phd in northeastern university

Students pursuing a research PhD work with world-class faculty in facilities that spark creativity and discovery. In novel programs, they work alongside professionals, forging valuable alliances within their chosen field.

Northeastern’s Doctoral Programs

Our doctoral students seek solutions to 21st century problems. Candidates work alongside world-class faculty in facilities designed to inspire creativity, foster exploration, and fuel discovery. Learn more here .

Introducing the Experiential PhD

Northeastern is pioneering a new form of doctorate—one that amplifies lab and classroom learning with fellowships and internships at companies, research institutes, or nonprofits. Instead of one faculty mentor, students have a second in industry. While broadening their network, students gain access to leading innovators, publishing opportunities, and career paths.

Six interdisciplinary doctoral programs created since 2009 are preparing students to excel in these fastest-growing industries:

• Bioengineering
• Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology
• Information Assurance
• Network Science
• Personal Health Informatics
• Population Health

Explore the complete list of PhD programs here .

Leaders Empowering Leaders

Our faculty members prepare students for tomorrow’s challenges by collaborating with them on groundbreaking advances. Students are mentored by innovators like these:

• Kim Lewis and  Slava Epstein , professors of biology, rocked the science world when they discovered a  new antibiotic  that killed bacteria without encountering resistance—and a strategy for identifying  additional microbe killers .
• Ryan Cordell  and   David Smith,  professors of English and computer and information science, respectively, launched the  Viral Texts Project , which is mining digitized, 19th-century U.S. newspapers and magazines in order to understand why certain stories were so often reprinted, effectively “going viral” across the country and beyond.
• Octavia Camps and  Mario Sznaler , electrical and computer engineering professors in the  Awareness and Localization of Explosives-Related Threats  (ALERT) lab—a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence. The pair have created video surveillance software with promise for improving  airport security .

Since 2006, Northeastern has recruited more than 600 outstanding faculty members—many with joint appointments that empower them to probe the knowledge gaps between disciplines.

New Questions Need New Answers

Our doctoral candidates are accomplished scholars, striving to respond to society’s most pressing questions, issues, and needs. Many have earned prestigious awards, from Fulbright scholarships to Harvard University’s Rappaport Public Policy Fellowship.

Our students secure funding through fellowship opportunities like these:

• Distinguished Dean’s Fellowship  — Northeastern awards this fellowship to exemplary students who demonstrate exceptional promise.
• GEM Fellowship  — Northeastern serves as a host for GEM (Graduate Education for Minorities), a network of leading universities, companies, and government agencies. GEM’s members collaborate to provide graduate education in engineering and science to underrepresented minority students.
• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship  — The National Science Foundation supports students in NSF-supported STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) disciplines who are pursuing research-based graduate degrees.
• Embedded Employee Fellowship, Corporate Graduate Fellowship  — Within these new, innovative, company-funded programs, doctoral students work alongside an industry mentor.

Continuing Discovery

Northeastern doctoral candidates continue to push boundaries. In 2017, 85 percent of our doctoral students were placed: 33 percent did postdoctoral research, 22 percent secured college-level teaching positions, and 39 percent embarked on careers in industry and R&D.

Academic Catalog 2024-2025

Phd programs.

Northeastern University offers the PhD programs listed below.  In cluded in th is list are  Cross-Disciplinary Science PhD Programs,  where students may pursue a PhD program that blends curriculum across two departments in the College of Science, such as psychology with marine and environmental science. 

In addition, PhD students are encouraged to pursue additional graduate certificates to enhance their professional development includ ing the Postsecondary Teaching , Global Doctoral Research , and Experiential PhD Leadership .  The Experiential PhD page has additional information on doctoral opportunities that connect Northeastern to industry, government, and nonprofit partners.

