Students in Harvard Integrated Life Sciences PhD programs can also join optional, interdisciplinary concentration programs. These programs allow students to become a member of more specialized communities that come together through shared intellectual interests. The rigor and commitment of these concentrations vary considerably, from no formal requirements whatsoever to an additional application process with course requirements that yield a certificate. Students may join one or more concentrations or none at all. Some are open to all HILS students, others are restricted to those in specific PhD programs. These programs include:
The Developmental and Regenerative Biology program (DRB) provides a rigorous and innovative training experience in stem cell, developmental and regenerative biology for Harvard graduate students. Given the myriad of scientific and medical achievements of the past decade, and the promise of advances to come, the DRB program seeks to train its students to approach biological questions in a highly integrative manner which cuts across traditional departmental boundaries to connect basic scientific research from a variety of disciplines with translational relevance and application to medical care. The DRB program also offers professional development opportunities, including a Student-Faculty Seminar series, mentoring meetups, and an annual student-organized retreat. Students meet for data club and happy hour once a month and the broader DRB community also gathers quarterly for variety of fun social activities. For more information, visit drb.hms.harvard.edu.
The Graduate Program in Bacteriology (GPiB) is a graduate concentration that aims to create community, collaboration, and career development support for students working on diverse aspects of bacteriology at Harvard. GPiB courses teach students to identify and address outstanding questions in microbiology using classical and modern approaches. The program also provides students with opportunities to engage with each other in data clubs, journal clubs, social hours, peer mentoring events, and more. In addition, the program provides supplementary advising and hosts career chats with alumni and other events to help prepare students for their next steps after graduation. For more information, please visit bacteriology.hms.harvard.edu.
The Infectious Diseases Consortium (IDC) is made up of students, fellows, and faculty from the Harvard community who share an interest in understanding infectious diseases and their effects on people and societies. The IDC aims to build community between infectious disease researchers at Harvard and to connect trainees to career opportunities in infectious disease. IDC activities include a J-term “Intro to Infectious Diseases” boot camp course, seminars, mentoring events with infectious disease professionals in diverse careers, social activities, data clubs, peer mentoring, and an annual retreat. To become an IDC member, just sign up for our listserv and join us for events. For more information, visit idc.hms.harvard.edu.
The Landry Cancer Biology Consortium (LCBC) was created in order to bring students and faculty from across the Harvard community together through a shared interested in all of the multidisciplinary aspects of cancer biology research. There are no requirements for joining the LCBC – it is as simple as signing up for our emails and attending our events, which include annual symposia that highlight cutting edge cancer research, student-driven data clubs, student-faculty happy hours, career and networking events, and more. LCBC students are also encouraged to apply for competitive Landry fellowship awards during their G2 year, which provides awardees with 18 months of funding and additional professional development opportunities. Together, we can promote collaboration and address the current challenges in cancer research and treatment. To find out more, visit our website at https://landrycancer.hms.harvard.edu, or follow us on twitter @LandryCancerBio.
The Leder Human Biology and Translational Medicine Program (LHBTM) is a 1.5-year program that provides PhD students with a working knowledge of the fundamentals of human biology and disease through a series of courses designed to enrich their training in translational science. The program aims to demystify the culture and practice of medicine, facilitating future collaborations between clinicians and basic scientists. Students who successfully complete the LHB Program will receive a certificate in Human Biology and Translational Medicine with their PhD. lhbtm.squarespace.com.
Molecular Mechanistic Biology (MMB) is an interdisciplinary community whose members are driven by the molecular-level study of biochemical, biophysical, and cellular mechanisms. The goals of MMB are (1) to extend students’ breadth of knowledge beyond their coursework and thesis laboratories and (2) to expand their professional networks beyond their individual departments and graduate programs. Opportunities including the annual symposium and monthly work-in-progress talks enable students to hear about each other’s work and to receive feedback from peers and faculty mentors throughout the HMS community. Additionally, students’ professional development is supported by MMB-provided travel funding for attendance to conferences and skill-building courses. MMB is sponsored by the departments of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (BCMP) and Cell Biology under the MCD2 training grant. mmb.hms.harvard.edu.
The Therapeutics Graduate Program (TGP) provides students with the scientific, laboratory, computational, and professional skills needed to excel in academic and biopharmaceutical careers. We strive to create a diverse, inclusive, and engaged community of students and faculty with shared interests in therapeutics, and provide a collaborative, respectful, and stimulating environment. TGP offers rigorous multidisciplinary training in the sciences relevant to therapeutics discovery, development, and applications to improve the treatment of disease. We provide students with hands-on experiences and networking opportunities that will open fulfilling careers and leadership trajectories in the field of therapeutics. (hits.harvard.edu).
The Program in Genetics and Genomics (PGG) offers many opportunities to meet students, fellows, and faculty from across multiple HMS departments who share an interest in genetics and genomics. Membership is open to all Harvard BBS students. In addition to being exposed to a wide variety of cutting-edge research, students receive individualized research mentoring and develop effective communication skills. Many PGG events are student-run, so events directly meet student needs. There is no formal application process for admittance. To join, students should email the Program Director, Scott Kennedy (Scott_Kennedy@hms.harvard.edu) or visit the website at https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/pgg.