Prospective Students
Virginia Tech's Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health graduate program welcomes all interested applicants. We are looking for the next generation of scientists ready to tackle today's major health challenges. Through innovative, interdisciplinary coursework and research, TBMH trains student scientists across the translational spectrum to take discoveries from bench to bedside to improve the health of populations everywhere.
Contact TBMH_Admissions@vtc.vt.edu for more information about our program, Virtual Information Sessions, our Fall Open House, or applying to be a part of the next TBMH cohort.
Not sure what program is right for you?
Attend a Virtual Information Session to learn more about us.
Competitive applicants will have a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, a GPA of 3.5 or greater, and research experience in a relevant discipline.
Please review the admissions information, deadlines, and requirements below.
- Apply through the Virginia Tech Graduate School.
- Apply through the Virginia Tech Graduate School.
- Submit all undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
- Submit a personal statement. Statement should include applicant's interest in the program and career goals. Applicants may indicate faculty of interest but it is not required to match with faculty before entering the program.
- Submit 3 letters of recommendation. Recommendation letters should be from individuals qualified to evaluate the applicant's potential for success in this program.
- Submit CV/Resume.
- Submit GRE scores. (Optional)
- International students should submit TOEFL score (4.5 minimum) or IELT score (6.5 minimum). Send to institution code 5859
Contact TBMH_Admissions@vtc.vt.edu for more information about our program or applying.
Application Deadlines for PhD Degree Enrollment in Fall 2027 |
|
|---|---|
Priority Deadline |
December 1, 2026 |
Final Deadline |
January 15, 2027 |
Students pursuing a doctorate will earn a minimum of 100 graduate level credit hours. There are a required 37 hours will be coursework and 63 hours of research and dissertation credits. By the end of year one students will complete most of their coursework to allow for a quick pivot to focus on devleoping their own research project.
TBMH 5004 - Gateway (8 credits) |
This is an intensive course made of several multi-week "blocks" centered around each of the TBMH focus areas.
|
TBMH 5204 - Seminar (1 credit) |
This is the first semester of a two year course exposing students to talks and meetings with field leading researchers from across the country. |
TBMH 5304 - Translational Research Experience (3 credits) |
This is the first semester of a year-long course. In this semester students:
|
TBMH 50x4 - Fundamentals of... (1 of 2) (4 credits) |
You will select one of the five focus areas to dive deeper into by taking "Fundamentals of..." course. Your options are:
|
TBMH 50x4 - Fundamentals of... (2 of 2) (4 credits) |
You will select one of the five focus areas to dive deeper into by taking a "Fundamentals of..." course. Your options are:
|
TBMH 5105 - Professional Development & Ethics (2 credits) |
This is the first of two courses that cover the Responsible Conduct of Research requirements for students to work on NIH funded projects, along with topics helpful to productive research and career development. |
TBMH 5204 - Seminar (1 credit) |
This is the second semester of a two year course exposing students to talks and meetings with field leading researchers from across the country. |
TBMH 5304 - Translational Research Experience (3 credits) |
This is the second semester of a year-long course. In this semester students:
|
TBMH 5106 - Professional Development & Ethics (2 credits) |
This is the second of two courses that cover the Responsible Conduct of Research requirements for students to work on NIH funded projects, along with topics helpful to productive research and career development. |
TBMH 5204 - Seminar (1 credit) |
This is the third semester of a two year course exposing students to talks and meetings with field leading researchers from across the country. |
TBMH 5404 - Scientific Logic & Analysis (1 credit) |
This course analyzes contemporary research problems and controversies, research design and methodology, and interdisciplinary scientific approaches in translational biology, medicine, and health research to understand effective peer-review and its role in science. |
Quantitative Elective (3 credits) |
Students must take one 3 credit course exploring central concepts and skills needed in quantitative research. |
Free Elective *TBMH 5124 - Translational Grant Writing (3 credits) |
Students must take one 3 credit course as a free elective. This course can be anything that falls within their discipline of research, or a class encouraged by their advisor. *TBMH leadership strongly encourages students to take TBMH 5124 - Translational Grant Writing as their free elective. This course prepares students for their preliminary exam and has been a key component of TBMH students being awarded the highest number per capita NIH F31 fellowships of any program at Vriginia Tech. |
TBMH 5204 - Seminar (1 credit) |
This is the fourth and final semester of a two year course exposing students to talks and meetings with field leading researchers from across the country. |
All required course work is completed at the end of year two. Students must talk to their advisors about taking any additional courses as the focus of years three and four are on conducting research and publishing.
