The Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (PBMS) provides a flexible and interdisciplinary training experience that prepares students to make significant contributions to biomedical research in diverse scientific careers. Our program requirements are designed to promote strong scientific foundations, critical thinking, collaborative approaches and professional skills.

PBMS is founded on principles of scientific excellence, mentorship and community. A strength of PBMS is the highly successful and collaborative faculty who participate in interdisciplinary and translational research. Academic and peer mentors strengthen the student training experience and long-term career success.

What type of students do we want? 

• The best and the brightest.
• The hard-working explorers.
• Those who aren’t afraid to ask questions.
• Those who are going to think outside the box.

Will you have all the skills you need on day 1? No, but we want to help you get there and watch you succeed.

Research Hubs

Research Hubs serve as the intellectual "homes" for graduate education and training at OHSU by bringing together students, faculty, postdocs, and other research staff to enhance research success and develop collaborations. Each of our Research Hubs are built around large concepts that provide an interdisciplinary perspective with multiple levels of analysis. We also have focus group that can be affiliated with one or more Research Hubs. Focus groups tend to be devoted to more specific topics, and might host Research in Progress seminar series or mini-colloquia to promote collaborations across labs and disciplines.

Additional Interdisciplinary Training Opportunities

There are a number of additional opportunities for graduate students to enhance their training. OHSU has several NIH training grants* (T32) and the Career & Professional Development Center specializes in working with students one on one to develop the skills necessary for success in a wide variety of career paths.

*NIH T32s provide additional training opportunities for students in PBMS.

• Program in Enhanced Research Training
• Interactions at the Microbe-Host Interface
• Molecular Basis of Skin/Mucosa Pathobiology
• Vision Research Training Program

Diversity

At OHSU, we embrace the full spectrum of diversity, including age, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. We respect and support diversity of thought, ideas and more.

To fully leverage the richness of our diversity at OHSU, we strive to create, maintain and promote a community of inclusion. Inclusion means we honor, respect, embrace and value the unique contributions and perspectives of all employees, patients, students, volunteers and our local and global communities. It also includes removing barriers to individual success.

Because the field of Biomedical Sciences represents a diverse population, recruitment of a diverse student body is a high priority for our program, and as an institution. The Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences will implement long-term and systematic efforts to attract and retain diverse faculty and students by partnering with the OHSU Center for Diversity and Inclusion. For more information about OHSU's commitment to diversity and inclusion and resources available to students from under-represented groups, see the Center for Diversity and Inclusion.