Graduate School

The mission of The Graduate School of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research is to prepare a superb cadre of predoctoral researchers from around the world for the pursuit of innovative and creative investigations in the biological sciences. All successful applicants share a demonstrated ability to perform biological research, as evidenced by previous research experience. The program focuses on extending the ability of predoctoral researchers through hands-on laboratory experience that stresses highly critical thinking in combination with in-depth experience in the latest methodologies. Predoctoral researchers perform thesis research in laboratories working at the cutting edge of modern biological inquiry under the direct supervision of outstanding Stowers investigators. Upon completion of their research projects, predoctoral researchers are expected to be able to identify interesting biological problems; devise and create interdisciplinary approaches to those problems; and execute investigations using the best tools available. The graduate program strives for completing a research-based Ph.D. degree in Biology in an average time of five years from matriculation.

Simply put, The Graduate School of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research will prepare a select group of young scientists whose truly transformative and integrative approaches to research will revolutionize 21st century biology.

“As we designed this quite novel research-based graduate program at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, we had but one goal in mind: create a stimulating interdisciplinary program for predoctoral researchers who have a demonstrated ability to do scientific research that immerses them in an environment built upon cutting-edge investigation in many facets of modern molecular biology.”

R. Scott Hawley, Ph.D., Dean

A Message from the Dean