Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biomedical Informatics

Biomedical Informatics (BMI) is an interdisciplinary field that combines knowledge of information sciences and medical sciences to optimize the use and application of biomedical data across the spectrum - from molecules to individuals to populations. BMI encompasses computational and analytical methods that advance biomedical research, as well as the implementation and management of information technology used to improve the practice of healthcare. The field spans and draws upon a number of related disciplines, including bioinformatics, genomics, systems biology, biostatistics, big data, and healthcare analytics. Biomedical Informatics is now the key to understanding biology and medicine. As an avalanche of data and an increased sophistication of technology change the way biomedical research is conducted, the discipline of biomedical informatics is an integral component of clinical and translational research for the health care infrastructure. Demand for researchers and health professionals trained in the field is rapidly increasing. The BMI PhD program trains graduate students in both quantitative and biomedical disciplines to develop and apply computational methods addressing current problems in biomedicine. Students and faculty work together to better understand data-driven challenges of biomedical research and healthcare. Students engage in high-impact research while embedded in some of the premier health care centers in the nation. Success Successful applicants to the program typically have a strong quantitative and/or computational background and a keen interest in biomedical informatics or a related discipline. Those with a major of study in areas such as biology, mathematics, computer science, bioengineering, chemistry, or statistics are well positioned to enter the field.