Common Questions Basic Sciences Doctoral Program

Does your program require the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)?
No, the GRE is not required for entry into the Doctoral Program.

What are the options for research areas in the PhD program?
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Microbiology and Immunology, Neuroscience, or Physiology and Biophysics.

What is the timeline for the admissions process?
Applications will be available on September 1 each year. The Fall application deadline is typically the first Friday in January (11:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time). Files are reviewed on a rolling basis. Interviews are held on campus in February. Accepted students report to campus in early August.

What are the options for research areas in the PhD program?
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Microbiology and Immunology, Neuroscience, or Physiology and Biophysics.

When do I select my lab and degree discipline?
At RFUMS, all basic science PhD students enter through our Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (IGPBS) and transition to a mentor’s lab at the end of their first year. IGPBS oversees the first year curriculum and new student laboratory rotations. The Program is flexible and student-oriented. With a broad array of mentors to choose from, you’ll have every opportunity to pursue research in an area you have already identified, or pursue a new research interest in many of our state-of-the-art laboratories.

In addition to coursework, you will participate in four, first-year laboratory rotations, each lasting about eight weeks. Here, you will gain an appreciation of the scientific problems, technical skills and overall approach of each laboratory you might be considering. This exposure allows you to identify a mentor and dissertation project which best fits your research interests. You will make the critical decision regarding mentorship and laboratory for your advanced studies at the end of the first year and formally join that division as you begin your second year of studies.

Does the doctoral program offer any type of financial assistance?
Students in the doctoral programs of the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies receive financial support so that they can focus on their education and their research. First, as a graduate student in a doctoral program, students receive a tuition waiver. This typically reduces the need to take additional student loan debt for to finance graduate studies. Second, students receive a competitive stipend*. Both tuition waiver and stipend support are guaranteed for graduate doctoral students in academic good standing.

In addition, students are offered a choice of health insurance coverage. Students may enroll in a low-cost student plan or opt for a more comprehensive plan provided to university staff*. Students are free to choose, based on their individual needs. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies is also committed to the complete development of students as research scientists. We provide financial resources for graduate student attendance at scientific meetings, participation in classes and workshops throughout the country, and to bring in student-sponsored extramural speakers who provide insight into career opportunities.

*It should be noted that graduate students are not considered employees and are not obligated to perform duties outside their scope of study in order to receive the living stipend or health insurance amenities. Books and fees are the responsibility of the student.

How do I get in touch with the Program?*
Telephone: 847-578-8493
Email: igpbs@rosalindfranklin.edu
Mailing address: Rosalind Franklin University
SGPS Dean's Office
3333 Green Bay Road
North Chicago, IL 60064 USA

*Please do not send application materials directly to the university. Please see the application form for the appropriate mailing address. Only the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores should be directed to the university (Institution code 1117). See How to Apply for the appropriate ETS department codes.