IBS Admissions FAQ

IBS PhD Programs Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Please see this page for additional CCAS Admissions FAQs

Do you admit international students?

Please be advised that we typically do not review or accept international applicants. We are able to consider only international applicants who have fellowships that can support their graduate education on a case by case basis. Please contact us in advance to discuss your eligibility.

Do you provide financial support for students?

All IBS students are provided with a year-round stipend, coverage for all tuition fees, and health insurance via the GW SHIP throughout their studies, provided they make continuous good progress towards the PhD degree. Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for this support - international students must hold an external fellowship to be considered for admission (proof of the fellowship must be attached to the application).

Do I need to contact faculty about available research opportunities prior to applying? How are admissions decisions made?

We do not recommend reaching out to faculty during the application process as they juggle many scientific, academic and professional responsibilities. They are therefore unlikely to be able to respond to emails from applicants. We do suggest reading up on our faculty's research online and identifying five or so who align your scientific interests, as this is a required short answer question in the application and a key component for you in deciding whether our program is a good match for your prior experience and future goals. 

It is also important to note that individual faculty members do not make admissions decisions or admit students directly into their laboratories. Admissions decisions are made by the program’s admissions committee. In addition, faculty may not be able to accurately predict many months in advance whether they will have space for a new student. Applicants should therefore use the information available about faculty research, rotation availability, and the program as a whole to decide whether the IBS is a good fit for their interests and goals.

While the IBS maintains a list of eligible faculty trainers, not every PI has space to take a student each year, and availability is typically difficult for them to predict at the application stage. We post rotation availability for the current year on our website which gives prospective students an idea of faculty with current space. Applicants who are selected to advance to the interview stage of the admissions process will have the opportunity to meet with several faculty during their visit. 

What type of research experience is required to apply?

Applicants must have at least one year of relevant hypothesis-driven research experience in a biomedical research lab in order to be considered for admission to the IBS PhD programs (note that admitted students average about two years of research experience). The closer an applicant's research has been to our five PhD program disciplines and faculty research areas, the more relevant it typically is to our admissions committee. 70-80% of our recently enrolled students have held a full-time biomedical research position following their undergraduate degree (see Preparation for Graduate Study for additional information and resources). Basic science research in academic (e.g. R1 universities), government (e.g. NIH), non-profit (e.g. HHMI) and industry (e.g. pharmaceutical company) settings are all acceptable, although applicants from industry should discuss with their supervisor what they are permitted to disclose in application materials and interviews.

The quality of an applicant's research experience and potential for independence is paramount. We are seeking students who have demonstrated extraordinary curiosity, tenacity, collaboration and resourcefulness in solving biomedical research questions thus far. Application materials are carefully reviewed for evidence of rigorous and original scientific thought, deep understanding of and contributions to research project direction in previous lab experiences, and the ability to go beyond following instructions and performing technical skills to demonstrate increasing ownership over project components. Achievements such as publications, presentations, and awards related to biomedical research projects are commonly seen in successful applicants.

Note that training and experiences unrelated to hypothesis-driven biomedical research are not considered adequate qualifications for the IBS PhD programs. These include clinical degrees and training (particularly medical degrees from overseas institutions), diagnostic lab testing work (i.e. Labcorp, Quest Diagnostics, PCR testing), clinical, public health, and healthcare administration work (such as medical scribe, contact tracing, or clinical trial administration), and master's degree coursework.

Are there undergraduate major, GPA or prerequisite course requirements to be considered for admission?

Due to variation in undergraduate programs, there are no specific major requirements beyond a life science-related major. Applicants must have an undergraduate record of academic excellence typically in a Biology major or similar (i.e. Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering), or a major in one of the IBS-specific fields of study such as Microbiology/Immunology or Neuroscience which are sometimes available for undergraduates at larger institutions. A minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is generally needed to be competitive for an interview invitation. In recent years, incoming classes have averaged a 3.5 GPA, 2 years of biomedical research experience and 2 publications.

We do not require specific prerequisite coursework, but the application does ask Yes/No questions related to coursework in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Statistics. These questions are not used as elimination criteria but rather are helpful preparation for the topics that IBS students encounter in their coursework and research activities.

Note that activities that are unrelated to biomedical research are not considered adequate preparation for the IBS programs. Examples of activities that do not meet our criteria are:

• Clinical degrees and training (particularly medical degrees from foreign countries)
• Diagnostic lab testing work (i.e. Labcorp, Quest Diagnostics, PCR testing)
• Clinical, public health, and healthcare administration work (such as medical scribe, contact tracing, or clinical trial administration)
• Master's degree coursework
• Undergraduate majors that are not closely associated with the life sciences

Can I apply to more than one IBS program?

The IBS umbrella oversees five PhD programs – Cancer Biology, Genomics & Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Immunology, Neuroscience and Pharmacology & Physiology. Applicants must choose ONE of the five programs to apply to - applying to more than one obstructs timely and appropriate review of your application. We recommend that you choose the program which most closely matches your strengths and interests and in which you think your qualifications will be most competitive. 

