Prospective Students
The QCB Program at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine is a place where leaders in the chemical and/or physical sciences and the biological sciences are trained. We look to recruit students from quantitative or physical science backgrounds who would like to apply their skills to biologically meaningful questions. If you have a strong background in biology, you should consider applying to our sister program, the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program.
The unique aspect of the QCB Program is that students have the flexibility to explore their research interests from the offerings of the 13 participating departments and programs prior to choosing a laboratory for their dissertation research. Previous didactic training in the biological science is not required for entry into the Quantitative & Chemical Biology Program. Students in the first year QCB Program generally consider training in one of the following four tracks.
The coursework and research components of the program prepare students for research careers in which they are able to bring state-of-the art tools of the modern chemical and physical sciences to bear on cutting-edge biological problems. Successful completion of the QCB Program leads to Ph.D. degree.
Please explore our website to learn more about the exciting, stimulating, and comprehensive training provided by the QCB Program. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.
Our online application for Fall 2024 is now closed.
- Submission of GRE scores is optional.
- There is no application fee for anyone who has performed research funded by a US entity. Read more here!
2024 Biomedical Graduate Program Info Session and Recruiting Fair Schedule
Would you like to meet a representative of our Biomedical Graduate programs? We would love to meet you too! We will be attending the following Graduate School Fairs, some of which will be virtual and free for prospective students. Please stop by so we can get to know you. You can also contact us with any questions you may have.
| Date | Graduate School Fairs and Links |
| March 15 | University of Maryland McNair |
| April 8-10 | National Council on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) – Long Beach, CA |
| July 17 | NIH 2024 Graduate & Professional School Fair – in Person |
| July 26 – 28 | Leadership Alliance National Symposium, Hartford CT |
| July 24 – 26 | UCLA McNair, |
| August | Virtual IGP/QCB info session at 4 pm Central Time |
| September 5 – 6 | University of New Mexico McNair, Albuquerque, NM |
| September | Virtual IGP/QCB info session at 4 pm Central Time |
| September | Rhodes College, Memphis, TN |
| October | Virtual IGP/QCB info session at 4 pm Central Time |
| October 31 – November 2 | SACNAS National Conference, Phoenix, Arizona |
| November | Virtual IGP/QCB info session at 4 pm Central Time |
| November | Meyerhoff Scholars Program, UMBC, Baltimore MD |
| November 13-16 | ABRCMS Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
At Vanderbilt University, we hold the sincere belief that fostering the advancement of and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion of all students, faculty, and staff benefits all members of our community. To bring to life our vision of inclusive excellence, we are intentional about recruiting, retaining, and supporting diverse and underrepresented groups of students. We encourage individuals from all populations to apply to our graduate programs. The university does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, socio-economic background, or disability.