Interdisciplinary Graduate Program

Vanderbilt has been training physician-scientists for more than 60 years. Many graduates have gone on to leadership positions in academia, government, industry and clinical practice. Read More

The Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences welcomed 42 new graduate students into its Interdisciplinary Graduate Program and Quantitative and Chemical Biology Program through orientation events and the Simple Beginnings ceremony. These academic programs combine coursework and research to guide students toward earning a Ph.D. and careers in the biomedical sciences. Read More

Madhvi Venkatesh has been named director of Vanderbilt’s Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences and Stephanie Richards will expand her role to support the program and its first-year curriculum. The appointments reflect a continued focus on innovation, student support, and collaborative leadership within the BRET office. Read More

Maria Hadjifrangiskou has been appointed senior assistant dean in Vanderbilt’s Office of Biomedical Research Education and Training. In this role, she will oversee all aspects of biomedical graduate education, from admissions through Ph.D. completion, and help shape the future of graduate training across programs like the IGP and QCB. Read More

Venkatesh is recognized for educational leadership in curriculum design, implementation and evaluation, as well as grant-funded initiatives and scholarly work including publications and presentations. Read More

Fingleton has served at the helm of the  Interdisciplinary Graduate Program since 2021, weathering post-COVID-19 recruitment trends, the first-ever IGP curriculum redesign, and the current federal funding uncertainties. Read More

Efrain Garcia, a graduate of the pharmacology department who is now a Senior Project Officer & Health Scientist at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, sat down with us to discuss his experience studying basic science at Vanderbilt and how it played a role in his career.  Read More