Health Sciences Engineering, Ph.D.

The Ph.D. in Health Sciences Engineering, offered jointly by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), is designed to prepare future leaders and entrepreneurs to solve society’s most intractable diseases and improve the quality of life by synergizing state-of-the-art expertise in research and education at the nexus of engineering and medicine. The key distinctive features of the joint Ph.D. program involve a unique 1^st year involves immersion in ‘engineering’ at RPI followed by training in ‘entrepreneurship and commercialization’ and ‘clinical shadowing’ at ISMMS. Immersions create a ‘translational mindset’ at the onset of the program that will be reinforced during the Ph.D. program by an industrial/ hands-on internship in entrepreneurship, grand rounds, and participation in the Thrive Program at Sinai Biodesign. The program offers a set of core and technical electives that develop expertise in genomic and epigenomic engineering for manipulating and designing cells, and for biomanufacturing molecules and matrices for myriad applications, including but not limited to reparative and regenerative medicine, immuno-engineering, and neuromodulation.  Together, these experiences, courses, and training yield PhDs inventing new technologies to address unmet clinical needs.

Because the program is joined with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, applicants must satisfy the admissions requirements of both institutions.

Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or better to meet the Institute’s minimum academic requirements and meet the program’s requirement for advancement, consistent with the policies of RPI and ISMMS,  including but not limited to a qualifier.

Please note that students entering with a B.S. have no more than seven years to complete their Ph.D. Students who entered the program with a Master’s have no more than five years to complete their Ph.D.