We work collaboratively with the UAB Graduate School to support training the next generation of scientists and physician-scientists who will make significant contributions to fundamental, clinical, and translational discoveries. Graduate students work with expert faculty across the school and have access to state-of-the-art equipment in collaborative research and clinical environments.

Anatomical Science (MS)

The Master of Science in Anatomical Science is an anatomy-pedagogic-research degree with an emphasis in preparing scholars to teach anatomy at the college level. Our goal is to equip individuals with the skills required to teach in the anatomical sciences and thereby help to meet a rapidly growing need for anatomists in multiple health-care focused programs and courses.

Biomedical and Health Sciences Program (MS)

The integrated curriculum is organ-based, and modeled after the first two years of the School of Medicine curriculum. Students interact with and learn from faculty who teach in various professional programs, including UAB’s medical school, dental school, and Physician Assistant Studies program.

Graduate Biomedical Sciences

The Graduate Biomedical Sciences program offers eight interdisciplinary PhD training themes.

Biochemistry & Structural Biology Theme (PhD)

BSB provides training opportunities in a multitude of contemporary areas of basic and translational research. Our goal is to prepare our students for independent research careers in academic research institutions and industry. Our students have access to a large pool of mentors from across UAB with expertise in varied research areas, specializing in:

Cancer Biology Theme (PhD)

The Cancer Biology Theme provides training opportunities in multiple and contemporary areas of cancer research. Outstanding basic and translational research faculty from various schools, departments, and centers participate in training the next generation of basic and translational cancer researchers.

Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology Theme (PhD)

CMDB is designed to provide maximum flexibility that prepares students to launch into a career in the dynamic field of biomedical science. Our graduates have exciting careers in scientific research in both academic and industrial settings, scientific-related writing, business, law, forensics, administration, and education. Explore the many possible opportunities offered by CMDB at UAB and apply today!

Genetics, Genomics, & Bioinformatics Theme (PhD)

The GGB theme provides flexible, didactic, and integrated training opportunities across the broad disciplines of genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics. Our goal is to prepare students for independent research careers in experimental and computational disciplines, or the combination of those in academic research institutions and industry. To support this broad subject, the academic departments at UAB offer a large pool of mentors with expertise in varied research areas. The research interests of our mentors and students span the fields of genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, cancer biology, biochemistry, cell biology, developmental biology, immunology, and neuroscience. In addition, we teamed up with the UAB Informatics Institute and HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology to accommodate training in their specific areas.

Immunology Theme (PhD)

Immunology plays such an important role in the ongoing research endeavor at UAB that Inflammation, Infection, and Immunity (I3) was recently named as one of the five pillars of emphasis in the strategic plan for the Heersink School of Medicine. UAB has immunology research programs that span the entire breadth of the immune system — including innate immunity, lymphocyte biology and mucosal immunology — as well as many aspects of clinical immunology — including transplantation, rheumatology, infectious diseases, neuroimmunology and asthma/allergy (a combination rarely seen at most universities or research centers). 

Microbiology Theme (PhD)

The Microbiology Theme emphasizes the study of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Over 60 faculty members from the Departments of Microbiology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Genetics, Pathology, Medicine, Pediatrics, and Dentistry are involved in internationally renowned research and the training of PhD students. UAB has rapidly become a major center for biomedical research and ranks among the most prestigious research institutions in the world.

Neuroscience Theme (PhD)

The Neuroscience Theme provides training opportunities in multiple and contemporary areas of neuroscience research — from fundamental discovery science at the molecular, cellular, systems, and behavioral levels, to translational studies in cellular and animal models of diseases of the nervous system. Outstanding research faculty from various schools, departments, and centers participate in training the next generation of neuroscientists.

Pathobiology, Pharmacology, & Physiology Theme (PhD)

P3 provides our graduate students the broadest training within the emerging and exciting field of molecular medicine. We have a flexible, didactic, integrated educational program directed by faculty with diverse research interests ranging from molecules to whole organisms and disease processes to new therapies.

Neuroengineering (PhD)

We teamed up with the School of Engineering to develop a program that will prepare you to develop novel therapeutics, neuroprosthetics, and other tools to restore lost brain function and improve patient outcomes. You'll start with a foundation in engineering analysis, signal processing and imaging with neuroscience, neuropathology, and neural dynamics. Then, you'll get to dive into your chosen concentration through a series of advanced elective courses on engineering and neuroscience topics.