BIOM-PHD - Biomedical Informatics (PhD)

The Biomedical Informatics Program is interdisciplinary and offers instruction and research opportunities leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biomedical Informatics. All students are required to complete the core curriculum requirements, and also to complete additional course work to fulfill degree requirements and pursue their technical interests and goals as specified for each degree program.

The program can provide flexibility and can complement other opportunities in applied medical research at Stanford. Special arrangements may be made for those with unusual needs or those simultaneously enrolled in other degree programs within the University. Similarly, students with prior relevant training may have the curriculum adjusted to eliminate requirements met as part of prior training.

The GRE is not required for admission.

Individuals wishing to prepare themselves for careers as independent researchers in biomedical informatics, with applications experience in bioinformatics, clinical informatics, or imaging informatics, should apply for admission to the doctoral program. The University's basic requirements for the doctorate (residence, dissertation, examination, and so on) are discussed in the Graduate Degrees section of this bulletin. 

The Ph.D. program requires a total of 135 units; 52 of those units should be for formal coursework (classroom-based courses, not research units).

Students who completed graduate coursework at another institution are encouraged to begin the process of transferring course units in the Winter quarter of their first year of doctoral study. Up to 24 transfer units allowable from other graduate programs. Transfer of units will be evaluated by the Director of Graduate Studies on a course by course basis. Graduate work accepted for transfer of residency does not automatically exempt a student from having to complete a course requirement for the degree. University policies related to transfer of credit for graduate work done elsewhere is located in GAP 3.2.1 Residency Policy for Graduate Students.

The Program in Biomedical Informatics is committed to providing academic and research advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by both the adviser and the advisee. As a best practice, advising expectations should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the adviser and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program. The program’s student services staff is also an important part of the student’s advising team. They inform students and advisers about University and department requirements, procedures, and opportunities, and they maintain the official records of advising assignments and approvals.

Academic Adviser—Each new student in the Program in Biomedical Informatics is assigned an academic adviser (a member of the core or advising faculty or Executive Committee of the program). Academic advisers guide students in key areas such as selecting courses, discussing research rotations, developing of teaching pedagogy, navigating policies and degree requirements, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways. Usually, the academic adviser serves for the duration of the student’s study; the BMI Student Handbook describes a process for formal adviser changes. In addition, the program director is available during the academic year by email and during office hours.

Academic progress and student completion of program requirements and milestones are monitored by the program director and student services staff, and are discussed by faculty during periodic meetings devoted to assessing graduate student progress. A detailed description of the program's requirements, milestones, and advising expectations are listed in the Biomedical Informatics Training Program Student Handbook, found on the program website, as well as in the section on the Biomedical Informatics Program (program or program).

Research Adviser—Each student in the Ph.D. degree programs must also have a research adviser, chosen by mutual agreement at the end of their research rotations (typically by the end of their first year in the program). This research adviser is a member of the core or advising faculty for the BMI program. The research adviser may not be the same person as the academic adviser. Research advisers and the students should have a clear, shared understanding of the scientific objectives of the student’s work, and how it fits into a research program that will lead to an M.S. degree or Ph.D. degree. They should focus on the development of methods that are novel, generally applicable, and well-grounded in the informatics literature. In select cases, the research adviser may be a member of the collaborating faculty, in which case the student must have a co-adviser from the BMI core or advising faculty. When there is a secondary or co-adviser, the primary adviser and co-adviser should have a clear understanding of their mentorship roles.

Each Ph.D. student is required to fill out an annual Individual Developmental Plan (IDP), usually in the Summer. The IDP is then discussed with the research adviser, as a way to facilitate: advising the student, both during and beyond the Ph.D.; establishing clear expectations on both sides with respect to degree progress and timely graduation; and emphasizing the importance of wellness in graduate school, together with access to University wellness resources.

Each Ph.D. candidate is required to establish a reading committee for the doctoral dissertation by late third year or early fourth year. Students should consult frequently with all members of the committee about the direction and progress of the dissertation research and are required to meet annually with their whole committee. The detailed process, including Stanford and BMI policies such as composition of the committee, process toward dissertation, defense, submission of the final dissertation, and readiness to graduate, are described in the BMI Student Handbook.

Additionally, the program adheres to the University policies, guidelines, and responsibilities that apply to all faculty-student advising relationships. For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the Graduate Advising section of this bulletin.

The program in Biomedical Informatics emphasizes research to develop novel computational methods that can advance biomedicine. Students receive training in the investigation of new approaches to conceptual modeling and to development of new algorithms that address challenging problems in the biological sciences and clinical medicine. Students with a primary interest in developing new informatics methods and knowledge are best suited for this program. Students with a primary interest in the biological or medical application of existing informatics techniques may be better suited for training in the application areas themselves.