TBMH 5004 Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health (8 credits)
The nature of the underlying processes of human health and disease and the context in which they occur. Examines the processes of the normal vs. pathological lifespan trajectory of humans and animal models at the molecular, cellular, organ system, organismal, group and social levels. Analysis of homeostatic processes throughout life’s stages and the genetic, environmental, behavioral and social drivers and interactions that lead to pathological outcomes.
TBMH 5105 & 5106 Professional Development and Ethics (2 credits each)
A one-year course for first year graduate students. The major focus is on essential skills that empower new graduate students to adjust to the new career demands, enhance their performance, and strategies to increase leadership skills, confidence, persistence, and communication skills. Additionally, responsible conduct in research training and ethical standards of science and in translational, biology, and health research are covered according to the NIH requirements.
TBMH 5304 Research Experience in Translational Biology, Medicine and Health (3 credits)
Research experience in biomedical, translational, and health sciences. Experimental design and methods, techniques and procedures, lab safety, data analysis and presentation. Serves as the basis for selection of a thesis advisor.
TBMH 5204 Seminar in Translational Biology, Medicine and Health (1 credit)
Weekly scientific research presentations from local and invited visiting scholars on current topics related to the biomedical, translational, and health sciences. Emerging technological and methodological trends. Recent conceptual advances, their relevance across specializations, and broader societal impact.
TBMH 5404 Scientific Logic and Analysis (1 credit)
Critical evaluation and discussion of primary health science and biomedical, research studies across the translational spectrum. Analysis of contemporary research problems and controversies, research design and methodology, and interdisciplinary approaches in translational science. Practicial experience with effective data presentation and peer-review.
TBMH 5014 Fundamentals of Molecular Brain Science
Comprehensive survey of brain and cognitive neuroscience across scales: normal function, pathology, therapeutics, and social and economic conditions.
TBMH 5024 Fundamentals of Cancer
Comprehensive survey of neoplastic diseases across scales: genetic, molecular, cellular, tissue, organism, society. Causes, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Social and economic aspects of cancer.
TBMH 5034 Fundamentals of Public Health and Implementation Science
The comprehensive survey course will include in-depth analysis of major medical and health discoveries on patient outcomes via translational research focused on scale-up and timely, effective delivery of new discoveries to targeted populations. Focus on epistemology, methodology, applications, and outcomes linked to translational science. Topics include implementation science related to: research design and strategies to speed the translation of proven health care interventions into practice; principles of adult learning and behavior change, systems and community-based participatory research; health services, patient centered research; impact assessment; health economics; health disparities; and health literacy applied to "Predictive, Preventive, Personalized, and Participatory Medicine”.
TBMH 5044 Fundamentals of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Science
Comprehensive survey of metabolic and cardiovascular physiology, their interrelationship, and epidemiology and pathophysiology of cardiometabolic diseases with an emphasis on moving basic scientific discoveries into practical applications.
TBMH 5054 Fundamentals of Immunity and Infectious Disease
Comprehensive survey of human immunity, infectious agents and disease across scales: genetic, molecular, cellular, tissue, organism, society. Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious and immune diseases. Social and economic aspects of infection disease and immunity.
TBMH 5064 Fundamentals of Tissue Engineering and Reparative Medicine
This course will focus on Translational Cancer Genomics, from basic principles to translation into the clinic. The course will include speakers from a variety of fields (academia, industry, and the FDA) and includes hands-on bioinformatics and laboratory modules. This course is taught at the Virginia Tech Institute for Advanced Computing in Alexandria, VA.