• Bioengineering, PhD
• Biology, PhD
• Biomedical Science, PhD
• Chemical Engineering, PhD
• Chemistry, PhD
• Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD
• Computer Engineering, PhD
• Computer Science, PhD
• Counseling Psychology, PhD
• Criminology and Justice Policy, PhD
• Cross-Disciplinary Science PhD Programs - see available programs below
• Cybersecurity, PhD
• Economics, PhD
• Electrical Engineering, PhD
• English, PhD
• History, PhD

Human Behavior and Sustainability Sciences, PhD

• Human Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences, PhD
• Industrial Engineering, PhD
• Interdisciplinary, PhD
• Interdisciplinary Design and Media, PhD
• Interdisciplinary Engineering, PhD
• Marine and Environmental Sciences, PhD
• Mathematics, PhD
• Mechanical Engineering, PhD
• Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery, PhD
• Network Science, PhD
• Nursing, PhD
• Personal Health Informatics, PhD
• Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, PhD
• Pharmacology, PhD
• Physics, PhD
• Political Science, PhD
• Population Health, PhD
• Psychology, PhD
• Public Policy, PhD
• School Psychology, PhD
• Sociology, PhD

Cross-Disciplinary Science PhD Programs

Graduate certificates available to phd students for professional development.

Experiential PhD Leadership  

Global Doctoral Research  

Postsecondary Teaching  

The PhD Network works with Northeastern's colleges to produce career-ready, dynamic researchers with the deep knowledge and real-world skills and literacies they need to shape global and societal solutions—in academia and industry.

At Northeastern, every PhD student has opportunities to acquire experience beyond traditional dissertation research. Exposure to and integration with our many industry and academic partners—through internships, fieldwork, and other collaborations—and in authentic settings—from laboratories, startup companies, and nonprofit institutions—lead to research with greater impact and broader career opportunities, both within and beyond academia. The PhD Network works with internal and external partners to grow and facilitate opportunities for PhD students.

Shared values unite PhD-centered activities at Northeastern:

• Excellence with purpose: All PhD programs combine academic rigor with societal impact, preparing critical thinkers to tackle the world's most challenging problems.
• Innovative thinking: Our education programs, mentoring activities, and research scholarship develop novel content and pathfinding approaches.
• Crossing boundaries: PhD students transcend disciplinary and international boundaries during their innovative educational journey.
• Integrative education: The integration of scholarship and research training with collaborative fieldwork and professional development provides a uniquely experiential education.
• Inclusive diversity: Students and faculty from diverse cultures and backgrounds drive excellence by bringing a wide range of perspectives to our distinctive programs.

Explore the PhD Network website to learn more about:

• Resources that support PhD students’ educational, professional, and personal lives
• Events created especially for PhD students, both at Northeastern and through our partners
• Funding in support of fellowships, internships, and conference attendance

Offering an in dividually tailored  program of study, the Northeastern University Interdisciplinary Doctor of Philosophy program  enables students to draw from the disciplines supporting their field s  of  research and provides  flexibility  to train the next generation of transdisciplinary and multidisciplinary researchers who will be needed  to tackle society’s most pressing problems  that cross disciplinary boundaries . 

The graduate group,  consisting of faculty from across Northeastern, provides the overarching faculty oversight to the curriculum  that is expected to cross multiple Northeastern colleges.  The Interdisciplinary PhD option will only be available when the desired research curriculum cannot be supported by one of  Northeastern’s  existing PhD pro g rams.  This PhD program is administered by the Office of the Provost.

Minimum academic standards, oversight, requirements, and milestones related to this new PhD are described below.   

Graduate Group

T his refers to the faculty committee that will provide academic  oversight for the PhD   program as a whole .   

Dissertation Committee

Established by  the graduate group  for each PhD student , the dissertation committee consists of  at least  three  faculty qualified to supervise the student’s research and  establishes  the curriculum requirements in support of the PhD student’s anticipated dissertation research.   There should be at least one dissertation committee member representing each discipline associated with the proposed PhD,   and it is strongly encouraged that  an  external  individual  is added as a  fourth  member  of the dissertation committee .  This external member must be qualified to supervise and guide PhD-level research.   The dissertation committee also establishes the milestone requirements, specifically the format for the qualifying exam  at the time of admission.  One member of the dissertation committee will serve as the committee chair. Cochairs are permitted and encouraged to guide research at the intersection of disciplines.   

