Program Overview

The PhD Program in Comparative Biomedical Sciences at TCSVM fosters research training toward the PhD degree in two focus areas, namely Infectious Diseases and Reproductive Biology. The selected focus areas are based on the expertise of the faculty and scientific staff. The TCSVM PhD Program is multidisciplinary in nature. The program offers an opportunity for talented students to acquire a balanced blend of scientific knowledge and technical skills in infectious diseases or in reproductive biology. In addition to traditional employment opportunities in academic and corporate research, program graduates are uniquely trained to vie for non-traditional employment in emerging areas of veterinary and human health including research, education and administration within academic, government and private sectors.

The PhD Program at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine (TCSVM) aspires to produce graduates that are competent and highly skilled scientists with the ability to solve problems and think critically and independently. This program aims to generate graduates who are experts in their field with depth and breadth of knowledge, and who possess well developed communication skills with high ethical standards and personal integrity. Graduates are able to use their skills to undertake and lead investigations aimed at elucidating fundamental mechanisms of infectious disease or reproductive processes, and to relate findings of basic principles to applied studies in order to control or prevent infectious diseases of humans or domestic animals.

Depending on qualifications and experience after graduation, training that leads to the Ph.D. degree should be completed within 3-5 years. The required course work and the research components of the Graduate Program will both be fulfilled on the Grafton Campus.