About Us

The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) and its faculty are committed to the training of highly educated biomedical scientists. Our mission is to train the next generation of biomedical scientists to career excellence in academia and across the biomedical workforce. The landscape of science is rapidly changing, and GSBS graduates are well prepared to advance research in the complex world of biomedical science, flourishing in the current era of big data science and cutting-edge technology and contribute to the rapid pace of discovery.

Our scientists and trainees work together to solve problems of biomedical importance that span the translational spectrum from the most basic to bench-to-bedside research and beyond. We are committed to:

• provide outstanding graduate biomedical science education that prepares graduates to be future leaders in research, teaching, biotechnology and other science-based careers
• an emphasis on interdisciplinary training that integrates state of the art approaches to basic and clinical sciences
• interaction and cooperation among biomedical faculty, ensuring that both basic and clinical sciences come together to alleviate disease and suffering
• integration with the Tufts-wide scientific community, through research, educational programs and seminars that cross the boundaries of disciplines

Our location in the heart of the Health Sciences Campus of Tufts University in downtown Boston places our school in a vibrant environment that is also home to several Tufts University schools and institutes focused on health sciences. We share our campus with the School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition, and the USDA Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Institute on Aging. Tufts Medical Center, a major teaching partner of the School of Medicine, is also located on the Health Sciences Campus.

GSBS has partnered with the Jackson Laboratory (JAX) in Bar Harbor, Maine, to collaboratively offer Mammalian Genetics and Neuroscience programs at JAX. JAX is a premiere, non-profit institution for mammalian genetics and genomics research, focused on the study of health, disease, and treatment. 

Basic Science PhD Programs

• Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology
  • Structural & Chemical Biology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Cellular & Molecular Medicine
  • Developmental & Regenerative Biology
• Genetics
  • Mammalian Genetics @ The Jackson Laboratory
• Immunology
• Molecular Microbiology
  • Medically-oriented Research in Graduate Education: Infectious Disease
• Neuroscience
  • Neuroscience @ The Jackson Laboratory

Basic Science MS Program

• Pharmacology and Drug Development

Pipeline Programs

Building Diversity in Biomedical Sciences

The Building Diversity in Biomedical Sciences (BDBS) Program provides a mentored, 10-week summer research intensive experience for undergraduates who are interested in pursuing PhD or MD/PhD training upon completion of the baccalaureate degree.  Biomedical science is a rapidly evolving and engaging field that holds tremendous promise for discoveries that will change the lives of all people by improving detection and treatment of disease.  Our country benefits from the diversity of its citizens; a goal of our program is to ensure that the biomedical leaders of the future match this diverse profile.

Our trainees are fully supported by a stipend and receive on-campus housing during their training.  They also enjoy organized social activities that expose them to the Boston area and help build lasting relationships.

Post-Baccalaureate Research Internships

The Post-Baccalaureate Research Program (PREP) offers research training for recent graduates of undergraduate colleges and universities who are interested in pursuing research careers in the biomedical sciences. It is funded by a National Institute of Health grant designed to increase the number of people from groups currently under-represented in biomedical science research who enter research careers.

Most biomedical PhD training programs value applicants who have strong research experience. However, many people who wish to enter research training have not had the requisite experience. Some did not discover their passion for research until late in their undergraduate training. Others were in schools without adequate research opportunities and others had to work or focus on family responsibilities. The PREP program is designed to provide the research experiences that make its participants highly sought-after applicants for graduate schools. Tufts PREP trainees perform one to two years of fully supported research work on a hypothesis-driven research problem in a field of their choosing.

Combined MD/PhD Program

The Tufts University School of Medicine/GSBS MD/PhD program is designed for students who want to pursue careers that include both research and clinical practice. Students receive rigorous scientific training in addition to full academic and clinical training in the practice of medicine. This training program enables students to bridge the disparate cultures of scientific investigation and clinical medicine. Students may select from a dedicated group of over 200 faculty and obtain their PhD training in any of the Basic Science PhD programs offered by GSBS.

This program is supported by a Medical Scientist Training Program grant from the National Institutes of Health, a grant that was renewed last year for a full five-year cycle. All students receive full tuition scholarships and generous stipends throughout their training.

Recent matches have included:

• Child Neurology at Children's Hospital, Boston
• Psychiatry at University of California - San Diego Medical Center
• Diagnostic Radiology at Stanford University School of Medicine
• Internal Medicine at Northwestern University/McGaw Medical Center

All applicants to the MD/PhD program must first apply to the Tufts Medical School through AMP, and then complete a supplementary application for GSBS.

Applying to GSBS

Applications for the MS and PhD programs are accepted only through our online application portal, beginning in mid-September. The priority application deadlines, required materials, and a link to the online application are available on our website.The application fee is waived for Virtual Fair attendees; in your application, make sure to select your affiliation as “Event Attendee” and upload a screenshot of our conversation.

Financing Your Education

PhD and MD/PhD Students receive a full tuition waiver, single-coverage health insurance, and a living stipend. ($34,500 for the 2019-2020 academic year).

• stipends increase about $500 each year
• stipends are guaranteed as long as you are actively engaged in full-time effort on your research.