Explore Research Innovation at the David Geffen School of Medicine
Postdoctoral Education
Continuing Education
The majority of programs are jointly administered by the David Geffen School of Medicine and the UCLA College’s Life Sciences Division through Graduate Programs in Bioscience.
Other programs are affiliated with the Division of Physical Sciences, the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the School of Dentistry, and the Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health.
Over 400 faculty from 29 UCLA departments participate in training PhD students under the banner of Graduate Programs in Bioscience. Research mentors and students collaborate in the ten interdepartmental groups called Home Areas that offer personalized training and advising in specific research areas. Students apply to and are admitted into an individual Home Area. Students can move between Home Areas for a maximum flexibility in finding the best research mentor. The overall Biosciences program provides cohesion, inter-program exchange, and cross-disciplinary professional skills and career development training.
Home Areas:
Biochemistry, Biophysics & Structural Biology Bioinformatics Cell & Developmental Biology Gene Regulation Genetics & Genomics Immunity, Microbes & Molecular Pathogenesis Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology Molecular Pharmacology Neuroscience Physics & Biology in Medicine
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Bioengineering Biomathematics Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Molecular Toxicology Oral Biology Psychology
Medical Scientist Training Program (dual degree) UCLA STAR Program (Ph.D. training for M.D.s)
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Integrative Biology & Physiology
Admission to a Ph.D. program in the biomedical sciences usually includes substantial funding for tuition and a living allowance. (For example, students admitted to Graduate Programs in Bioscience are fully-funded and receive a competitive stipend.) A number of UCLA and external funding sources exist that offer additional independence, training, and prestige, while also honing grant-writing skills essential to a career in research.
Fund your bioscience research training →
Diversity and inclusion are watchwords at UCLA and we back it up with programs and activities to engage and serve students from all backgrounds and experiences. For instance, the Eugene V Cota-Robles fellowship for entering PhD students recognizes students’ commitment to diversity in their field, and the Competitive Edge and Maximizing Success programs help build strong foundations for students entering graduate school. Students also find community in groups like SACNAS, and STEM-PLEDGE and learning resources and accommodations at the Center for Accessible Education.
Whether you are interested in a career in academia, industry, government, or other sectors, UCLA has extensive resources to help you achieve your goals. In addition to extensive laboratory research training, you will receive professional skill development and opportunities for career preparation from your program and from UCLA’s specialized career services for graduate students.
During your journey as a graduate student, opportunities for enrichment outside your lab abound. For example, can become a volunteer, participate in student leadership, or try your hand as a science writer. With on-campus and off-campus graduate student housing, it’s easy to get around. And when the going gets tough, the Behavioral Wellness Center (BWC) and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) have your back.
