Example Timeline

Typical Program Timeline

On average, the Bioengineering doctoral program duration is 5 years. A typical timeline for a bioengineering PhD in the proposed Bioengineering in Psychiatry Training Program is as follows:

All Years

  • Weekly BioE Research Seminar
  • Biweekly Program Seminar Series
  • Annual Program Retreat and Dinner

Year 1

  • Systems Neurobiology (core-1)
  • Introduction to Computational Neuroscience (core-2)
  • Psychopathology (core-3)
  • Neurobiology of Disease (core-4)
  • Applied Biostatistics (core-5)
  • Multimodal Biomedical Imaging (elective-1)
  • Research Rotations 1 & 2

By end of Year 1:

  • PhD Qualifying Examination
  • Confirm mentors selection

Year 2

  • Societal, Political, and Ethical Issues in Biotechnology (core-6)
  • Abnormal Psychology (core-7)
  • Methods in Image Analysis (elective-2)
  • Machine Learning (elective-3)
  • Research
  • Longitudinal clinical experience (1/2 day, 8 times)

By end of Year 2:

  • PhD Qualifying Examination (final chance)
  • Apply for F30 or F31

Years 3-4

  • Research Teaching Practicum (2 times)
  • Professional Development Workshop I (Year 3 or 4)
  • Research
  • Longitudinal clinical experience (1/2 day, 8 times/year)
  • 2 Clinical observership (1 week each)
  • Professional Development Workshop II (Year 3 or 4)

By end of Year 3:

  • Formation of Dissertation Committee and Research Thesis Proposal Defense

By end of year 4:

  • Option to apply for R36

Year 5

  • Research
  • Thesis Defense