Area of Specialization

Students select an area of specialization , supported by their approved coursework and research areas  and denoted on the student’s transcript .  The area of specialization will be  recommended  by the dissertation committee .  The graduate group will review these areas of specialization within the context of existing  PhD  specialization s .  The graduate group will make the final decision about the area of specialization for each student.  Area of specialization should be established by the end of the first year of academic study.    

Admission to Candidacy

The admission to candidacy recognizes the wide range of disciplines that  may participate in in this degree. To reach candidacy, PhD students must demonstrate  their research ability through the   appl ication  and  synthesis of  skills and knowledge and their ability to pose questions  and  solve problems.  Students should achieve candidacy by the end of the second year of study. The admission to candidacy will include an assessment  about  the candidate’s ability to perfor m societally impactful research by an external evaluator. Stu dents who require more than 18 months to meet the requirements for candidacy will need to petition the dissertation committee and the graduate group to request extended time.  Candidacy  will be achieved with the following:  

• The qualifying examination subject areas will be established at the time of admission, which will be aligned with the student's proposed research project. A representative from the graduate group will convene the dissertation committee for the qualifying exams. To assess the student's ability to perform impactful research, it is strongly recommended that an evaluator outside Northeastern (and not a member of the dissertation committee) be included as an examiner. The qualifying examination will normally include a written exam, oral exam, response to a journal paper, and/or other format deemed acceptable by the dissertation committee for the involved disciplinary areas.
• Progression to candidacy may also require a research paper requirement. Any paper requirements will be communicated at admission.
• The committee may require a presentation from the student before making its recommendation.

Dissertation Prospectus/Proposal

After the student has achieved sufficient depth in a field of study, the student prepares a proposal for a PhD dissertation. This process should take place within a year of achieving candidacy. The dissertation proposal describes the proposed research, including the relevant background materials from literature. The proposal should clearly specify the research questions to be addressed, the methods to be used, and a schedule of milestones to completion. A representative from the graduate group will convene the dissertation committee for the dissertation proposal. The dissertation proposal must be approved by the dissertation committee. It is strongly encouraged that the dissertation committee include an individual qualified to guide the research from outside Northeastern. Upon approval of the written proposal, the student must present the proposed work orally in a public forum, followed by a closed-door oral examination from the dissertation committee. The dissertation committee will submit the dissertation proposal results to the representative from the graduate group who will review and communicate the results to the student. The student may take the dissertation proposal examination twice, at most. 

Dissertation Defense

The dissertation defense is held in accordance with the bylaws of the University Graduate Curriculum Committee of the Northeastern Faculty Senate. The defense is convened by a representative from the graduate group and is chaired by a Northeastern faculty member approved by the graduate group and outside the dissertation committee. The dissertation committee will include an external examiner who is an individual with expertise in the area of study but not affiliated with the Northeastern global campus system or previously involved with the student’s research. The defense chair will communicate the results to the PhD candidate.  

Program Requirements for Bachelor's Degree Entry

Core requirements  (curricula established by the dissertation committee) Annual progress review Admission to candidacy Qualifying examination Dissertation prospectus/proposal Dissertation defense

Core Requirements

The dissertation committee will provide oversight in coursework selection, provided that each student has training (via courses or experience) in prerequisite domain knowledge, research methods, and specific contexts.  Students are required to enroll in a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework approved by the dissertation committee. This coursework may include traditional courses, special topics courses, independent study, and discussant or other coursework taken via partner institution. The coursework should also include opportunities to develop the professional skills (such as communication, teaching, and leadership) required for the student’s field of research. Courses delivered at a partner outside Northeastern University may satisfy these course requirements provided an education or experiential PhD agreement exists with that organization. The dissertation committee will ensure that the 30 semester hours represent a balance of coursework across domain knowledge, research methods, application contexts, research integrity, colloquia, the research itself, and professional development. The dissertation committee should submit a plan of study to the graduate group during the first semester of a PhD student’s enrollment.   

