The Laney Graduate School - Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
The Laney Graduate School and the Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
The Laney Graduate School is home to over 40 PhD Programs spanning the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Most students working in biomedical fields are in programs based in the Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (GDBBS), a Division of the graduate school that includes eight interdisciplinary, interdepartmental graduate programs. These programs include:
- Biochemistry, Cell, and Developmental Biology
- Cancer Biology
- Genetics and Molecular Biology
- Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis
- Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
- Molecular and Systems Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
- Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution
Around 400 PhD students receive their training in the labs of over 360 faculty members who are located across all of the major academic units on campus. Students also have the opportunity to work with faculty members at Emory National Primate Research Center, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Veterans Administration Medical Center. Students are enrolled in a specific program that fits their broad interests. Due to the interdepartmental nature of the programs in the GDBBS students work with faculty from many different departments, which provides a truly interdisciplinary training experience. The programs offer a well-defined course of study, a small cohort of entering students in each program, and a community of faculty who are all invested in the success of each student.
Institutional support for graduate education at Emory is very strong. Successful applicants enrolling in GDBBS Programs receive 21 months of full support from institutional funds and are supported by research grants, training grants, or other individual fellowships for the remainder of their training. Several of the Programs are affiliated with a pre-doctoral training grant, typically from the National Institutes of Health.
The School of Medicine’s MD/PhD Program provides the opportunity for exceptionally bright and dedicated students to acquire both clinical and basic research training in order to pursue challenging careers in academic medicine. The Program is designed to provide students with the in-depth, high-caliber research training and medical education required of future leaders in biomedical research. Students are enrolled in both the Laney Graduate School and the School of Medicine during the approximately seven years required to complete both degrees in the Program. Many MD/PhD students select a Program within the GDBBS for the PhD component of their degree. The MD/PhD Program is funded in part through the National Institutes of Health’s Medical Scientist Training program. Additional support derives from Emory University, the School of Medicine, and the Laney Graduate School.
Students in GDBBS Programs receive training in critical thinking, creative problem solving, effective communication, and technical skills relevant to their field, all in preparation for successful careers in academic or nonacademic venues. Some GDBBS students continue their training as postdoctoral fellows at top research institutions around the world. Other students choose positions in industry, scientific communication, public policy, commercialization, education and outreach, nonacademic lab science, and more. Professional development and career planning activities help enable students to make informed decisions for their career path, and help to prepare them for the career of their choice.