| | | Merit Award for Individual National Competitive Fellowships | Any PhD or MSTP student who obtains competitive external (fellowship/scholarship) funding awarding at least $26,353 annually in stipend will receive a merit award per year for the duration of the fellowship as long as they remain in good academic standing. At the end of the fellowship the student will return to the current DBBS stipend at that time. The merit award is the full responsibility of the Mentor/Department for advanced students.
| Grants Management | | | 3 | Yes |
| | | Science and Healthcare Abilities Coalition (SHAC) | SHAC (Science and
Healthcare Abilities Coalition) has two main goals: it both provides a
supportive space for disabled/chronically ill/neurodivergent/Deaf students to
share advice and experiences and works towards making science/healthcare and
WUSM more accessible and inclusive for patients and providers. Some of our
projects so far include updating the Technical Standards to be more inclusive,
pushing for disability to be part of diversity efforts, and integrating more
disability content into the MD curriculum. We are also affiliated with national
organizations, such as Medical Students with Disability and Chronic Illness. If
you’re interested in joining or would like more information, please contact
Peppar Cyr (pcyr@wustl.edu). | Organizations & Campus Groups- Open to All | | | 9 | Yes |
| | | Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in the Sciences (SACNAS) - WUSTL Chapter | The Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and
Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Chapter at WUSTL aims to fulfill the
SACNAS organization mission of fostering the success of Chicanos/Hispanics and
Native Americans in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of
leadership in STEM. SACNAS chapters are a powerful and inclusive source of
community that provides local and regional support for college students and
professionals to succeed in STEM. Collectively, our chapters are the
on-the-ground ambassadors behind SACNAS’ movement to achieve true diversity in STEM.
| Organizations & Campus Groups- Open to All | | | 10 | Yes |
|  | | Defense Packet | | Getting Ready to Graduate | | | 3 | Yes |
| | | Program Highlights | - 2-credit spring course to help Fellows gain exposure to:
- Strategies for success in lab research
- Current primary literature in biology & biomedical sciences
- Academic and research career paths
- Spring 2023 course will feature presentations by world-renowned
researchers:
- Roy Vagelos, M.D. – Founder of
Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program, Founder of DBBS, Board Chairman at
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Former President & CEO of Merck & Co.
- David Perlmutter, M.D. – Dean of
WUSTL School of Medicine & Executive Vice Chancellor of Medical Affairs
- Carolina Lopez, Ph.D. – Professor of Molecular Microbiology
& BJC Investigator
- Lila Solnica-Krezel, Ph.D. – Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff
Distinguished Professor & Head of WUSTL Department of Developmental Biology
- David Holtzman, M.D. – Barbara Burton and Reuben M. Morriss
III Distinguished Professor of Neurology
- Access to cutting-edge research tools in biology and
biomedical sciences.
- Fellows will receive a $5000 stipend for living expenses
during summer 2023.
- After program completion, we encourage Fellows to:
- Attend exclusive professional development workshops
- Apply to become a peer mentor for the next cohort
| Vagelos URF | | | 2 | Yes |
| | | Young Scientist Program (YSP) | The Young
Scientist Program (YSP) is dedicated to attracting pre-college students
from disadvantaged backgrounds to scientific careers through activities that
emphasize hands-on research and individualized contact between young people and
active scientists. Each year, YSP programming reaches hundreds of K-12 students
attending St. Louis Public Schools and other regional school districts. We are
entirely run by volunteers from Washington University. As scientists, we hope
to encourage younger individuals to pursue careers in science by sharing our
enthusiasm for what we do.
YSP is currently divided into three branches that work in concert
to capture K-12 students’ interest in science early in their educational
careers:
- Teaching Teams – Teams introduce K-12 students to various
scientific topics through interactive demonstrations and lessons brought
directly into their classroom. Teams consist of five to ten volunteers who
design and present the curricula in small groups, fostering an atmosphere
where students feel comfortable asking questions. Teaching Teams currently
cover topics about anatomy & physiology, chemistry, neuroscience, genetics &
genomics, ecology &
evolution, and physics.
