Harvard Biological & Biomedical Sciences PhD Program | PhD Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Harvard BBS

Welcome!

Harvard’s Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS) Program offers Ph.D. training in the biosciences, grounded in genetics, biochemistry, and molecular, cellular, and mechanistic biology. BBS brings together research communities drawn from Harvard Medical School’s basic science departments and interdepartmental programs. In each one, faculty and trainees with shared interests work closely to advance research in their field and take part in training geared to the many career paths open to today’s PhDs. BBS pairs an unmatched choice of labs, thanks to its breadth and depth, with the close-knit feel of a smaller departmental program.

Program Faculty Research Communities

Student Voices

Meet our students

_{I chose Harvard BBS because I wanted to train in an environment that would challenge me intellectually while giving me the freedom to explore my scientific interests. I was particularly drawn to the program's interdisciplinary nature and the opportunity to learn from scientists approaching biological questions from different perspectives. What has stood out to me most is the supportive and collaborative community, where scientific curiosity, mentorship, and independent thinking are encouraged.}

Nashaley Adorno de Leon

News & Research

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Abnormal Neurons Are Surprisingly Common in the Developing Brain, Study Finds

November 03, 2026

During fetal development, the human brain generates an excess of neurons, most of which are eliminated shortly before and after birth. New research from Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital suggests that this is a critical quality control...

Discovery Challenges View of How Cells Communicate During Inflammation

October 20, 2026

When the immune system detects a threat, cells communicate with one another through signals that activate inflammation. Scientists have long understood that these signals are relayed through receptors: proteins on or inside cells that detect danger and...

New Screening Platform Helps Identify Genes With Tissue-Rejuvenation Potential

October 20, 2026

Researchers have developed a new method for predicting tissue age and screening for genes that affect the aging process. Using these methods, the team — led by George Church , the Robert Winthrop Professor of Genetics in the Blavatnik Institute at Harvard...