Program Credit / GPA Requirements

30 total semester hours required Minimum 3.000 GPA required

Program Requirements for Master's Degree Entry

Core requirements  (curricula established by the dissertation committee) Annual progress review Admission to candidacy Qualifying examination Dissertation prospectus/proposal Dissertation defense

The dissertation committee will provide oversight in coursework selection, provided that each student has training (via courses or experience) in prerequisite domain knowledge, research methods, and specific contexts. Students are required to enroll in a minimum of 12 semester hours of coursework approved by the dissertation committee. This coursework may include traditional courses, special topics courses, independent study, and discussant or other coursework taken via partner institution. The coursework should also include opportunities to develop the professional skills (such as communication, teaching, and leadership) required for the student’s field of research. Courses delivered at a partner outside Northeastern University may satisfy these course requirements provided an education or experiential PhD agreement exists with that organization. The dissertation committee will ensure that the 12 semester hours represent a balance of coursework across domain knowledge, research methods, application contexts, research integrity, colloquia, the research itself, and professional development. The dissertation committee should submit a plan of study to the graduate group during the first semester of a PhD student’s enrollment.   

12 total semester hours required Minimum 3.000 GPA required

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Interdisciplinary PhD Program

Northeastern University's Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program trains next-generation researchers to tackle high-impact questions in emerging fields. Successful applicants design a tailored study plan with the flexibility to conduct research at the most suitable location for their work.

Participating D'Amore-McKim faculty

The following D'Amore-McKim School of Business faculty members are interested in working with Interdisciplinary Ph.D. students. Applicants whose research interests align with any of the following people may contact them directly with thoughtful introductions and questions.

Christoph Riedl

Nada Sanders

Zhenyu Liao

Amir Grinstein

Hristina Nikolova

John (Jianqiu) Bai

Karthik Krishnan

Fabricius Somogyi

Anand Venkateswaran

Udi Hoitash

Application materials.

Applying to the Interdisciplinary PhD Program is a multistep process that involves a preliminary application that is reviewed to assess the candidate's educational background and the interdisciplinary nature of the research area. A complete set of preliminary application materials helps the Graduate Group understand how prepared an applicant is to complete an interdisciplinary PhD at Northeastern by describing the applicant's education journey, the ways in which the project does not fit into a disciplinary program, and the faculty who could help the applicant understand their research. Apply now by submitting the pre-application, including:

• A preliminary application form
• unofficial transcripts
• preliminary research statement

PhD in Computer Science

The PhD in Computer Science program provides students with the advanced coursework and groundbreaking research opportunities they need to contribute at the forefront of the world’s fastest-growing fields. Forging knowledge in 15 core areas like artificial intelligence, data science, programming languages, and human-centered computing, you’ll gain significant expertise in conducting and presenting the results of your research. Ultimately, you’ll produce and defend original work that contributes to critical discourse in your chosen area.

• Explore plan of study
• View program requirements
• How to apply
• Request info

Khoury College doctorate students gain deep knowledge and invaluable experience—preparing you for a research career in academia or industry.

Khoury Computer Science PhD graduates have found prestigious positions across industry and academia.

Tenure-track faculty:

• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• University of British Columbia (UBC)
• Indiana University
• University of Maryland
• University College London
• NC State University
• UMass Boston
• City University of Hong Kong

Postdoc research scientists:

• University of Paris
• Virginia Tech
• Microsoft Research
• GE Global Research

Senior software engineers and industry leaders:

Students graduating with a PhD in Computer Science will:

• Gain a broad understanding of computer science fundamentals, spanning a substantial portion of the following core areas: artificial intelligence and data science, human-centered computing, software, systems, and theory
• Gain significant expertise in at least one research area in computer science
• Produce and defend original research in an area of computer science
• Be able to communicate research results effectively in both oral and written forms

Our flagship campus in Boston is just minutes away from esteemed universities, exciting start-ups, and leaders in tech, finance, health care, and more.