- Summer Focus – An eight-week funded summer research
internship program for high school students. Each student works directly
with two Washington University volunteers: a mentor and a tutor. The
mentor works one-on-one with the student in a laboratory on a specific
project, while the tutor supports the student throughout their research
experience. Each high school student meets weekly with their tutor to
review materials related to the summer project. Students also take two
courses about science communication skills and preparing to apply to
colleges.
- Continuing Mentoring – A four-year
mentoring program
for high school students. High
school freshmen who are interested
and enthusiastic about STEM are paired with a mentor. Mentors visit their
students twice a month in school
over their high school careers. Together, mentors & mentees engage in science-related activities as well as
one-on-one professional development
about ACT prep, college
applications and resume writing. We are currently partnered with Soldan
International Studies High School and the Collegiate School of Medicine
and Bioscience.
Visit
our website to learn more about any of the volunteer opportunities
described above, contact our program leadership, and subscribe to our mailing
list!
| Organizations & Campus Groups- Open to All | | | 11 | Yes |
| | | Women in STEM (WiSTEM) | Women in STEM (WiSTEM) is determined to give
individuals who identify as women within DBBS and the wider Washington
University visibility, a voice, and a place to feel comfortable in science,
medicine, and other STEM fields. WiSTEM works to meet the needs of our members
through professional development opportunities, campus and community outreach,
and inclusive event programming in DBBS. Through these efforts, WiSTEM hopes to
create an inclusive environment within DBBS and the wider Washington University
community as a forum for the unique challenges that women-identifying trainees
face both on a daily basis and on a larger scale.
| Organizations & Campus Groups - Graduate Students | | | 10 | Yes |
| | | Timeline |
October 15, 2022:
Application opens for 2023 cohort
November 14, 2022: Deadline
to apply
Early January 2023:
Notification of admission decision
Spring 2023: Participation
in 2-credit course (BIOL 2121)
Summer 2023: Conduct lab
research with faculty mentor | Vagelos URF | | | 1 | No |
| | | Eligibility | - Open to current freshmen,
sophomores, juniors, and non-graduating seniors at WUSTL. Seniors graduating
before the end of the program are not eligible. Students from other
institutions are not eligible.
- Genuine interest in biology or
biomedical sciences research
- No previous research experience
required
- Applicants should also possess
the following characteristics:
- Academic excellence
- Collaborative mindset
- Professional demeanor
- Dedication to service
- Leadership potential
- Must be eligible to work in the
United States over the summer
- Students from underrepresented
populations strongly encouraged to apply
| Vagelos URF | | | 3 | Yes |
| | | Application Requirements | Application link will become available on October 15th, 2022. Until
then, we recommend that you prepare by reviewing the following application
requirements:
- Unofficial college transcript(s)
- Indicate whether you have chosen a lab already (not required)
- Acknowledge commitment to Spring 2023 course:
- 2 credit hours
- Every Tuesday, 4-6pm
- Attendance is mandatory
- Short essay prompts (200-word limit each):
- Briefly describe any previous experience you have in a research
environment.
- Briefly describe your motivation for applying to the Vagelos Fellows
program. What do you wish to accomplish with this experience?
- What excites you most about participating in the Vagelos Fellows
program?
- What are your career aspirations and how do you think this experience
will better prepare you for those goals?
| Vagelos URF | | | 4 | Yes |
| | | Application | All applicants must have a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution.
The application consists of:
- Contact Information
- Demographics
- DBBS Program Choice
- Three letters of recommendation
- Academic history
- Test Scores
- GRE (not required, but optional for some programs)
- TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo (if applicable)
- Two essays
- 10 word undergrad research description & 10 word description of graduate research interest
- Listing of Major Courses
- Work and Research Experience
- Awards/Honors
- Publication list (if any)
Applicants complete one application but have the option to select two program choices of interest. The first program choice should reflect your main research interest. If you are interested in another program that DBBS offers, please select a second program choice for that area of interest.