While applicants may only apply to one of the five programs, students who enroll are permitted to change their program at the end of the first year as part of the lab selection process so that their PhD program aligns with their research goals and dissertation project. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of modern biomedical research, most labs can host students in more than one PhD program (for example, Dr. Chiappinelli has mentored IBS PhD students and alumni in the Cancer Biology, Genomics & Bioinformatics, and Microbiology & Immunology programs).

How do I submit an application?

Please review our Application Requirements & Submission Instructions page for complete details on the application components and portal selections.

Are official transcripts required to apply?

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for the application process. Official transcripts are only required for students who enroll in the program.

Is the GRE test required?

We do not require GRE test scores for our application (nor do we consider them if sent to us).

Do you offer online/hybrid programs, part-time enrollment, or Spring/Summer admission?

The IBS admits students once per year for the following Fall semester (applications open Sept 1 - Dec 1). Our programs require full-time, year-round, on-campus enrollment at our location in Washington, DC (part-time, hybrid and online programs are not available). The programs require a full-time, year-round commitment to research in an affiliated faculty laboratory alongside the prescribed coursework.

When will I receive a decision on my application?

The IBS faculty do not begin reviewing applications until after the deadline of December 1 has passed. Because we receive almost 300 applications per year, the review process usually takes over a month. Outreach to interview candidates generally begins around the second week of January for interview days occurring in February. All applicants should receive an update on their decision by mid-February. Offers of admission are sent after interview days have concluded and have a response deadline of April 15.

Is the IBS appropriate for students interested exclusively in dry lab research?

Virtually all of the approved faculty labs for the IBS PhD programs require at least 50% wet lab research, including those who work with students in the Genomics & Bioinformatics PhD program. Therefore, applicants to the IBS should be interested in a mix of wet and dry lab research. Students whose interests are restricted to dry lab research are advised to consider the PhD in Health Data Science.

Is teaching required during the program?

Teaching is not required of IBS students as their financial awards are contingent upon full-time dedication to research activities in the lab. For this reason, it is generally not possible to serve as a TA for a class as any financial support for a TA position results in a corresponding reduction of support and hours for the research award.

How does the IBS umbrella program work?

GW’s Integrated Biomedical Sciences oversees five PhD programs – Cancer Biology, Genomics & Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Immunology, Neuroscience and Pharmacology & Physiology. Applicants may only apply to one of the five programs. However, all enrolled students are free to rotate with any available IBS faculty and make their final PhD program selection at the end of the first year (i.e. you can change your mind). In the PhD program, students complete two years of required and elective courses, followed by their dissertation project. In the first year, students are required to rotate with 3 IBS approved faculty trainers before determining their permanent mentor and program selection at the end of the year. 

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of modern biomedical research, most labs can host students in more than one PhD program and at the end of the first year the student can choose the program that best aligns with their particular dissertation project (for example, Dr. Chiappinelli has mentored IBS PhD students and alumni in the Cancer Biology, Genomics & Bioinformatics, and Microbiology & Immunology programs).

What career and professional development opportunities are available to students?

IBS PhD students have a variety of professional opportunities available to them during their time here. These include annual events such as IBS Career Day, SMHS Research Showcase, Art of Science Contest, 3 Minute Thesis Competition and InnovationFest. Through the BMSC 8219 class, IBS students are supported in writing their own fellowship grants for NIH F31 or similar awards. Students can get involved in the GW Student Organization for Biomedical Scientists and the GW chapter of The Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. The school offers many journal clubs and lecture series serving a variety of scientific areas of interest. 

The GW Center for Career Services provides extensive programming and services, including the Handshake program to find a job and individual CV and interview skills consultations. Students may also take advantage of coding workshops offered by Gelman Library and extracurricular programming from GW’s Institute for International Science and Technology Policy. Through a partnership with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, GW students, postdocs, faculty and staff are eligible for free AAAS Elemental Memberships, unlocking access to professional development resources, member communities, policy alerts, and special events.

How long does the program take? What jobs do your alumni obtain?

While the duration of studies is tied primarily to each student's completion of their dissertation project, in recent years, IBS students graduate with their PhD in just over 5 years on average. The maximum time to complete a doctoral degree permitted by the university is 8 years. Coursework requirements for all five of our programs are detailed on our curriculum page. We post career outcomes for our graduates by sector.

Do you accept transfer credits from previous graduate-level study?

Each transfer request for enrolled students is reviewed individually by the IBS leadership based on official transcripts and class syllabi. Generally speaking we may accept credits for related (biomedical sciences) coursework in a graduate program for which the student has received a B or above grade (pass/fail classes are ineligible). Up to 21 credits may be approved for transfer, most or all of which will count towards "advanced standing" in the dissertation phase. 

Note that transfer credits do not reduce the time to degree, which is dependent upon completing a robust research project. Transfer credits are also unlikely to reduce a student’s course load. The IBS has already reduced most Fall and Spring coursework for pre-candidacy (Year 1 and 2 students) in the didactic phase of the program to 9 credits, which is the minimum for pre-candidacy students to remain eligible for full-time financial awards. Therefore, any coursework equivalents for 1^st or 2^nd year classes will likely need to be replaced with elective credits to reach the 9 credit minimum total for Fall / Spring pre-candidacy semesters.