Division of Basic Science (DBS)

The Division of Basic Science includes over 250 faculty members who participate in one or more of eight inter-departmental doctoral research training programs.

AdmissionAdmission to the Division is through a common application process.  Applications are reviewed by a central admissions committee. 

The on-line application for Fall 2010 admission will open in August 2009. The priority deadline will be December 15th, 2009, with a final application deadline of February 1st, 2010. Applicants are encouraged to have their application in and complete by the December 15th priority deadline as files are reviewed and interviews offered beginning in December. There is no fee to apply.

Exceptionally well prepared students can apply for admissions with advanced standing.

  CurriculumAll students in Biomedical Sciences at UT Southwestern except organic chemistry students share the experience of taking a common first year core course while they are deciding upon which research laboratory and which graduate program  to join.  In addition to teaching the fundamentals of modern biomedical sciences, this common experience promotes the spirit of collaboration and cross discipline interaction that are characteristic of UT Southwestern.  The core course offers 9 hours instruction in biochemistry, cell biology, and genetics.  The core course also teaches experimental design and methods for critical review of scientific literature. 

Students rotate through three different laboratories and in the spring of the first year join graduate programs and research laboratories.  A typical timeline for obtaining a Ph.D.  in Basic Sciences will see the student graduate in five years. 

For more information on courses offered please refer to the Southwestern Graduate School Online Catalog. 

The Division of Basic Science offers the following training opportunities:

Biological Chemistry Cancer Biology Chemistry  Cell Regulation Genetics and Development Immunology Integrative Biology Mechanisms of Disease Molecular Biophysics Molecular Microbiology Neuroscience Two specialties may be added to any of the above training opportunities: Pharmacological Sciences Quantitative Biology

The Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) program offers a combined M.D./Ph.D. degree. It has its own application process separate from other DBS programs.

Visit UT Southwestern in the News for a current sample of the scholarly environment and basic science achievements at UT Southwestern. 

Financial SupportNot only does each student in the Division of Basic Science receive an annual stipend, additional grants, fellowships, competitive awards and other support are available. 

For undergraduate college students interested in pursuing careers in basic biomedical research, the DBS offers the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF) and the Quantitative and Physical Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (QP-SURF), which provides a 10-week summer research experience.