STAT 5605/06 - Biometry
5605: The normal distribution, estimation, hypothesis testing, simple linear regression, and one-way analysis of variance with applications to the biological sciences. 5606: Experimental design, nested and factorial analysis of variance, linear regression and correlation, and the use of SAS, with applications to the biological sciences. I
STAT 5615/16 - Statistics in Research
Concepts in statistical inference, including basic probability, estimation, and test of hypothesis, point and interval estimation and inferences; categorical data analysis; simple linear regression; and one-way analysis of variance. 5616: Multiple linear regression; multi-way classification analysis of variance; randomized block designs; nested designs; and analysis of covariance. One year of Calculus.
ALS 5115 – Nutrition, Digestion, Absorption, and Metabolism of Nutrients in Animals Including Humans
BCHM 5204 - Molecular Biology of Eukaryotic Gene Expression
BCHM 5224 - Protein Structure and Function
BIOL 5404 - Neuroethology
BIOL 5434 - Behavioral Endocrinology
BIOL 5564 - Adv Infectious Disease Ecology
BIOL 5624G - Advanced Microbial Genetics
BIOL 5734 - Advanced Inflammation Biology
BIOL 5884 - Molecular Biology of the Cell
BMES 5054 - Quantitative Cell Physiology
BMES 5184 - Injury Physiology
BMES 5314 - Introduction to Regenerative Medicine
BMES 5424 - Fundamentals of Tissue Structure, Function, and Replacement
BMES 5554 - Biomedical Signal and Image Processing
BMES 6514 - Medical Imaging II
BMVS 5305 (VM 9095) - Veterinary Oncology
BMVS 5624 - Molecular Virology
BMVS 6714 - Frontiers in Immunology in Health & Disease
CHEM 6564 - Bioorganic Principles of Medicinal Chemistry
ECON 6004 - Strategic Behavior
HD 5134 - Contemporary Issues in Aging
HD 5634 - Legislation and Policy in Human Development
HNFE 5144 - Molecular Aspects of Nutrition and Disease
HNFE 5146- Molecular Aspects of Diet and Cancer
HNFE 5724 (PHS 5024) - Epidemiology
NEUR 5034G- Advanced Diseases of the Nervous System
NEUR 5514G- Advanced Neuroimmunology
PSYC 5344 -Cognitive Psychology
PSYC 5374 - Health Psychology
TBMH 5104 - Fundamentals of Clinical Trial Research
TBMH 5124 - Translational Grant Writing
TBMH is continually looking for ways to support the needs of students and stay at the front of new fields of research. We periodically offer Special Studies courses tackling unique topics that have been identified by faculty and students. We also support the continued push to expand our curriculum when necessary. Below are a list of non-required additional courses that have been offered by TBMH and are currently being taught.
- TBMH 5064 - Tissue Engineering and Reparative Medicine (D.C. campus only)
- TBMH 5084 - Fundamentals for Developmental and Pediatric Sciences (D.C. campus only)
- TBMH 5104 - Foundational Knowledge for Leading Clinical Trials Research
- TBMH 5984 - Special Studies: Quantitative and Translational Cardiac Electrophysiology
- TBMH 5984 - Special Studies: Techniuqes in Neurobiology
- TBMH 5984 - Special Studies: Quantitative and Translational Cardio Health
- TBMH 5984 - Special Studies: Translational Statistics
Starting the summer after their first year, students will begin conducting research in their labs, and continue until graduation. A total of 63 credit hours of TBMH 7994 Research and Dissertation are required to graduate. Students can accumulate these hours in a variety of ways, but the typical and expected way is:
- 2nd Year
- Fall - 5 hours
- Spring 8 hours
- 3rd Year
- Fall - 13 hours
- Spring - 13 hours
- 4th Year
- Fall - 12 hours
- Spring 12 hours
Candidates are eligible for graduation upon successful completion of all core, elective, and research credits, as well as passing performance on the Preliminary Examination (advancement to candidacy) and successful oral defense of a written dissertation. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for all coursework, and no grade below a B is allowed for any core course. Review the sections below to learn more about the requirements.
