Skip to main content

Biomedical Science Graduate Programs

The Saint Louis University Graduate Programs in Biomedical Sciences is made up of three programs: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Molecular Microbiology and Immunology; and Pharmacology and Physiology. 

First-year courses focus on the basic biochemical, molecular, cellular and organismal aspects of the biomedical sciences, preparing you for more intensive, individualized instruction that will be unique to the discipline you choose to study in the following years.

Instructors come from all three Ph.D. programs. Their charge is to introduce you to the most recent findings and the methodologies used to study major issues in their fields. Coursework includes didactic lectures, small-group problem-solving sessions, student presentations and hands-on research experience.

Active seminars in all departments and programs provide broad exposure to the wide scope of biomedical research and introduce you to potential future employers or collaborators. We emphasize the preparation of technically skilled and thoughtful scientists for diverse careers in academia, industry or government.

Applications and Financial Aid

You must complete both the classified graduate school application to be considered for our Ph.D. programs.

SLU Graduate School Application

Financial aid is available, and all first- and second-year students receive a nationally competitive student stipend, as well as tuition waivers and health insurance. Stipends, health benefits and tuition costs are the responsibility of your advisor or doctoral program during the final years of your graduate study and are most commonly provided by research grants or contracts.

Colloquiums

The biomedical sciences colloquiums are scheduled every Wednesday at noon. Unless otherwise announced, all colloquium sessions will be held in Auditorium B of the Learning Resource Center.

CORE Graduate Program Colloquiums Schedule

Date Presenter Paper
 
Aug. 27, 2025 Mikayla Bode

Tang, Yan et al. “Cardiolipin oxidized by ROS from complex II acts as a target of gasdermin D to drive mitochondrial pore and heart dysfunction in endotoxemia.” Cell reports vol. 43,5 (2024): 114237.
Sept. 3, 2025 Wenzhang Guo

Theisen, Derek J et al. “WDFY4 is required for cross-presentation in response to viral and tumor antigens.” Science (New York, N.Y.) vol. 362,6415 (2018): 694-699.
Sept. 10, 2025 Erin Vest

Liao, Ya-Cheng et al. “RNA Granules Hitchhike on Lysosomes for Long-Distance Transport, Using Annexin A11 as a Molecular Tether.” Cell vol. 179,1 (2019): 147-164.e20.
Sept. 24, 2025 Haya Alkhateeb

Donovan, L.J., Brewer, C.L., Bond, S.F. et al. Aging and injury drive neuronal senescence in the dorsal root ganglia. Nat Neurosci 28, 985–997 (2025).
Oct. 15, 2025 Zahra Alibolandi

Phelps, Catherine M et al. “Exercise-induced microbiota metabolite enhances CD8 T cell antitumor immunity promoting immunotherapy efficacy.” Cell, S0092-8674(25)00684-1. 4 Jul. 2025.
Oct. 22, 2025 Anshita Sharma

Li, FL., Liu, JP., Bao, RX. et al. Acetylation accumulates PFKFB3 in cytoplasm to promote glycolysis and protects cells from cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Nat Commun 9, 508 (2018).
Oct. 29, 2025 Andy Rocca

Kaag Rasmussen, Martin et al. “Trigeminal ganglion neurons are directly activated by influx of CSF solutes in a migraine model.” Science (New York, N.Y.) vol. 385,6704 (2024): 80-86.

Wednesdays at noon in Lecture Hall 3, M316 (unless indicated otherwise)

All students, staff and faculty are encouraged to attend. The schedule for the spring semester is distributed in December. There are 11 presentations by the first-year core students, leaving some open dates for volunteers. Any faculty member, post-doctoral fellow or senior graduate student who would like to present in the spring should contact Willis K. Samson, Ph.D. at willis.samson@health.slu.edu.