Program Overview

The UMass Chan Medical School Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) spans the entire spectrum of health-related research, from laboratory-based foundational research to clinical and translational work, and also studies of health and disease in populations.

Our MSTP students are integral parts of the internationally recognized centers of research excellence at UMass Chan, including in RNA biology, RNA therapeutics, innate immunity and inflammation, neurobiology, cancer biology, cell and molecular biology, digital medicine, and quantitative health sciences.

 

Faculty on our campus who have trained MD-PhD students include two Nobel laureates (including the 2024 winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology), a Lasker Award and Breakthrough Prize winner, eight members of the National Academy of Sciences, five National Academy of Medicine Members, seven Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators, eight American Academy of Microbiology Fellows, 15 members of the American Society of Clinical Investigation (including Dr. Pukkila-Worley, our Program Director), and one Royal Society member (UK). Most importantly, the collegial and openness of our faculty promotes synergy and fosters transdisciplinary research. 

 

• Choice of Basic Biomedical Sciences or Clinical and Population Health research paths
• Integrated curriculum with multiple MSTP-specific courses
• Highly flexible program, tailored to individual student’s needs and interests
• Pool of over 350 thesis advisors
• Structured longitudinal mentorship by physician-scientists through entire program
• Structured Individual Development Plan (IDP) serving as a tailored compass to guide  the student’s progress, and which is reviewed and updated periodically by student and mentor(s) 
• Extensive career guidance
• Monthly seminars and workshops by and for students
• Annual program research retreat
• Physician Scientist Forums attended by MSTP students at all levels of training 
• Grant writing and submission as outcome of PhD Qualifying Examination
• Strong formal student leadership
• Strong student government and structured peer mentoring 

Graduate Research Program Choices for PhD Study

MSTP students select a thesis mentor from a broad range of faculty and disciplines across two research paths:

1. Basic Biomedical Sciences (BBS). Although the graduate school has multiple programs such as Cancer Biology or Neuroscience, it also has an Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (IGP), which we encourage most students interested in the BBS path to follow.  IGP is highly flexible and allows tailoring to MD-PhD student needs. Formal course requirements for MSTP students consist of MDP 740A and MDP 740B and only two advanced electives. IGP students may also participate in advanced courses, journal clubs, and other activities offered by the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences programs.  A multitude of elective courses are available. Selections are customized to each student and are chosen after discussion between the student and their thesis advisor. 
    
2. Clinical and Population Health Research (CPHR). This path typically admits applicants with a master’s level degree in quantitative health sciences, however, not all MD-PhD students who pursue the CPHR path have had master’s level training. In this case, additional courses may be required. These courses on fundamental research design and analysis, which include CTS 602A and CTS 602B Epidemiology and CTS 603A and CTS 603B Biostatistics, are at a level beyond that of typical master’s level training. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of Kate Lapane, PhD, director of the CPHR program. Additional advanced courses in statistics, epidemiology, health services research, and psychometrics are also offered to graduate students in the CPHR program. MSTP students, whether enrolled in the BBS or the CPHR path, may choose to take these as electives. Alternatively, an MSTP student may learn this material through individualized tutorials with their thesis advisor, as described in their Individual Development Plan (IDP).