Biobehavioral Health Graduate Program

Our innovative, dynamic, and interdisciplinary in-person PhD program examines the intersection of biological, psychological, social, environmental, and cultural influences on health and disease throughout the lifespan.  

Our department is based on the strong belief that an integrative approach to health research and health care holds the greatest potential for advancing health. Thus, we do not have separate ‘tracks’ in our department, which sets us apart from other programs and facilitates student learning towards an integrative understanding of health.

Training Overview

Our students receive training in the following areas: 

1. How biological and physiological processes (e.g., within behavioral neuroscience, neuropharmacology, psychoneuroimmunology, behavioral endocrinology, genetics) relate to health. 
2. How psychological and behavioral processes relate to health (e.g., cognitions, emotions, individual differences, specific health behaviors). 
3. Public health and policy consideration (e.g., global health, health promotion, and socio-cultural dynamics, environmental factors, health disparities, ethics). 
4. Statistics and research methods. 

Most of our students complete the required coursework in the first two years and subsequently focus heavily on research.

Students are admitted to work with one particular faculty member as their primary mentor. We do not follow dual mentorship or lab rotation models. That said, our department and faculty are highly collaborative and it is common for students and faculty to work together on specific research projects across labs. In fact, one of the great features of our program is that our faculty and graduate students are engaged in cutting-edge science in all of these areas in the same department. Much of our work is also relevant to addressing issues related to health disparities; BBH values diversity and views it as a critical factor in understanding health disparities and advancing both equality and health.