The curriculum of the Biomedical Imaging and Technology PhD Training Program at NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences is designed to give students sound fundamental understanding of the basic principles of various imaging technologies together with hands-on experience in the development of imaging hardware and software. Students also have unique opportunities to conduct original research within interdisciplinary teams of scientists, clinicians, and industry partners.

In the first year, students can complete one or more rotations in our imaging laboratories. By the end of the first year, students who want to concentrate their training in biomedical imaging and technology choose a faculty mentor to guide them in selection of courses, formulation of a PhD thesis subject, and choice of a thesis committee.

By the end of the second year, most students are expected to have largely completed the coursework requirements. Upon passing the qualifying exam, students earn an MSc degree and are considered PhD candidates. From this point on, students tend to focus on their thesis research full time.

Around the time of the qualifying exam, each student selects a translational research team to serve as the thesis committee. This arrangement places you at the center of an interdisciplinary research group early on and allows you to learn how to operate effectively among basic scientists, clinicians, and industry developers in order to advance biomedicine and improve human health.

Sample Curriculum

Below is a typical curriculum for students in our program. For more information, view our PhD course catalog.

Year One

Ethics—Scientific Integrity and Responsible Conduct in Research
Fundamentals of MRI
Practical MRI 1
Research in Biomedical Imaging
Rigor and Reproducibility
Seminar in Biomedical Imaging
Elective Courses

Year Two

Advanced MRI
Data Analysis and Biostatistics with R
Grant Writing
Practical MRI II
Research in Biomedical Imaging
Seminar in Biomedical Imaging
Elective Courses

Qualifying Exam

Year Three

Research in Biomedical Imaging
Seminar in Biomedical Imaging
Thinking Strategically About Your Science Career (Individual Development Plans)

Year Four

Research in Biomedical Imaging
Seminar in Biomedical Imaging

Years Five to Six

Ethics Refresher
Research in Biomedical Imaging
Seminar in Biomedical Imaging

PhD Thesis Defense (Kerberos ID and password required)

Popular Elective Courses

Deep Learning in Medicine
fMRI Lab
Machine Learning
Medical Imaging
Neuroanatomy
Tutorial in Biomedical Imaging

Seminars

In addition to the required Seminar in Biomedical Imaging, students are welcome to attend other lectures in an ongoing radiology research forum as well as seminars on machine learning in radiology and on in vivo imaging of microstructure. Our joint research centers also hold regular group meetings dedicated to pulse-sequence design, image reconstruction, and radiofrequency engineering, all of which are open to graduate students.