All application materials sent to us by the applicant become the property of the Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology and Biological Sciences at Washington University and cannot be returned to the applicant or forwarded to another school/department.
Students are admitted to DBBS only for the fall semester. Please note that neither DBBS nor its component departments accept students for a Master's degree. | PhD Application Instructions | | | 1 | Yes |
| | | Courses | Courses generally require from two to five semesters; usually consisting of four to seven courses in areas fundamental to the student’s Program. The typical student takes two or three courses in the first semester of graduate study and one or two courses in each of the next two or three semesters; most often completing by the end of the second year. Students are expected to maintain a "B" average in graduate courses. (See individual Program of Study sections for the specific course requirements of each PhD training program). | Graduate Course of Study | | | 2 | Yes |
| | | Transcripts | Prior to submitting your application, you are required to upload unofficial transcript(s) in PDF format from each institution attended. Transcript must have your name, the institution name, and be translated to English when necessary. - Scan the transcript at high resolution and verify each page can be read before uploading it. Upload the transcript from each institution as a single document. Each individual university transcript must be uploaded as one file and not page by page.
- Official transcripts are not required for the review process. If you are offered admission and accept the offer you are then required to submit an official final transcript noting degree confirmation from each degree granting institution you have attended.
- We accept translations of transcripts by services. Please be aware that translations alone are not acceptable and the translations must bear an original ink signature and seal. The original transcript in the original language and the English translation must also be uploaded as one document in the application. Put the English translation first, followed by the transcript in the original language.
- DBBS reserves the right to rescind any offer of admission if discrepancies are found between your uploaded transcript and the official transcript.
| PhD Application Instructions | | | 6 | Yes |
| | | Courses/ GPA | Choosing Courses
General requirements include several courses in biology, general and organic chemistry (3-6 semesters), calculus, and physics (1 to 2 semesters each). Some programs require specific courses. The Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology program give preference to applicants that have completed one semester of physical chemistry or an equivalent course. The program in Computational & Systems Biology prefers that applicants have taken courses in algorithms and statistics as well as programming (i.e. C++). See program websites for additional information.
Students earning degrees in fields such as chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, or engineering and who have an interest in the intersection of their own discipline and biology are encouraged to apply to our programs. In programs such as Biochemistry, Biophysics & Structural Biology or Computational & Systems Biology, a background in physics or computer science is extremely useful.
GPA
The Division does not set minimum grade point average (GPA) requirements. We ask that GPAs be reported for each school attended on a 4.0 scale. Applicants are also required to submit an unofficial transcript from each college/university attended. The committee reviews these transcripts, taking into consideration the range of courses taken, overall course load, and grades in specific courses. Successful applicants usually have GPAs in both science and non-science courses in the range of 3.2 – 4.0.
| Admissions- What Makes An App Strong? | | | 2 | Yes |
| | | Deferral Request | An applicant admitted to the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences may request to defer admission for one year. Admitted candidates should submit a request for deferral to the DBBS Director of Admissions. The request should provide a general statement regarding the reason for the deferral. Deferred applicants are expected to contact the Division by April 1st to confirm their admittance for the following fall. | PhD Application Instructions | | | 21 | Yes |
| | | Can I defer my admission to DBBS? | An applicant admitted to the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences may request to defer admission for one year. Admitted candidates should submit a letter or e-mail requesting the deferral to the DBBS Director of Admissions. The letter should provide a general statement regarding the reason for the deferral. Deferred applicants are expected to contact the Division in early April to confirm their admittance for the following fall.
| Admissions- FAQ INTERVIEWS AND DECISIONS | | | 9 | No |
| | | International Applicants | DBBS does not have a set number of international students that we accept each year. The admissions committee reviews the applications, evaluates interview comments, and selects the most qualified applicants for our program.
