participate in a spectrum of state-of-the-art research with accomplished UB faculty. Our approach helps you make an informed decision about selecting a research focus—a decision that will shape your career, whether in academia, industry or government.

Whatever you are interested in studying, you will have the chance to start training in a research lab right away. From discovering your interests, to refining your techniques, our program gives you the training necessary to become a great scientist.

Student in research lab using pipettes.
Research News
How Lab Rotations Work
Meet our Students

Individual Approach, Individual Attention

Graduate students benefit from a training structure where answers to scientific questions are provided by faculty from a variety of disciplines and scientific fields. The collegiality of our faculty further contributes to your successful pursuit of educational and scientific goals.

Broad-based expertise

Our faculty include about 160 individuals in the basic sciences alone with diverse research interests encompassing all aspects of modern biomedical science. Physician-scientists in the clinical departments pursue translational research in a variety of fields and often have adjunct appointments in the basic sciences for collaborative research and educational interactions.

Respected Contributors

Our faculty are expert reviewers on research study sections of the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and others. They serve on editorial boards and publish in leading journals such as:

  • Nature
  • Journal of Biological Chemistry
  • Endocrinology
  • Cell
  • The American Journal of Physiology and Science

Competitive Funding

Faculty members are competitive for grants from numerous professional and philanthropic research organizations including:

  • The National Institutes of Health
  • The National Science Foundation
  • The John R. Oishei Foundation
Research Centers
Meet our Faculty
Research Areas

How to Apply to Grad School

How to Apply to Grad School Workbook cover.

Are you looking for a fulfilling career, but know you'll need more training? That next step can be intimidating, so we guide you through the process. With our faculty experts by your side, you'll master current concepts and research skills, empowering you with the confidence to launch a successful career in the biomedical sciences.

Download our workbook today, and we'll walk you through our 5 tips to prepare you for success!

Download the Free Workbook!

How to Apply to Grad School YouTube Series

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How to Choose a Mentor Workbook

Is selecting a research mentor in your near future? Already feeling overwhelmed by the process?

Don't worry, we've compiled a workbook just for you! How to Choose a Mentor: 7 Steps to Find the Perfect Match is available to download at the link below.

You'll learn what makes a good mentor, how to prioritize your wishlist, how to craft an introductory email, and so much more. Download your workbook, and get started today!

Workbook for non-UB Graduate Students
Workbook for Current UB Graduate Students
How to Choose a Mentor Workbook cover.

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