Two PhD programs are available to students who are looking for research opportunities in the Park Lab.

1. Population Health Sciences (PHS)

The PhD in PHS involves understanding origins and determinants of health and disease across populations. Students will choose a specific field of study from the following: Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Global Health and Population, Nutrition, Social and Behavioral Sciences. The main goal of this program is to provide students with the tools to shape new ideas in population health sciences, to communicate those ideas effectively, and to serve changing health needs in different societies and contexts. To learn more, click on the following link. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/phdphs/

2. Biological Sciences in Public Health (BPH)

The PhD in BPH involves understanding, preventing, and treating diseases affecting large populations. Students will obtain knowledge of both mechanistic and quantitative approaches to biomedical research, focusing on the metabolic basis of health and disease, immunology and infectious disease, gene-environment interactions, and inflammatory and stress responses. The main goal of this program is to provide students with a solid biomedical foundation for the application in interdisciplinary disease research. To learn more, click on the following link. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/biological-sciences/welcome-about-us/

Curriculum

All of these subjects are studied with an emphasis on cellular and molecular biology and genetic approaches to disease mechanisms.

Faculty

PHS

The PHS program encompasses five departments from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health: Environmental Health (which includes MIPS faculty), Global Health and Population, Epidemiology, Nutrition, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Selected faculty members from these departments perform laboratory-based research and are a part of the PHS program. They can be found in the following link. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/phdphs/faculty/

BPH

The BPH program encompasses four departments from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health: Environmental Health (which includes MIPS faculty), Molecular Metabolism, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, and Nutrition. Selected faculty members from these departments perform laboratory-based research and are a part of the BPH program. They can be found in the following link. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/biological-sciences/faculty/

Who should apply?

To qualify for admission, applicants must demonstrate strong enthusiasm and capacity for the vigorous pursuit of scientific research. Minimum requirements include a bachelor’s degree and undergraduate preparation in advanced-level biology and chemistry (including organic chemistry), as well as physics and calculus appropriate for the mastery of diverse fields of biology. Those deficient in one of these areas may be admitted provisionally on the condition that appropriate courses will be taken before and/or after entering the program. It is encouraged that students applying for the PHS program take introductory biostatistics coursework before entering the program.

How to apply?

Applicants for the BPH program and the PHS program will submit application through the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The following links include helpful application and admission information.

• • General Application Information

http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/prospective_students/application_instructions_and_information.php

• • PHS Application Information

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/phdphs/applicant-checklist/

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/phdphs/gsas-application-for-admission/

• • BPH Application information

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/biological-sciences/phd-prospective-students/phd-applicant-checklist-and-deadlines/

Funding

All admitted students to the PhD Program in Biological Sciences in Public Health, including international students, are guaranteed full funding, which includes a stipend, as well as tuition and health insurance.