BMP-PHD - Biomedical Physics (PhD)

The Departments of Radiology and Radiation Oncology are proud to offer a new PhD program in Biomedical Physics (BMP). This program, supported by and integrating faculty from these two departments, was formally approved by the University in May 2021 and will welcome its first class of students in fall 2022. 

The goal of this program is to offer unique interdisciplinary training in physics and engineering applied to solve clinical problems. This burgeoning translational field integrates topics including medical physics, diagnostic imaging, and molecular imaging and diagnostics. Synergistic with multiple departments and institutes from School of Medicine, Engineering, and Humanities & Sciences, the BMP program leverages Stanford’s outstanding faculty, research, and resources to create a world-class training program. It targets physics, bioscience, and engineering students who are seeking to become the next generation of leaders focused on addressing the technical challenges of clinical medicine.

 We solicit applications from qualified students in the fall for admission to the incoming class for the following fall. This is the first PhD program at Stanford housed in clinical departments, evidence of the vibrant translational community at Stanford at the intersection of basic and clinical science.

Per Stanford policy (GAP 4.5.1 Doctoral Degree Requirements), all coursework for a PhD must be completed at Stanford.

The Biomedical Physics program strives to assist graduate students in their personal and professional development. This is accomplished through a variety of advisors and educational activities organized to address each student’s specific needs with targeted mentoring and training. Students will have regular interactions with their primary research advisors, the members of their thesis committee, their first year faculty and student advisors, and the Biomedical Physics executive committee and program director. Scientific interactions between students and faculty foster the development of motivated and knowledgeable students who are independent thinkers and responsible decision makers. The program expects faculty thesis advisors to have an active role in the advising process, monitoring progress frequently and helping to develop and define realistic educational and career plans through regular interactions with the advisee. Faculty thesis advisors will refer students to other institutional resources as needed. The program expects students to clarify their academic and career goals with their advisors and to be equal partners in the advising process, scheduling regular meetings with their advisors and adhering to institutional policies, procedures, and requirements. These expectations ensure the successful completion of degree requirements and timely graduation.

For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the "Graduate Advising" section of this bulletin.

The Biomedical Physics Ph.D. program provides students with education and training to facilitate their development into multidisciplinary researchers that will continue to push the boundaries of this expanding field. This is done through a variety of coursework, taken during the first and second years, expanding the student’s knowledge of physics, engineering, biology, and clinical medicine. Students will select courses to meet requirements that best prepare them for their chosen field of research. During their first year, students will rotate through three laboratories to expose them to different research projects and mentors. By the end of the first year, each student will have chosen his or her research advisor and begun work on their dissertation project. In the second year, students will complete their oral qualifying examination before a faculty panel, after which they will focus their remaining time in the program on completing their doctoral research and dissertation. Students are expected to graduate in four to five years.