The purpose of the U-M Medical School Department of Human Genetics MS PhD Pathway to Genetics and Genomics Doctorate Program is to provide outstanding students in the Human Genetics Master’s program with an opportunity to transition to the Genetics and Genomics PhD program.
Human Genetics MS students accepted into the Pathway to Doctorate Program would be eligible for a more direct application process to the PhD program and a shortened timeline to candidacy.
Human Genetics MS students who are accepted into the Pathway to Genetics and Genomics Doctorate Program would be eligible for the following:
- Waive the application fee to Rackham Graduate School
- Apply directly to the Genetics and Genomics PhD program
- Eligible students can be considered for a position on the Genetics Training Grant upon acceptance into the PhD program
- Matriculate into the PhD program having completed the majority of required coursework
- Begin PhD training in August prior to the first semester of Year 1 and elect to complete up to two 4-week research rotations in Human Genetics labs
- Begin thesis research during the first semester of Year 1 in the PhD program; support will be provided by thesis mentor
- Potentially advance to candidacy after the first semester of Year 1 in the PhD program
- Checkpoint 1, Preliminary Exam: Completed at the end of Spring/Summer, prior to Year 1
- Checkpoint 2, Course completion and formal evaluation by PhD Program Committee: Completed at the end of Fall semester, Year 1
Eligibility Requirements
Human Genetics MS students who meet the following criteria, in addition to the Rackham Graduate School application requirements, would be eligible to apply for the Pathway to HG Doctorate Program:
- Superior academic performance in Human Genetics graduate courses, including HUMGEN541, HUMGEN542, HUMGEN544, HUMGEN821/822, HUMGEN803 and BIOINF525 (or equivalent course)
- Selection of the Research Track Master’s degree and evidence of progress toward research goals
- Letter of support from HG faculty research mentor
Application Process
Students currently enrolled in the Human Genetics MS program can submit an application to the Pathway to Doctorate program. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss their interest in transitioning to the PhD program with their research mentor, Director of the MS program and Department of Human Genetics Associate Chair of Education prior to submitting an application.
Applicants to the Pathway program should submit the following documents directly to Ashley Andreae.
- University of Michigan transcripts
- Research Statement: Please write a description of your research interests and accomplishments, your motivation for pursuing a PhD in Genetics and Genomics and your career goals (up to 2 single-spaced pages).
- Letter of support from your current research mentor
Pathway to Doctorate application deadline is April 1, 2024.
The Pathway to Doctorate applications will be evaluated by the Chair of the Department of Human Genetics, Associate Chair of Education, Director of the HG Master’s program, and Genetics and Genomics PhD admissions committee and may also involve consultation with course instructors. It should be noted that the review process is highly selective and admission to the Pathway program is not guaranteed to all HG MS students who apply.
Cecilia Gavilan, MS
Universidad Nacional San Lorenzo, Paraguay (2019), Fulbright Scholar, BS, Chemical Sciences
MS thesis mentor: Dr. JoAnn Sekiguchi
PhD mentor: Dr. Shigeki Iwase
Bailey Masser, MS
Duquesne University (2021) BS Biology
MS thesis mentor: Dr. Sally Camper
PhD mentor: Dr. Hayley McLoughlin
Dominic Bazzano, MS
Michigan State University (2016) BS Biochemistry
MS thesis mentor: Dr. Thomas Wilson
PhD mentor: Dr. Sue Hammoud
