EPIDCR-PHD - Epidemiology and Clinical Research (PhD)

The field of epidemiology is poised to undergo major changes, and this Ph.D. program offers a cutting-edge curriculum that reflects this shift. Driven by technological advancements, the availability of very large datasets, and the omics revolution, epidemiology is moving toward what some have called Big Epidemiology, where epidemiologists partner with other scientists to study vast amounts of data. Thus, this program will train epidemiologists and clinical researchers to be savvy in technology, computing, data mining, bioinformatics, and genomics. The curriculum capitalizes on Stanford’s unique strengths in these disciplines.

Admission

See the department's website for additional information on the admissions process. Address inquiries to the Education Program Manager at epiadmissions@stanford.edu.

Application deadline: Tuesday, December 6, 2022. This is the final deadline.  All applications must be submitted and all reference letters must be received by 11:59 pm on December 6, 2022.

Submit your application through the Stanford Graduate Admissions website by clicking on “Apply Now.”

Applications are evaluated based on the applicant’s commitment to and aptitude for a career in epidemiology as demonstrated via transcripts, statement of purpose, relevant work and research experience, and letters of recommendation.  The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is optional. Applicants from non-English speaking countries should provide evidence of competence in English on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). (For additional information on Stanford University requirements regarding TOEFL, visit the Stanford Graduate Admissions webpage related to tests.

Required Supporting Documents (to be submitted in the Stanford Graduate Admissions Application)

•     Statement of Purpose that includes area(s) of interest

•     Three letters of recommendation

•     Official GRE General Test scores  (optional)

•     Official TOEFL scores (if applicable)

•     Unofficial transcripts for all college/university degrees

•     CV with relevant work and research experience

https://studentservices.stanford.edu/more-resources/student-policies/transfer-test-credit

The Department of Epidemiology & Population Health is committed to providing academic 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.

All matriculating students are assigned a faculty adviser from the group of core faculty to help them design their academic program.  

Faculty advisers guide students in key areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, developing teaching pedagogy, navigating policies and degree requirements, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways.

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 adheres to the advising guidelines and responsibilities listed by the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and in the Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures manual.

See the Advising and Credentials tab of this section of this bulletin for additional information on advising expectations for student and faculty.

After matriculating, students meet with their academic advisers to plan out an individually tailored curriculum.  Students who matriculate with prior training in epidemiology and statistics may replace introductory core courses with more advanced courses, subject to approval. Beyond core course requirements, students select electives that delve deeper into a particular area of specialization of their choosing. Innovative online learning approaches will help meet the needs of physician-students, who will also be busy with clinical duties.

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

Epidemiology is the study of factors that cause illness and impairment in human populations. It is the cornerstone of population health and clinical research, informing policy, prevention, disease treatment, and understanding of disease mechanisms. A central focus of epidemiology is to go beyond simple prediction to identifying risk factors likely to be causal, upon which interventions and mechanistic understanding can be reliably based.

The Department of Epidemiology and Population Health (E&PH) is Stanford’s academic and organizational home for such activities, offering expertise, research, and training on study design, data collection, analysis and proper interpretation of scientific evidence to improve human health in the clinic and in the field.