NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Computational Biomedicine PhD Training Program includes coursework, seminars, practica, and research.

Core Courses

Of the courses offered to all PhD candidates at the Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, students in the computational biomedicine training program often take the following. For more information, view our PhD course catalog.

Computational Biomedicine Seminar
Introduction to Research
Topics in Molecular Biology

Choice of Two of the Following

Applied Sequencing Informatics
Bioinformatics
Deep Learning in Biomedicine
Introduction to Health Informatics
Machine Learning
Methods in Quantitative Biology

Recommended Elective Courses

The following elective courses are suggested for candidates in our program.

Advanced Integrative Omics
Applied Sequencing Informatics
Bioinformatics
Clinical Decision Support
Consulting in Biomedical Informatics
Deep Learning in Biomedicine
Evaluation Methods for Predictive Risk Models
Introduction to Health Informatics
Machine Learning
Methods in Quantitative Biology
Proteomic Informatics

Seminars

The Works in Progress Series, which current students can learn more information about by logging into our student community with their Kerberos ID, hosts student presentations on computational biomedicine. Students present ongoing research, receive feedback from peers and faculty, and learn about other research projects.

Research

The principal element of our doctoral program is the completion of a substantial, scholarly, original, and independent research study. The final basis for the conferral of the doctorate is the successful presentation and defense of a dissertation on this research before an examining committee.

Typical Curriculum

You work with a mentoring faculty member to create a plan that reflects your experience and research interests. The following represents a typical curriculum.

Year One: Fall Semester

Ethics
Fundamental Research Skills and Tools
Introduction to Research
Machine Learning
Topics in Molecular Biology

Year One: Spring Semester

Two elective courses

Year Two: Fall Semester

Bioinformatics
Computational Biomedicine Research
Computational Biomedicine Seminar
Elective course

Year Two: Spring Semester

Computational Biomedicine Research
Computational Biomedicine Seminar
Elective course
Grant Writing

Year Three and Beyond

Computational Biomedicine Research
Computational Biomedicine Seminar
Thinking Strategically About Your Scientific Career (Individual Development Plan)

Current students can download forms for the qualifying exam, committee meeting reports, and important information on thesis defenses and graduation by logging into our student community with their Kerberos ID.

Other Requirements

Beyond coursework and research, you participate in activities that include an annual retreat.

Annual Retreat

Each year, the Computational Biomedicine PhD Training Program hosts a faculty and student retreat. During half-day work sessions, students present their work and plan future endeavors. Following each work session, students can socialize with peers and faculty and receive feedback on their presentations. All students are required to attend.

Mentoring

Kelly Ruggles, PhD, graduate advisor, and David Fenyo, PhD, program director, provide overall guidance to all students in the program.

After completing two to three lab rotations, you select an academic mentor, who is the primary advisor for your thesis, with the help of the graduate advisor and administrative director.

The academic program committee oversees execution of the curriculum and monitors individual student progress. In addition, the committee gives feedback on this progress to both student and mentor. Corrective guidance is offered if needed. The committee also provides an annual program evaluation report to the academic director and administrative director of the program.

Each student is assigned an individual mentoring committee, made up of at least three Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences faculty members, including at least one from the computational biomedicine program. The mentoring committee guides the student on research projects.