At the end of the second semester of study the student will select a participating TBMH faculty member to serve as the student's thesis advisor, supervise the student's research, and chair the student’s Advisory Committee. If appropriate and acceptable to the thesis advisor, the student may opt to take on a clinical co-mentor. By the end of the third academic semester of study, each student must form an Advisory Committee, to be composed of the thesis advisor and a minimum of three other faculty members. The committee must include faculty from at least two different departments, including one faculty member representing a different stage of the translational research spectrum relative to the student’s research. To learn more about the translational spectrum visit the NIH's site on the Translational Science Spectrum. Students are allowed to have committee members from outside of Virginia Tech. For restrictions and requirements on external committee members refer to the "Advisory Committees" section in the Graduate School Catalog on Policies & Procedures.
In order to advance to Ph.D. candidacy students must have completed all required coursework and take a written and oral Preliminary Examination administered by the student's Advisory Committee. For the written component the student will prepare his/her dissertation research proposal in the format of an NIH F31 predoctoral fellowship proposal. The oral examination will cover the proposed research plan including the student's knowledge of the literature, the feasibility and originality of the proposed work, and all course material. A student who fails will be allowed only one additional attempt to retake the exam one semester later. The student's Advisory Committee must approve the research topic and plan in order for the student to continue in their research studies.
Students are expected to submit at least one first-authored original research paper based on their dissertation work for publication in a peer-reviewed journal prior to scheduling their defense.
Students will be prevented from scheduling their final defense until proof of a first-author paper being submitted for publication is provided to TBMH directors.
Upon completing all other degree requirements, and at a minimum of six months after the preliminary examination, students will prepare a written dissertation describing the completed research. The dissertation should be approved by the student's thesis advisor and provided to each of the committee members at least two weeks prior to the oral examination (dissertation defense). All dissertation defenses are advertised by the program and open to the public. Upon successful completion of the dissertation and public defense, students may apply for graduation from Virginia Tech with the Doctor of Philosophy in Translational Biology, Medicine and Health.
Explore all upcoming and past TBMH student defenses by clicking here.
It is expected that students will take four to five years to complete their degree, depending on the student’s background and area of research. Students taking longer than five years to complete their Ph.D. must have justifiable cause for the extended time; ex. Being awarded a national fellowship.
First Year
All PhD students will be under a Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) contract throughout their degree. GRA's cover tuition, stipend, and supplement the cost of certain health insurance premiums (learn more here). PhD students in their first year are fully funded through a GRA supported soley by the TBMH program. TBMH will cover tuition, stipend, and 87% of graduate student health insurance premiums if students elect to enroll in this insurance plan.
Second to Fourth Years
PhD students in their second through fourth years will be fully funded through a GRA supported by both the TBMH program and their advisor. TBMH will cover tuition while advisors pay for stipend and 87% of graduate student health insurance premiums if students elect to enroll in this insurance plan.
Fifth Year and Beyond
PhD students taking more than 4 years to complete their degree will have all GRA funding transfered to their advisor. Advisors will cover tuition stipend, and 87% of graduate student health insurance premiums if students elect to enroll in this insurance plan.
Preliminary Exam and Funding
PhD students are expected to pass their preliminary exam by the end of their 5th semester (fall semester of the third year). If students have not passed their preliminiary exam by this time all GRA funding will be transfered to their advisor until the semester after they have passed their preliminary exam.
A PhD with TBMH is a unique experience. We are a program under the Graduate School and not a department. Unlike a department we do not have our own facutly. Unlike a department students in TBMH have access to ALL VT faculty! Our students are not limited by any departmental restrictions on what faculty members can be their advisor.
Anyone at Virginia Tech doing research in one of our focus areas is open to our students. TBMH students have had...
over 250 VT faculty from over 40 departments...
as either advisors or committee members. Through our students' access to all faculty at Virginia Tech TBMH creates the space for students to do the research they are interested in, and the research that makes a difference.
