Research MS and PhD Program

Vanderbilt DBMI’s MS and PhD in Biomedical Informatics is an internationally recognized research program, in which students actively engage in high quality research mentored by DBMI’s 60+ faculty. As a result, DBMI students have achieved outstanding publication records, as well as numerous recognitions from national organizations. Candidates with prior training in the computational and biosciences are preferred. Funding opportunities include our National Library of Medicine Biomedical Informatics Training Grant and postdoctoral research fellowships, as well as the VA Post Doctoral Fellowship in Medical Informatics & Quality Improvement.

Students who enter the MS and PhD degree programs typically have a background in one of the health professions (e.g., MD, DO, RN, DDS, or an MS or PhD in a health-related area such as psychology or biostatistics) or with a background in computing, engineering, biology, or mathematics. After graduation they pursue careers as full-time academic researchers, part-time academic researchers/part-time clinicians, scientific managers in industry, advanced scientists in industry, information managers in health care settings, consultants or entrepreneurs.

Applications for MS & PhD programs are being accepted for Fall 2019. We welcome you to explore our website to learn more about our programs and contact us with your questions.

New Vanderbilt Big Biomedical Data Science (BIDS) PhD Training Program

Beginning in Fall 2019 Vanderbilt University’s Big Biomedical Data Science (BIDS) Training Program will 1) provide matriculating PhD students with access to a diverse array of real big biomedical data sets, software tools, and applications at Vanderbilt (and interdisciplinary collaborations) and 2) integrate courses and faculty from across the institution to ensure that the students are well-versed in the foundational competencies of computation, statistics, and biomedical science that are necessary to achieve reproducible success in this field.  The program has been formed as a new Data Science Track within the existing Vanderbilt Biomedical Informatics PhD program. For more information about this exciting new program, see the Big Biomedical Data Science link on the right.

Applications for Fall 2019 are now being accepted. For more information about applying, follow the Application & Admissions link on the right.

MD/PhD and MD/MS Program

Our Department participates in the combined MD/PhD and MD/MS programs offered at Vanderbilt School of Medicine. Medical students who are enrolled or accepted to the one of the combined programs can pursue an MS or PhD in Biomedical Informatics. Students must apply to and be accepted by both programs.