PhD Program

The Ph.D. program is a full-time program, and all students are expected to register as formal degree candidates once candidacy has been granted.
The requirements for obtaining a Ph.D. degree follow those of the university and are tailored to fit the background and interests of each student. Ph.D. students may only matriculate in the fall quarter. They spend an average of five years at Stanford and are expected to undertake significant research projects. The philosophy behind the BMI program is that leaders in biomedical informatics will receive broad exposure through intensive research training as well as formal coursework.

Candidates are encouraged to explore the various research interests of the BMI core and participating faculty. Lab rotations during the first year are strongly encouraged. Prior to being formally admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree at the end of the second year of study, each student must demonstrate knowledge of informatics fundamentals and a potential for succeeding in research by passing a Qualifying Oral examination. Students must complete and defend a doctoral dissertation around the fifth year.

Students are required to take a minimum of 135 course units in Biomedical Informatics, Biomedical Domain Knowledge, Computer Science, Probability, Statistics, and Social and Ethical Issues.

The application deadline for this year is December 12, 2006. Please learn how to apply to the BMI program.