About

Program Overview

Our program is the single point of entry into every interdisciplinary PhD track at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Rather than admitting students directly into one department, we bring them into a shared first year and let their research interests determine their track. Faculty mentors come from the Keck School of Medicine, the USC School of Pharmacy, and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, so that students may train across institutions from day one.

Rotations

Each student completes three eight-week laboratory rotations during their first year. Rotations let students test a research question and a working relationship with a potential mentor before committing to either. At the end of the year, the students determine both their thesis lab and which of our five PhD tracks they will join.

Coursework

Students complete 25 units of core coursework by the end of their first year. Every student, regardless of PhD track, completes the same basic degree requirements: 

• A qualifying exam structured as a written and oral NIH F31 fellowship application
• A thesis proposal
• Annual thesis committee meetings
• A final written and oral thesis defense.

Professional Development

We build professional development into the program starting year one, and add career-focused workshops as students advance. Graduates often move into postdoctoral research positions, careers in biotechnology, science writing, teaching, or research administration.