Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Offered By: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Onsite | Full-Time | 5–6 years
About the PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program
In the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology PhD program, faculty, and students work together to increase knowledge of the biochemical and molecular bases of normal and abnormal cellular processes. Our program trains students to be successful independent scientists and gives them the knowledge, research training, and leadership skills to continue to provide new insights into the biomedical issues that have a profound impact on public health. Cancer biology is a historical and continuing area of interest for many faculty in our program, which has been supported in part by a training grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute since 1975.
Students engage in a rigorous course curriculum and a range of structured and informal activities outside the classroom and lab to build their skills. They will pursue their thesis research in the lab of one of our over forty training faculty across the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Check below for program highlights and application details, or explore the program’s diverse research training opportunities in more depth by visiting our About the BMB PhD Program page.
PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program Highlights
Our position within the School of Public Health provides a unique setting in which students learn how biochemistry, molecular biology, physical chemistry, cell biology, and genetics can be used to solve significant problems in public health and medicine. Our program offers:
- Training faculty from across the School of Public Health and the School of Medicine
- A strong grounding in the science of biomedical and public health research through a core curriculum that includes courses taught by leading experts from the Schools of Public Health and Medicine
- Training outside the lab and classroom in key skills such as communications and leadership
- Opportunities to build strong communications skills through a range of speaking venues including journal club, research colloquium, department retreats, and national meetings
- Teaching Assistant service to build teaching and interpersonal skills, with options for additional training and professional development through the Johns Hopkins University Teaching Academy to further develop skills
- Access to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Professional Development and Career Office, offering excellent career services and professional development, including the BMB-required OPTIONS program, a guided process of career exploration for paths from medicine to biotech to academia and beyond
- Opportunities to participate in community service and outreach, with a focus on our East Baltimore neighborhoods, through the Johns Hopkins University community engagement and service-learning center, SOURCE
40+
Training faculty across the School of Public Health and the School of Medicine
4
Schools that students can take courses in: Public Health, Arts & Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering
4
Two-month rotations in the first year prior to selecting thesis lab
6
Average number of incoming students in the BMB PhD degree program each year
What Can You Do With a PhD In Biochemistry And Molecular Biology?
The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology PhD program prepares students for a range of biomedical and health sciences careers, including in academia, industry, policy, and beyond. Visit the Graduate Employment Outcomes Dashboard to learn about Bloomberg School graduates' employment status, sector, and salaries.
Sample Careers
- Research Scientist
- Professor
- Science Policy Adviser
- Biotech Executive
- Senior Scientist
- Patent Lawyer
- Science Policy Analyst/Advocate
- Science Writer/Journalist
- Biological Sciences Teacher
Topic Areas
The BMB PhD program faculty conduct research to gain new insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying normal and abnormal cellular processes, and their relevance as targets for improving health and treating disease. Our training program places particular emphasis on mechanistic approaches to research problems, and cancer biology has had a prominent place in our research interest for over 50 years.
Common topic areas within our faculty's diverse research interests include:
- Biophysics and Structural Biology
- Cancer Biology
- Chemical Biology and Proteomics
- Cell Biology
- Cellular Stress and Cell Signaling
- Genetics, Genomics, and Gene Regulation
- Immunology and Infectious Diseases
- Translational Research
Curriculum for the PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
The BMB PhD offers students a rigorous course curriculum, including a set of common core classes from the Schools of Public Health and Medicine. Students further tailor their curriculum with elective courses chosen based on interests and career goals, with options that span the Schools of Public Health, Medicine, Engineering, and Arts and Sciences. A rich array of seminar programs and journal clubs are also available to all students.
Browse an overview of the requirements for this PhD program in the JHU Academic Catalogue and explore all course offerings in the Bloomberg School Course Directory.
Admissions Requirements
For the general admissions requirements see our How to Apply page. The specific program also requires:
Prior Research Experience
Laboratory research experience (from academia, industry, etc.) is required
Prior Coursework
Strong background in the sciences, particularly in chemistry, biochemistry, or biology
Standardized Test Scores
Standardized test scores (GRE) are optional for this program. The admissions committee will make no assumptions if a standardized test score is omitted from an application, but will require evidence of quantitative/analytical ability through other application components such as academic transcripts and/or supplemental questions. Applications will be reviewed holistically based on all application components.
Program Faculty Spotlight
Ashi Weeraratna, PhD, studies how cancer cells move to distant sites and how changes in the normal cells around a tumor contribute to their movement, especially as we age.
Michael Matunis, PhD, studies how protein modification by SUMO—the small ubiquitin-related modifier—drives changes in key cellular pathways from stress response to DNA repair.
Jennifer Kavran, PhD, MS, MPhil, is a biophysicist who investigates how cells communicate with each other and their environment.
Danfeng Cai, PhD, combines advanced microscopy, genomics, and proteomics to tease out the functions of protein condensates in cells, with a focus on cancer.
Vivien Thomas PhD Scholars
The Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative (VTSI) is an endowed fellowship program at Johns Hopkins for PhD students in STEM fields. It provides full tuition, stipend, and benefits while also providing targeted mentoring, networking, community, and professional development opportunities. Students who have attended a historically Black college and university (HBCU) or other minority serving institution (MSI) for undergraduate study are eligible to apply. To be considered for the VTSI, you will need to submit a SOPHAS application, VTSI supplementary materials, and all supporting documents (letters, transcripts, and test scores) by December 1, 2024. VTSI applicants are eligible for an application fee waiver, but the fee waiver must be requested by November 15, 2024 and prior to submission of the SOPHAS application.
Tuition and Funding
Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the JHU PhD Union, the minimum guaranteed 2025-2026 academic year stipend is $50,000 for all PhD students with a 4% increase the following year. Tuition, fees, and medical benefits are provided, including health insurance premiums for PhD student’s children and spouses of international students, depending on visa type. The minimum stipend and tuition coverage is guaranteed for at least the first four years of a BSPH PhD program; specific amounts and the number of years supported, as well as work expectations related to that stipend will vary across departments and funding source. Please refer to the CBA to review specific benefits, compensation, and other terms.
In the BMB PhD program, all full-time PhD students who remain in good academic standing will receive the above support through the entire duration of the program.
Need-Based Relocation Grants
Students who are admitted to PhD programs at JHU starting in Fall 2023 or beyond can apply to receive a need-based grant to offset the costs of relocating to be able to attend JHU. These grants provide funding to a portion of incoming students who, without this money, may otherwise not be able to afford to relocate to JHU for their PhD program. This is not a merit-based grant. Applications will be evaluated solely based on financial need. View more information about the need-based relocation grants for PhD students.
Contact Us
Questions about the program? We're happy to help.
Mike Matunis, PhD
PhD Program Director
Roza Selimyan, PhD
BMB Executive Director for
Academic Affairs and Education Programs
Erika Vaitekunas
Administrative Specialist