Historically, international students comprise approximately 30% - 35% of the entering class. Outcomes are in correlation with the quality of the applicant pool of the application year. | PhD Application Instructions | | | 20 | Yes |
| | | I am an international student residing outside the U.S. Do you assist with obtaining visas so that I may come to St. Louis for a personal Interview? | The procedures you must follow to apply for your visa and the length of time required to process the application vary from Consulate to Consulate. You should contact the nearest U.S. Consulate as soon as possible to request information about visa application procedures and requirements. Applicants are required to pay for travel costs but may receive reimbursement for portion of costs if you have the appropriate visa. You will need to bring your original passport, visa (you will need a business visa (B1) or a waiver of visa for business (WB)) and I-94 for documentation for reimbursement. You will NOT be reimbursed for your airfare if you have a different type of visa per the United States Tax Department. | Admissions- FAQ STIPEND, FELLOWSHIP AND VISA ASSISTANCE | | | 4 | No |
| | | How many international students will be accepted into your program this year? | DBBS does not have a set number of international students that we accept each year. The admissions committee reviews the applications, evaluates interview comments, and selects the most qualified applicants for our program.
Historically, international students comprise approximately 30% - 35% of the entering class. Outcomes are in correlation with the quality of the applicant pool of the application year. | Admissions FAQ- DBBS Overview | | | 2 | No |
| | | Do you provide campus visits? | Prospective applicants wanting to visit the campus between June and August should contact our Recruiting Group via email at DBBS-Info@email.wustl.edu. Visits during the admissions season are by invitation only. | Admissions FAQ- DBBS Overview | | | 3 | No |
| | | Do you accept students during the spring semester? | We only offer enrollment for the fall semester. | Admissions FAQ- DBBS Overview | | | 4 | No |
| | | Re-Applying Applicants | Applicants who have previously applied must submit a new application. | PhD Application Instructions | | | 11 | Yes |
| | | How many applicants will be accepted to the program (or were accepted last year)?
| DBBS receives around 1200 applications per year. We interview a little under one third of the applications received. We enroll approximately 100 students in our entering class. | Admissions FAQ- DBBS Overview | | | 1 | No |
| | | Can I apply to the MSTP (MD, PhD) program and the PhD program at the same time? | You are able to apply to both programs. The programs have two separate admissions processes. You will need to submit all application materials to the appropriate program. Test scores will not be substituted (MCAT required for the MSTP and GRE General not required or optional for some of the PhD programs). Neither admissions processes will reflect negatively on the other. Please let both MSTP and PhD know that you are applying to both programs - if invited for an interview, coordination between the programs could be established to make the process more efficient for you. (Click here to learn more about the MSTP program) | Admissions- FAQ APPLICATION | | | 4 | No |
| | | Can you apply to more than one program at a time? | Applicants complete one application but have the option to select two program choices of interest. The first program choice should reflect your main research interest. If you are interested in another program that DBBS offers, please select a second program choice for that area of interest. | Admissions- FAQ APPLICATION | | | 3 | No |
| | | What if I still have other questions that are not covered by the topics above? Who do I contact? | | Admissions- FAQ What if I still have other questions that are not covered by the topics above? Who do I contact? | | | 1 | No |
| | | Where do I find information on the different Fellowships offered? | For more information on the different types of fellowships offered, please click here. | Admissions- FAQ STIPEND, FELLOWSHIP AND VISA ASSISTANCE | | | 2 | No |
| | | Where do I find information about the stipend and different types of financial support? | For more information about the current stipend and different financial opportunities DBBS offers, please click here. | Admissions- FAQ STIPEND, FELLOWSHIP AND VISA ASSISTANCE | | | 1 | No |
| | | Where can I find information on the different Pathways DBBS offers? | For more information on our Interdisciplinary Research Pathways, please click here. | Admissions- FAQ STIPEND, FELLOWSHIP AND VISA ASSISTANCE | | | 3 | No |
| | | Do you offer video interviews for applicants residing outside the U.S. and Canada? | Many of the programs within the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences conduct virtual interviews for applicants residing outside the US and Canada. | Admissions- FAQ INTERVIEWS AND DECISIONS | | | 8 | No |