Earning your Ph.D. degree is a rigorous, multi-step process that involves meeting certain benchmarks in coursework and research. At the minimum, an average GPA of 3.00 or better must be maintained in your required courses. You’ll participate in research training, seminars, teaching activities, and more. As the program progresses, you’ll need to pass a qualifying exam and complete your doctoral dissertation. Learn more about the basic Ph.D. requirements, the major milestones of the program and specific track requirements below.
Ph.D. Degree Timeline
The average time to complete the Ph.D. degree ranges from four to six years. This timeline encompasses your academic and research journey as a Ph.D. student. For each stage there are policies and procedures you'll need to review, and forms to complete, such as for research rotations, qualifying exams, research conduct, and dissertations. Please see the GSBMS Policies page to review policies and procedures.
Curriculum
Ph.D. students complete the foundational core curriculum regardless of their track. You'll learn the principles of biochemistry and cell biology, as well as how to conduct rigorous biomedical research and statistical analysis. You'll also have the opportunity to take electives in areas like mammalian physiology, microbiology, and gene expression.
Students in the M.D.-Ph.D. program are eligible for Ph.D. candidacy under the same conditions as outlined here, however, the credit requirement, as well as the coursework, is different from the requirements for students in the IPP and advanced standing programs.
For detailed information on the goals and coursework in each separate discipline, visit the respective program page:
- Biochemistry Ph.D.
- Cell Biology Ph.D.
- Microbiology and Immunology Ph.D.
- Pathology Ph.D.
- Pharmacology Ph.D.
- Physiology Ph.D.
Advisors and Committees
Upon entry to the program, the Ph.D. Program Director for your specific program will serve as your Academic Advisor who will (a) provide guidance with regard to GSBMS regulations and procedures, (b) advise on course and rotation selection, and (c) monitor your progress in the program. The Principal Investigator of the research laboratory you have entered becomes your Dissertation Advisor.
Shortly after passing the Qualifying Exam, you will form your Dissertation Advisory Committee in consultation with your Dissertation Advisor and Program Director. This committee must consist of 4–5 graduate faculty members with expertise relevant to your dissertation project. With the approval of your Dissertation Advisor and Program Director, one external member—who is not part of NYMC or GSBMS—may also serve on the committee.
When you are ready to present your dissertation proposal, typically in your third year, the committee’s membership may be adjusted as needed. The Dissertation Advisory Committee should meet regularly to evaluate your progress and help ensure timely completion of your defense and graduation. Once the committee grants approval, you may begin writing your dissertation and preparing for the defense. The completed dissertation will be submitted to the Dissertation Advisory Committee for final review.
Students are also encouraged to seek additional advice from other faculty on a one-to-one basis.
Declaration of Discipline (Selection of Academic Program)
You'll declare your discipline and join the laboratory for dissertation research upon entry to the program. The Principal Investigator (NYMC Graduate Faculty member with mentor status) of the research laboratory the student joins for doctoral research becomes the student’s Dissertation Advisor.
Qualifying Exam
As a potential candidate for the Ph.D. degree, you are required to pass both the written and oral components of a comprehensive Ph.D. qualifying examination administered by your department’s faculty. This exam takes place no later than one semester after the completion of core and program-specific courses required by each respective program, and is the first major milestone in your journey towards earning your Ph.D. You will be evaluated on your performance on the exam and on an assessment of your potential to conduct independent research. Each exam will be constructed by the faculty of your specific program, but the format will conform to standards set by the GSBMS. The format shall include both written and oral components. You will be examined on knowledge of the core concepts of the chosen discipline, including the core biomedical concepts taught in the first year. You should also demonstrate an ability to think logically and critically and demonstrate an understanding of how the scientific method may be used to address unanswered questions in your field.
Study objectives and topic areas, including reading requirements, are assigned 2-3 months before the examination takes place.
