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Programs of Study

The school offers a variety of training opportunities in the biomedical sciences. Over 220 faculty members with common interests in graduate education and basic biological and biomedical scientific research are appointed to the graduate school faculty in a particular Program of Study. The Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences offers Ph.D. degrees in seven Programs of Study:

• Biochemistry & Structural Biology
• Cell Biology & Genetics
• Immunology & Microbial Pathogenesis
• Molecular Biology
• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology

Other programs include:

• Masters: Clinical Epidemiology & Health Services Research
• Masters: Clinical Investigation
• Special Programs

The Student Experience

Entering students take a series of intensive required courses in a chosen program of study. The courses provide a fundamental understanding of the discipline and an introduction to research. First and second-year students also participate in twelve-week rotations in faculty laboratories. Conducting research in a variety of disciplines aids students' project selection. The rotations also expose students to the intellectual breadth and depth of faculty research and illustrate the ways in which sophisticated state-of-the art methodologies are contributing to the field.

Students present their work from their experimental laboratory research to other students and faculty at program seminars, retreats and an annual research symposium. Students are also encouraged to present at national and international conferences and to publish their findings in professional journals. Prior to graduation, making their mark on biomedical research before they even leave school, a significant number of students publish their findings in front-rank professional journals, often with first author status.

The faculty of the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences is committed to providing the best possible research experiences to all students. "We're focused on maintaining high standards," reports Dr. Ken Marians. "What makes this such a great institution is that we attract high-quality faculty interested in interacting with students, and we provide an infrastructure that allows people to do cutting-edge research in their field."

Exceptional Information Resources

The Samuel J. Wood Library at Weill Cornell Medical College and the Nathan Cummings Center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center are the cornerstones of the information resources available to students on campus. The modern and comfortable Wood Library houses over 151,160 volumes and subscribes to 1,424 journals. As one of the country's first fully automated medical libraries, it features computer terminals that provide access to the library's collections from any of several-hundred networked desktop computers and student workstations throughout the Weill Cornell Graduate School. Every student has an e-mail account and electronic access to all scientific journals. Adding to the accessibility of up-to-the-minute information, the libraries share databases with the Hospital for Special Surgery and The Rockefeller University.

The Biomedical Enterprise in New York City and its Environs

The Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences is part of a large biomedical center extending along York Avenue between 65th and 72nd streets on Manhattan's Upper East Side. The center's institutions include Weill Cornell Medical College, New York Hospital, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the Hospital for Special Surgery. In addition to these institutions, there is what Dr. Carl Nathan calls "the necklace of pharmaceutical industries that surrounds the city," from upstate New York through New Jersey, all of which provide students with tremendous professional opportunities.