The Program

Kent State University and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation maintain a cooperative graduate training program leading to the doctoral degree in biomedical sciences. Together, both institutions offer world-class facilities to support the most modern training opportunity for students interested in research careers in the biomedical disciplines. Graduate students can benefit from the expertise, experience and facilities of an outstanding faculty and staff that are nationally and internationally known for their research and teaching capabilities.

Academic Opportunity

We offer training focused on the elucidation of processes related to the biochemistry and pathobiology of diseases. Students may be admitted to the program through the Cellular Biology and Structure subprogram area of the Cellular and Molecular Biology Program. All students participate in an integrated curriculum designed to impart an in-depth understanding of the major discipline, as well as the interests of the student and advisor. The accomplished faculty, and the combined resources of the consortial universities, afford students the opportunity for first-rate training in a modern research setting.

Curriculum and Programmatic Details

The Faculty

Financial Assistance

Qualified students are offered full financial support in the form of research or graduate assistantships. Kent offers 12 month graduate appointments to all qualified students. Students admitted to the doctoral program are eligible to receive an annual stipend of $18,000, as well as waivers of tuition and fees. Awards consisting solely of a tuition/fee waiver are also available. Awards are made on a competitive basis and renewed annually for up to 5 years, as long as the student remains in good academic standing. The cost of living in the Kent area is relatively low, student housing readily available and the standard of living high.

Application and Admission

Interested students may apply on-line through this website or request an application by contacting the Director. Admission is competitive and applicants should have completed a baccalaureate degree with a strong background in the natural sciences, have at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA and have completed the GRE general exam. Specific information concerning the admission process for domestic or international students can be found at Kent's office of Research and Graduate Studies.

The Environment

Located in Kent, Ohio, Kent State University lies in a semi-rural setting 45 minutes southeast of Cleveland. Kent enrolls over 22,000 students on the main campus. These enrollments include a graduate student population of approximately 4500 students. In addition, the university has seven Regional Campuses with an additional student enrollment of approximately 10,000 students. The member institutions participating in Kent State's School of Biomedical Sciences (Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, The University of Akron and Youngstown State University) are all conveniently located within a short distance of Kent. Because of its central location in Northeast Ohio, Kent offers an economical living environment suited to take advantage of both large metropolitan areas and neighboring rural settings. Because of Kent's proximity to Cleveland, Akron and Canton, one may enjoy world-class museums and orchestras, art galleries or stage productions. There are countless venues for rock, jazz and blues including Blossom Music Center, an open-air music hall and theater. Sports fans have easy access to the best of major league baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer. Those enjoying outdoor activities will find no shortage of attractions including state and community parks, national forests and pristine rivers all within an hour's drive of Kent. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) continues to grow and prosper. Through recruitment of outstanding new staff, improvement and expansion of our facilities, development of extensive infrastructure and support services, and enhancement of education programs, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation has strengthened the ability to do cutting edge research. New relationships developed with scientists in the biomedical business community in Northeast Ohio, elsewhere in the U.S. and around the world, have built upon established collaborations with colleagues at nearby academic institutions. We continue to collaborate productively with our clinical colleagues to move discoveries from the bench to the bedside as efficiently as possible.