The order in which written and oral components are completed, weight of written and oral component, and content of the examination, is program specific, but the overall scope and difficulty of the examination are comparable across the different programs.
Passing the exam indicates that you are prepared to undertake a doctoral dissertation and, therefore, will qualify for doctoral candidacy. Under certain circumstances, if your performance on the examination is unsatisfactory, you may be allowed to re-take the examination within six months. A second failure will result in termination from the program. Students who do not pass the qualifying exam will be dismissed from the Ph.D. program but will be eligible to receive a master’s degree, providing the appropriate requirements for that degree are fulfilled.
Other Required Activities
Departmental Seminar and Journal Club as well as Graduate Teaching Assistantships are taken by all Ph.D. students. Seminars include those presented by students and invited speakers. The Graduate Teaching Assistance course will allow you to gain valuable teaching experience by participating in ongoing courses as lecturers, small group facilitators, laboratory instructors in a structured didactic setting, review session leaders and other teaching opportunities that can be approved by your program’s director.
The laboratory training and research provide you with the skills and experience that lead to supervised independent research for your doctoral dissertation. After achieving candidacy, you will focus on your Doctoral Dissertation Research courses each semester.
Ph.D. students are also encouraged to participate in grant writing, preparation of publications, participation in research conferences, etc.
Candidacy
You are eligible to enter doctoral candidacy after successful completion of the qualifying examination, the accumulation of your didactic credits—including all required courses—and at the recommendation of the Program Director. Upon achieving candidacy, you will be able to work with your Dissertation Advisor and the Chair of your Dissertation Advisory Committee to develop a research proposal that will lead to a successful thesis and thesis defense.
Dissertation Research Proposal
The dissertation research proposal must be presented to the Dissertation Advisory Committee within one year of passing the qualifying exam and achieving doctoral candidacy.
The proposal should be developed in discussions with the Dissertation Advisor and the Chair of the Dissertation Advisory Committee. The written proposal should resemble a research grant (see Guidelines for Preparation of Dissertation Research Proposal) and must be submitted to the Dissertation Advisory Committee at least two weeks prior to the oral presentation.
Upon approval of the proposal, the student is authorized to proceed with the proposed research under the guidance of the Dissertation Advisor. The Dissertation Advisory Committee, in consultation with the student and Dissertation Advisor, may also request revisions or recommend modifications to the proposal.
Dissertation Progress Tracking
The Individual Development Plan (IDP) describes a student’s career goals and identifies professional activities needed to reach them. Each Ph.D. student is required to develop an IDP in consultation with their Dissertation Advisor within 3 months of joining the lab and update it annually (see IDP Guidelines).
Meetings with the Dissertation Advisory Committee are required to assess the student’s progress, based on oral presentations and Ph.D. Student Advisory Committee Reports. The committee, together with the student and Dissertation Advisor, must meet at least once each year. As the student nears the dissertation defense, meeting frequency may increase to twice per year. The committee may also be consulted as needed—either as a group or individually—to offer additional guidance, approve modifications to the research plan, or provide other support.
Dissertation Defense
The development of your dissertation is the central component of the Ph.D., and after months of research and preparation, you will be ready to defend your dissertation before the committee and the department. You shall provide the dissertation advisory committee with a final draft of the dissertation at least two weeks in advance of a public defense of the dissertation. Because a public presentation and defense of the dissertation research is an academic tradition and a Graduate School requirement, the dean must approve all proposed dissertation defense dates.
Completing the Program
If your didactic credits are fulfilled, GPA standards are maintained and all of your other academic and research requirements are complete, you will be on track to complete the program. The development of your dissertation is the central component of the Ph.D., and after months of research and preparation, you will be ready to defend your dissertation before the committee and the department. You are awarded your doctorate after completion of your research project, successful presentation before the dissertation committee, and certification from the committee that your defense is satisfactory.
M.D.-Ph.D. students must meet all requirements for the Ph.D. portion of their studies prior to beginning Phase Two of the SOM curriculum.