PhD students with TBMH are offered support throughout their degree. These are some, but not all, of the ways TBMH supports our students:
- New students are assigned at peer mentor
- New students attend an independent two-day orientation
- New PhD students are not required to have an advisor before starting the program
- Research Live Fair is held before classes start to meet faculty and find potential advisors
- Hosted lab talks by facutly looking for graduate students
- A student accessible database with listing current research projects where faculty are looking for graduate students
- A second year or above TBMH student is assigned as the TA for first-year courses
- A database for students to voluntarily list their interests and hobbies where they can connect with other students
- A member of TBMH leadership dedicated to supporting students throughout their degree
- Non-academic student wellness events during the school year
- A dedicated student lounge and study area
- A conference room with a digital whiteboard for student use
- A kitchenette for student use with a refridgerator, Keurig, electric kettle, and sink
- A poster printer with no charge for TBMH students use
- End-of-Year Celebration
- Student of the Year awards
- Workshops on writing and planning for a successful defense and graduation
- Career and Professional Services exclusive appointments for TBMH students
- Weekly emails with all events, workshops, support services, volunteer oportunities, and more being offered by TBMH and Virginia Tech
Competitive applicants will have a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, a GPA of 3.0 or greater, and research experience in a relevant discipline.
Please review the admissions information, deadlines, and requirements below.
- Apply through the Virginia Tech Graduate School.
- Submit all undergraduate transcripts.
- Submit a personal statement. Statement should include applicant's interest in the program and career goals.
- Submit 3 letters of recommendation. Recommendation letters should be from individuals qualified to evaluate the applicant's potential for success in this program.
- Submit CV/Resume.
- Submit GRE scores. (Optional)
- International students should submit TOEFL score (4.5 minimum) or IELT score (6.5 minimum). Send to institution code 5859.
Application Deadlines for Enrollment in M.S. Degree for Fall 2027 |
|
|---|---|
Final Deadline |
April 15, 2027 |
Students pursuing a Master's will earn a minimum of 38 graduate level credit hours. There are a required 27 hours will be coursework and 11 hours of research and dissertation credits. By the end of year one students will complete all but 3 credit hours of their coursework to allow for a quick pivot to fully focusing on their own research project and graduating at the end of their second year.
TBMH 5004 - Gateway (8 credits) |
This is an intensive course made of several multi-week "blocks" centered around each of the TBMH focus areas.
|
TBMH 5204 - Seminar (1 credit) |
This is the first semester of a one year course exposing students to talks and meetings with field leading researchers from across the country. |
TBMH 5304 - Translational Research Experience (3 credits) |
This is the first semester of a year-long course. This course is different for Master's students as they have an advisor and lab secured before beginning the program. In this course students will take part in a component focused on how to take research findings to market in order to make the most impact on public health. |
TBMH 50x4 - Fundamentals of... (1 of 2) (4 credits) |
You will select one of the five focus areas to dive deeper into by taking "Fundamentals of..." course. Your options are:
|
TBMH 50x4 - Fundamentals of... (2 of 2) (4 credits) |
You will select one of the five focus areas to dive deeper into by taking a "Fundamentals of..." course. Your options are:
|
TBMH 5105 - Professional Development & Ethics (2 credits) |
This courses will cover the Responsible Conduct of Research requirements for students to work on NIH funded projects, along with topics helpful to productive research and career development. |
TBMH 5204 - Seminar (1 credit) |
This is the second semester of a one year course exposing students to talks and meetings with field leading researchers from across the country. |
TBMH 5304 - Translational Research Experience (3 credits) |
This is the second semester of a year-long course. In this semester students:
|
Quantitative Elective (3 credits) |
Students must take one 3 credit course exploring central concepts and skills needed in quantitative research. |
No more required courses after the fall semester of the second year. Master's students should work with their advisors on determining if any additional coursework would be helpful. Any additional coursework will not be a part of the student's offical Plan of Study.
TBMH 5004 Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health (8 credits)
The nature of the underlying processes of human health and disease and the context in which they occur. Examines the processes of the normal vs. pathological lifespan trajectory of humans and animal models at the molecular, cellular, organ system, organismal, group and social levels. Analysis of homeostatic processes throughout life’s stages and the genetic, environmental, behavioral and social drivers and interactions that lead to pathological outcomes.
