Biomedical Science

Biomedical Science

Biomedical science combines the fields of biology and medicine to focus on the health of both animals and humans, delving into fields such as cell and molecular biology, neuroscience, and toxicology, with classroom and hands-on experience through laboratory work and research.

PH.D. IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE

The Ph.D. in Biomedical Science is offered through the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering (GSBSE), which is a multidisciplinary research consortium connecting four external research organizations with the University of Maine as the degree-granting institution. The GSBSE contributes to learning and discovery on the emerging frontier of the biological, physical, clinical, and behavioral sciences, preparing new faculty, training scientists and engineers, and furthering Maine’s biotechnology and biomedical infrastructure.

WHY GET YOUR PH.D. IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE?

The Biomedical Science program at UMaine connects affiliated faculty from over a dozen departments across the University and challenges students to make transdisciplinary connections. GSBSE-affiliated faculty at UMaine receive research funding from a variety of external sources, including the NIH, NSF, FDA, and private industry.

program highlights

research & publication opportunities

Student research findings are disseminated through national and international conferences, publications in high-profile scientific journals, and patent literature. Numerous research opportunities and a generous stipend combine to create a highly competitive Ph.D. program. 

t32 training grant

The University of Maine Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering is home to a T32 training grant entitled “Transdisciplinary predoctoral training in Biomedical Science and Engineering” from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. The purpose of this grant is to support promising predoctoral students who have an interest in transdisciplinary research and team science and provide additional pre-doctoral training opportunities.

diverse options for dissertation mentors

Students admitted to the GSBSE can choose a dissertation mentor from over 150 faculty located at world-class research and educational institutions. Student access to courses, as well as faculty, is achieved through a high-end video conferencing system. 

what will i study?

To graduate, GSBSE Ph.D. students must complete at minimum 30 credits of courses divided into three categories:

  • 15 credits of mandatory courses
  • 5 credits of project-specific courses
  • A minimum of 10 research credits

There are four mandatory courses that all GSBSE Ph.D. students are required to complete. The first course is Foundations of Biomedical Science and Engineering (BMS 625) and is comprised of a series of four modules that provide a framework for an introduction to research in the field of Biomedical Science and Engineering:  Genetics, Biostatistics/Computational Biology, Biochemistry, and Animal Physiology. The second course must pertain to biocomputing or biostatistics (e.g. BMB 502 Introduction to Bioinformatics). The third course must pertain to bioethics and scientific conduct (e.g. BMS 605: Responsible Conduct of Research). The fourth course is the Grant Writing course (BMS 650) usually taken in the Fall of the second year.

Additionally, all GSBSE Ph.D. students are required to complete at minimum 5 credits of courses unique for each GSBSE student that will be tailored depending on their degree (Ph.D. in Biomedical Science, or Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering) and project. Their dissertation mentor and committee will determine coursework.

Finally, a minimum of 10 credits of research credits (BMS 699) are required.

FAQs

Yes, during the first year, GSBSE is fully funded – every admitted student is given an automatic Research Assistantship RA. However, after the first year, this funding ends and there is a wide range of opportunities depending on the lab and site you land in. UMaine and UNE are both universities and therefore have more teaching opportunities; however, JAX, MDIBL, and MHIR all have multiple mentorship and teaching opportunities through their summer programs and partnerships.

  • JAX: Has a world-famous summer program where the PhD students can mentor students.
  • MDIBL: Has the Maine INBRE grant, which supports lots of educational grants, which students can be a part of
  • MHIR: rotating med students from a variety of schools and other programs.

External Scholarships are available to everyone – you can (and should) apply to those. Our students have had success with the NIH F31 and NSF GRFP (excluding international students who are not eligible). 

An English language proficiency exam is not needed if your undergraduate (or master’s) degree was taught in English or if English is an official language of your home country. The Graduate School accepts TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo test scores.

A successful applicant will have an undergraduate degree in the sciences, engineering, or related discipline, with an outstanding academic record, and generally more research experience than the average undergraduate student. Successful applicants will be clear about what interest they have in the program and be able to share specific information and examples on how the program will align with their research interests.

FUNDING YOUR PH.D. IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE

GSBSE Ph.D. students will be supported with a $30,000 stipend, tuition, fees, and half of the cost of health insurance for the first year of the program (during the rotations). At the beginning of the student’s second academic year (usually September), the mentor will then be responsible for providing the student’s complete stipend, tuition, fees, and half of the cost of health insurance. The level of stipend funding after the initial 2 years will be at the discretion of the institution/program. It should be noted that the student will only have to register for one thesis credit per semester after completing the comprehensive examination.

Any additional expenses relating to education and cost of living shall be the responsibility of the student. This includes, but is not limited to, rent payments for housing either on or off campus, meal plans, course textbooks and required supplies, computer equipment, etc. Please note, that identifying housing and the associated expense are the responsibility of the student. Site administrators may be a resource to aid in identifying housing.

The primary funding mechanism for GSBSE students is the Graduate Assistantship system as administered by the UMaine Graduate School in association with the UMaine Bursar’s Office and the UMaine System Human Resources. Alternate funding mechanisms can be used to support students but should be confirmed to properly support the student by the GSBSE administration.

Don’t let worries about funding your Ph.D. in Biomedical Science hold you back. Review the wide selection of degree funding sources using our comprehensive funding page designed with prospective students in mind.

program details

Degrees offered: PhD

Program Format: Blended

Application deadline: December 1

Test Required: None

Contact: Gregory Cox

Contact Email: gregory.cox@maine.edu

Program Website: Biomedical Science