PhD Biomedical Sciences (PIBS umbrella programme: Bioinformatics, Biological Chemistry, Cancer Biology, Cell and Developmental Biology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Genetics and at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Programme overview

The Program in Biomedical Sciences (PIBS) is an interdisciplinary umbrella gateway that coordinates admissions and first-year graduate studies for 14 PhD programmes with more than 500 faculty laboratories. Students explore research opportunities through rotations before choosing a permanent degree-granting programme at the end of the PIBS year, and are fully funded through defense and graduation.

Faculty: Medical School | Department: Program in Biomedical Sciences (PIBS) | Intake: Fall; applications open early September, deadline December 1 (December 1, 2026 for the class of 2027) | Study mode: full-time | Location: Ann Arbor, MI, United States

What you will study

The PIBS year has no official core curriculum: students complete research rotations (two per Fall and Winter term, PIBS 601-604), the PIBS Seminar Series (PIBS 800) and Research Responsibilities and Ethics (PIBS 503), plus recommended coursework for their programme(s) of interest. Second-year students take specialised coursework and sit qualifying examinations at the end of year two to reach candidacy.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

PIBS applicants apply through the Rackham Graduate School; one application covers all 14 participating PhD programs and only the first application received is considered. GRE scores are not required. Strong candidates have extensive laboratory research experience (including published abstracts or papers), strong letters of recommendation from lab mentors, motivation to pursue research in an interdisciplinary environment, and an excellent academic record. Applications are accepted from early September; all materials are due December 1 (11:59 pm EST). After review, applicants are either invited to interview or notified of a declined admission, and offers follow the interviews. Incoming class of 2026 averaged a 3.77 undergraduate GPA and 3.3 years of prior research experience.

Intake: Fall; application deadline December 1

Apply through the official page: https://rackham.umich.edu/admissions/applying/

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