TBMH 5105 Professional Development and Ethics (2 credits)
The major focus is on essential skills that empower new graduate students to adjust to the new career demands, enhance their performance, and strategies to increase leadership skills, confidence, persistence, and communication skills. Additionally, responsible conduct in research training and ethical standards of science and in translational, biology, and health research are covered according to the NIH requirements.
TBMH 5304 Research Experience in Translational Biology, Medicine and Health (3 credits)
Research experience in biomedical, translational, and health sciences. Experimental design and methods, techniques and procedures, lab safety, data analysis and presentation. Serves as the basis for selection of a thesis advisor.
TBMH 5204 Seminar in Translational Biology, Medicine and Health (1 credit)
Weekly scientific research presentations from local and invited visiting scholars on current topics related to the biomedical, translational, and health sciences. Emerging technological and methodological trends. Recent conceptual advances, their relevance across specializations, and broader societal impact.
TBMH 5014 Fundamentals of Molecular Brain Science
Comprehensive survey of brain and cognitive neuroscience across scales: normal function, pathology, therapeutics, and social and economic conditions.
TBMH 5024 Fundamentals of Cancer
Comprehensive survey of neoplastic diseases across scales: genetic, molecular, cellular, tissue, organism, society. Causes, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Social and economic aspects of cancer.
TBMH 5034 Fundamentals of Public Health and Implementation Science
The comprehensive survey course will include in-depth analysis of major medical and health discoveries on patient outcomes via translational research focused on scale-up and timely, effective delivery of new discoveries to targeted populations. Focus on epistemology, methodology, applications, and outcomes linked to translational science. Topics include implementation science related to: research design and strategies to speed the translation of proven health care interventions into practice; principles of adult learning and behavior change, systems and community-based participatory research; health services, patient centered research; impact assessment; health economics; health disparities; and health literacy applied to "Predictive, Preventive, Personalized, and Participatory Medicine”.
TBMH 5044 Fundamentals of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Science
Comprehensive survey of metabolic and cardiovascular physiology, their interrelationship, and epidemiology and pathophysiology of cardiometabolic diseases with an emphasis on moving basic scientific discoveries into practical applications.
TBMH 5054 Fundamentals of Immunity and Infectious Disease
Comprehensive survey of human immunity, infectious agents and disease across scales: genetic, molecular, cellular, tissue, organism, society. Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious and immune diseases. Social and economic aspects of infection disease and immunity.
TBMH 5064 Fundamentals of Tissue Engineering and Reparative Medicine
This course will focus on Translational Cancer Genomics, from basic principles to translation into the clinic. The course will include speakers from a variety of fields (academia, industry, and the FDA) and includes hands-on bioinformatics and laboratory modules. This course is taught at the Virginia Tech Academic Building One in Alexandria, VA.
STAT 5605/06 - Biometry
5605: The normal distribution, estimation, hypothesis testing, simple linear regression, and one-way analysis of variance with applications to the biological sciences. 5606: Experimental design, nested and factorial analysis of variance, linear regression and correlation, and the use of SAS, with applications to the biological sciences. I
STAT 5615/16 - Statistics in Research
Concepts in statistical inference, including basic probability, estimation, and test of hypothesis, point and interval estimation and inferences; categorical data analysis; simple linear regression; and one-way analysis of variance. 5616: Multiple linear regression; multi-way classification analysis of variance; randomized block designs; nested designs; and analysis of covariance. One year of Calculus.
While Master's students will not enroll in Research & Thesis credits until their second year, they are expected to be in their labs conducting research as a part of their TBMH 5304 Research Experience course during their first year. This will be in place of the rotations being done by PhD students for the same course. Starting the first semester of their second year Master's students will complete a total of 11 credit hours of TBMH 5994 Research & Thesis are required to graduate. Students can accumulate these hours in a variety of ways, but the typical and expected way is:
- 2nd Year
- Fall - 5 hours
- Spring - 6 hours
Students are eligible for graduation upon successful completion of all core course and research credits, and a successful oral defense of a written thesis. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for all coursework, and no grade below a B is allowed for any core course. Review the sections below to learn more about the requirements.
