Dr. Dana Pe’er is the Chair of Computational and Systems Biology program, where MSK investigators build computer models that simulate biological processes from the molecular level up to the organism as a whole and use these models to make useful predictions.
All students attend the cancer engineering PhD program on a full-time basis. We allow students a maximum of six years to complete all requirements for the PhD degree.
Satisfactory completion of the Core Course (with a GPA of 3.0 or better), first-year journal clubs and seminars, and laboratory rotations are evaluated at the end of the first year of the program.
Thesis Proposal
By April 15 of the second year of the program, students must present their thesis proposals. The thesis proposal consists of a written and oral presentation based on the thesis work that the student has already begun. This presentation gives students an opportunity to organize their thoughts and plans for the dissertation project, and allows mentors and the Advisory Committee to assess the students’ scientific progress.
Advancement to Candidacy
Students are automatically advanced to candidacy after the successful presentation of their thesis proposals. Each student must successfully complete both the written and oral components of the presentation before being advanced to candidacy.
Presenting and Defending the Dissertation
Ultimately, our students must pursue a research project under the supervision of their mentors, which results in a dissertation that reports new findings. Once completed, the dissertation is presented and defended.
Dr. Sohrab Shah is the Chief of Computational Oncology at MSK.
Application Information
- The annual application window is from August to December 2. Applications should be submitted online.
- GSK welcomes international students. Learn more about how to apply.
- Get more information about the admissions process.
- Get answers to frequently asked questions about Gerstner Sloan Kettering.