Ph.D. Requirements
Students enter the CBB Ph.D. program from a range of fields, including computer science, statistics, mathematics and biology. The program combines coursework, research rotations, seminars, teaching, and independent research, with a curriculum tailored to each student’s background and research goals.
Curriculum at a Glance
Students typically complete the core curriculum in four semesters, depending in part on the prior training of the student. In addition, students will spend a significant amount of time during this period doing intensive research rotations in faculty laboratories.
Key curriculum milestones include:
- Year 1: Complete 4-6 courses and 3 (optionally 4) research rotations.
- End of Year 1: Select a dissertation adviser or co-advisers.
- Summer after Year 1: Begin research in the laboratory of your dissertation adviser(s).
- Year 2: Complete remaining course requirements.
- Year 2 or early Year 3: Complete the qualifying examination.
- Throughout the program: Participate in seminars and complete teaching requirements.
Course Requirements
The CBB curriculum emphasizes competency in three broad areas: Computational Biology and Biomedical Informatics, Biological Sciences (Genetics, Immunobiology, Cell Biology), Informatics (e.g., Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics). Students are expected to complete the following coursework:
| Requirements | nUMBER OF COURSES |
|---|---|
|
Required core CBB courses: |
2 |
| Graduate courses in biological sciences | 2 |
| Graduate courses in informatics | 2 |
| Additional courses across the three areas (which may be undergraduate courses with approval) | 3 |
|
Three lab rotations taken in the first year
|
3 (counts as 1 credit) |
Some courses may be listed at both the undergraduate and the graduate level. You must register for the graduate level course (5000 and above) to receive credit. Ph.D. students who have completed their coursework requirement, or who do not need to take three course credits in a given term, should enroll in a research course. The following research courses confer three GSAS course credits:
PCAN 9999: Pre-candidacy research
QUAL 9999: Preparing for Qualifying Exams
CAND 9999: Prep: Admission to Candidacy
DISR 9999: Dissertation Research in Residence
Your First Year
Students will typically take two to three courses per semester while completing their three research rotations.
Fall
- Take core CB&B 7400 and 2-3 additional courses.
- Research rotations (CB&B 7110).
Spring
- Take coure CB&B 7520 and 2-3 additional courses.
- Research rotations (CB&B 7120, CB&B 7130).
- Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) course for first years (CB&B 6010).
- Identify a dissertation adviser (co-advisers).
Summer
- Begin research in the laboratory of your chosen dissertation adviser(s).
- Register for research course (PCAN 9999: Pre-candidacy research)
Research Rotations
Students complete a minimum of three research rotations during their first year. These rotations provide an opportunity to explore different research areas and faculty laboratories before selecting a dissertation adviser. The rotations are completed through a year-long 3-rotation course sequence, together counting as one course credit. Each rotation is graded Pass/Fail.
Students are expected to devote significant non-classroom time to rotations (approximately 15-20 hours per week). Students will be given space and are expected to join lab meetings and presentations, so they get to know the people and other projects in the lab. Students should meet regularly with the mentor or member of the lab who will supervise them directly (who may be a postdoc). Students should be prepared to discuss progress and obstacles they experience. Students may also be expected to give a presentation to the lab.
In addition, students will be expected to give short presentations on two of their rotation projects to their fellow CBB first-years and select faculty members. The first presentation will be after the first two rotations and the second will be after the third rotation.
As an example, the schedule for 2026-2027 (including official Yale holidays) is:
Rotation 1: Sep 14 - Oct 30
Rotation 2: Nov 2 - Jan 15
Rotation 3: Jan 18 - Mar 5
Rotation 4: Mar 8 – Apr 23 [optional]
Your project should be discussed with the adviser or a senior member of the lab at the beginning of the rotation. Although completing a well-defined project may be possible, the short rotation period may not allow this. The most important aspect of the rotation is familiarizing yourself with the work of the lab and participating in meetings, discussions, and seminars. This is the basis on which you and a faculty member will decide on whether you would be a good fit for the lab. Do not be too discouraged or disappointed if your project doesn’t progress as hoped at the outset, since that’s the nature of research, but do try to understand the reasons for the lack of progress or success.
Both students and advisers are required to submit evaluations sent by the registrar at the end of each rotation. It is expected that the given forms will be returned within a two-week period. The student’s version will be shared with other CBB students and is meant to help future students identify relevant labs.
The registrar will disseminate an adviser selection form to be completed by both students and adviser and returned to the registrar by the end of the fourth rotation or sooner. The decision to join a lab will be made jointly by both the student and adviser.
Additional Program Requirements
In addition to coursework and research rotations, students must:
- Complete a half-semester graduate seminar in research ethics during the first and fourth years. The seminar is graded Credit/Non-Credit.
- CB&B 6010 – first year
- CB&B 5030 – fourth year
- Participate in CBB Research-In-Progress (RIP) talks and Journal Clubs (JC).
- Serve as a teaching fellow for two semester-long courses.
- Complete the qualifying examination, normally at the end of the second year or the beginning of the third year.
There is no language requirement for the CBB Ph.D. For additional information on the Ph.D. requirements please visit the CBB programs and policies bulletin and the Graduate School’s programs and policies bulletin.
Course Waivers
Students may be able to waive some course requirements based on graduate coursework completed at other universities where they have been enrolled as a graduate student. Courses considered for a waiver must be equivalent to Yale graduate courses. The Graduate School usually sets a maximum limit of three courses that can be waived.
Students should consult with the program co-directors about potential course waivers and how prior coursework can be applied to individually tailor the curriculum to their background and interests.
En Route Master’s Degree
An en route Master’s degree may be awarded to CBB Ph.D. students who are working toward the Ph.D. or who leave Yale before completing it.
To qualify, students must:
- Complete two years (four terms) of study in the Ph.D. program.
- Complete the required course work for the Ph.D. program with an average grade of High Pass or higher, with ten required course credits taken at Yale including three successful research rotations.
- Meet the Graduate School’s Honors requirement of at least two Honors grades.
Ph.D. students may petition for the award of a Master’s degree in the term following the one in which all requirements for the degree have been completed. At the time of advancement to candidacy, students who have not petitioned for and received en route degrees (e.g., M.A., M.S., M.Phil.) will automatically be considered for such degrees. Additional information on the en route Master’s degree requirements can be found on the Graduate School’s programs and policies bulletin here.