Ph.D. in Medical Sciences | Biomedical Informatics

The University of Florida’s Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Sciences with a concentration in Biomedical Informatics offers advanced training in computer science, health and medicine, biostatistics, data science and analytics, engineering, and research methodology to prepare students for academic and research careers in the growing field of biomedical informatics. Graduates will be prepared to pursue faculty-level positions and help drive innovation in health care and research.

The PhD concentration in Biomedical Informatics (BMI) aligns with current national initiatives, including the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, which clearly emphasize the growing importance of biomedical informatics research across the nation. In particular, this program emphasizes scientific methods for translating research into practice. The doctoral degree, which is available on UF’s campus, is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career at the intersection of health outcomes research, translational science and computer science.

Gain Expertise in Translational Science and Research Methodology

Fall 2027 Application Deadline

To Be Announced

The PhD in Medical Sciences program is no longer accepting applications. Applications for the coming application cycle will open this Fall.

Students who complete the Biomedical Informatics concentration will learn to:

• Acquire a professional perspective on the history and values of the field and its connections to related domains, and the ability to evaluate critically BMI literature.
• Work effectively and efficiently in a multidisciplinary setting, with experts from several domains.
• Analyze problems and produce solutions, from information to knowledge discovery.
• Create new paradigms, frameworks, and processes to address BMI problems.
• Contribute to the growth of the body of knowledge in BMI.
• Disseminate the new information and knowledge acquired in the field to experts and non-experts alike.

Conduct Research in the Field of Biomedical Informatics

Each student will conduct a self-directed research project with faculty mentorship. Students are expected to design and execute a unique research study that will lead to a dissertation and a publishable manuscript. Enrollment in the program is limited to ensure one-on-one faculty mentorship with experts in the field. UF’s program has particular expertise in the sub-fields of ontologies, social media, mHealth and clinical informatics.

Students can take advantage of the multiple interdisciplinary partnerships available across the University of Florida, one of the top land-grant universities in the Southeast, as well as multiple health science centers, such as the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, the Informatics Institute and the Institute for Child Health Policy, which has close ties to the Department o Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics. Moreover, doctoral students will benefit from the vibrant research environment within the Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics, including the ability to collaborate with faculty working on the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s Clinical Data Research Network (CDRN) within the OneFlorida Clinical Research Consortium. UF serves as the Coordinating Center for the statewide CDRN, 1 of only 13 nationwide. Learn more about the CDRN.

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HOBI Student Handbook

This student handbook should be used as a resource throughout departmental studies. It includes necessary program information, mentorship advice, our code of conduct and graduation requirements.