Matriculation into the PhD phase of the Bridge Program

The Fisk-Vanderbilt Masters-to-PhD program in Biology bridges from an MA in Biology at Fisk University to a broad array of possible PhD-granting programs. Biology students can be admitted to Vanderbilt through the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program; students who enter directly into the Biological sciences program also will be taking the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (IGP) Bioregulation course, a fast-paced introduction to the breadth of content in the IGP course. Students can additionally apply directly to the Neuroscience program.

After their FALL semester in the IGP introductory program, students identify a PhD mentor, if this was not already established during the MA phase, and become aligned with one of multiple possible graduate programs: biological sciences, biochemistry; chemical biology, cell and developmental biology; microbiology and immunology; molecular physiology and biophysics; physical and structural biology; neuroscience; pathology; and/or pharmacology.

All incoming students will participate, as well, in the Vanderbilt University IMSD (Initiative for Maximizing STEM Diversity) – PhD student-hosted sessions held bimonthly at Vanderbilt (typically Thursdays at 5 pm) in order become acquainted with the culture of research intensive discovery through student-hosted journal clubs and data meetings.

Matriculation into the Biological Sciences PhD Program: Students can apply directly to the Biological Sciences Department and enter in their first year or after spending their first year in the IGP. Most students will complete three research rotations (nine week periods) in their first year to facilitate choosing a dissertation advisor and as part of the required didactic course work (BSCI 7390). At least two rotations are required for all students.

Matriculation into the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program leading to PhD programs in diverse biomedically relevant areas. Exposure to the extensive graduate programs in biomedically relevant areas will occur informally via participation in the IMSD student-hosted sessions at Vanderbilt outlined above. Specific questions about each of the available PhD-granting programs for those completing their MA in Biology as part of the Fisk-Vanderbilt Bridge program are optimally answered by the Directors of Graduate Studies for those programs (see www.vanderbilt.edu); these conversations can be facilitated by Dina Myers Stroud, PhD., Executive Director of the Bridge program.