Before acceptance into the TBMH Master's degree the student will be required to have matched with a participating TBMH faculty member to serve as the student's thesis advisor, supervise the student's research, and chair the student’s Advisory Committee. By the end of the second academic semester of study each student must form an Advisory Committee to be composed of the thesis advisor and a minimum of two other faculty members. The committee must include faculty from at least two different departments, including one faculty member representing a different stage of the translational research spectrum relative to the student’s research. To learn more about the translational spectrum visit the NIH's site on the Translational Science Spectrum. Students are allowed to have committee members from outside of Virginia Tech. For restrictions and requirements on external committee members refer to the "Advisory Committees" section in the Graduate School Catalog on Policies & Procedures.
Upon completing all other degree requirements students will prepare a written thesis describing their completed research. The thesis should be approved by the student's thesis advisor and provided to each of the committee members at least two weeks prior to the oral examination (thesis defense). All defenses are advertised by the program and open to the public.
Explore all upcoming and past TBMH student defenses by clicking here.
It is expected that students will take two years to complete the degree, depending on the student's background and research interests.
Unlike our PhD degree, TBMH offers NO fincial assistance for students seeking a Master's degree. Advisors can provide GRA's or GTA's at their discretion, but are not required to.
A Master's degree with TBMH is a unique experience. We are a program under the Graduate School and not a department. This means unlike a department we do not have our own facutly. However, because we are a program under the Graduate School, unlike a department students with TBMH have access to ALL VT faculty! Our students are not limited by departmental restrictions on what faculty members can be their advisor.
Anyone at Virginia Tech doing research in one of our focus areas is open to our students. TBMH students have had...
over 250 VT faculty from over 40 departments...
as either advisors or committee members. Through our students' access to all faculty at Virginia Tech TBMH creates the space for students to do the research they are interested in, and the research that makes a difference.
M.S. students with TBMH are offered support throughout their degree. These are some, but not all, of the ways TBMH supports our students:
- New students are assigned at peer mentor
- New students attend an independent two-day orientation
- A second year or above TBMH student is assigned as the TA for first-year courses
- A database for students to voluntarily list their interests and hobbies where they can connect with other students
- A member of TBMH leadership dedicated to supporting students throughout their degree
- Non-academic student wellness events during the school year
- A dedicated student lounge and study area
- A conference room with a digital whiteboard for student use
- A kitchenette for student use with a refridgerator, Keurig, electric kettle, and sink
- A poster printer with no charge for TBMH students use
- End-of-Year Celebration
- Student of the Year awards
- Workshops on writing and planning for a successful defense and graduation
- Career and Professional Services exclusive appointments for TBMH students
- Weekly emails with all events, workshops, support services, volunteer oportunities, and more being offered by TBMH and Virginia Tech
If you are interested in applying to TBMH and would like to learn more about our program consider joining one of our Virtual Information Sessions offered several times throughout the fall semester. Click the link below to signup to attend.
August 28, 2026 September 25, 2026 November 20, 2026 December 11, 2026 (M.S. Only)
- Published over 500 peer-reviewed papers
- Earned over $2,450,000 in grants to fund their research
- Received over 70 awards acknowledging the quality and value of their research
- Presented posters and given talks at over 400 conferences
- Been named to Forbes 30 under 30 list
- Served as Early Career Policy Ambassadors for the Society of Neuroscience
- Earned summer COVES fellowships
- Created science outreach programs for local elementary schools
- Developed podcasts and lead community talks to promote science communication
- Given TEDx talks
- ...and so much more.
We are excited to see what you will do!
Blacksburg Campus
A collection of resources for all VT students, but with a focus on students living in Blacksburg, VA.
Roanoke Campus
Collections of students resources for living and learning in Ronaoke.
Northern Virginia / National Capitol Region
A collection of resources for students attending and living near the Northern Virginia / Capitol Region campus.
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