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Population Health (PhD)

YOU ARE BOUVÉ

Explore the complex factors that affect the health and well-being of populations.

The PhD Program in Population Health at Northeastern University integrates interdisciplinary education and experiential learning opportunities to train students to become public health researchers and leaders who understand the complex factors that affect the health and well-being of populations. The program has:

• Close mentoring by distinguished faculty
• A focus on solution-based, innovative research
• Specialized training in critical population health topics

Our program trains students to become public health leaders through simultaneous examination of multiple determinations of health, including social, environmental, nutritional, and behavioral risk factors.

Our students investigate the underlying causes of adverse health, including disease, disparities, and disability, through training in core population health disciplines:

• biostatistics
• epidemiology
• health services

This training is done together with individual-specific and specialized training in topics related to student research.

Our students are mentored by Northeastern’s distinguished faculty, who individually and together conduct innovative, solution-focused research in critical population health topics.

Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy in Population Health (PhD)

Study options: – Full-time – On-ground (Boston campus) only Need flexibility around daytime classes – *Fall semester start only

Application deadlines: Dec 6

Prerequisites: None Most applicants have a master’s degree

Applications accepted: Domestic and international

Grad assistantships available : Full-time students only

GRE: Optional

Please Note: PhD students in the Bouvé College of Health Sciences may not request enrollment deferrals. If you are admitted for a given term but wish to be considered for a future term instead, you must re-apply to the program in order to be considered for admission and funding. 

Population Health doctoral students conduct research that addresses key determinants of health including:

• Social and Neighborhood/Community Contexts
• Environmental Risks
• Health Care Access and Delivery
• Economic Stability

All Population Health PhD candidates must earn at least 33 credits by completing core research courses, selecting a concentration, and taking additional electives and directed study courses, as needed and in consultation with their faculty advisors. They must complete a dissertation in order to earn their degree.

Sample Curriculum

Curriculum subject to change. For most up-to-date information please refer to the university’s academic catalog .

• Research Core
• Social/Environmental Concentration
• Health Services /Policy Concentration

Students investigate the underlying causes of adverse health, including disease, disparities, and disability, through training in core population health disciplines.

Biostatistics in Public Health

Epidemiology

Principles of Population Health

Economic Perspectives on Health Policy

Applied Regression Analysis

Intermediate Epidemiology

Research Skills and Ethics

Students are trained to conduct research examining the social and environmental determinants of health through a cohesive, transdisciplinary program that integrates topics that include the five pillars of public health, including epidemiology, biostatistics, health program evaluation, environmental health, and social determinants of health.

Social Epidemiology

Advanced Methods in Biostatistics

Dissertation preparation classes ( exact credits determined in conjunction with faculty advisor )

Directed Study ( can be repeated as needed )

Sample Electives

Various electives ( exact number of courses determined in conjunction with faculty advisor )

Theoretical Foundations of Personal Health Informatics

Health Organization Management

Public Health Policy and Administration

Strategic Management and Leadership in Health Care

Global Health

Health Education and Program Planning

Advances in Measuring Behavior

Social Movements in Health

Qualitative Methods in Health and Illness

Causal Inference in Public Health

Data Mining

Statistics for Big Data Sets

Students are trained to conduct highly rigorous research examining the financing, organization, and delivery of health care services through the use of quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Microeconomic Theory

Evaluating Health Care Quality

Sample Electives – 3 credits

Admissions requirements.

The Population Health PhD program accepts applications through December 15 for Fall entry. While there are no prerequisites for this PhD, most of our applicants have a Master’s degree.

Applicants with an interest in rigorous research training in public health are encouraged to apply. Receipt of a previous master’s degree in public health or related field is not required however evidence of skills and aptitude in quantitative research methods from degree transcript and work experience will be noted. Submission of GRE test scores is optional. You may be asked to participate in an interview with  member of the admission committee and/or potential faculty mentors prior to an admission being made.

Completed SOPHAS application

Official transcripts Mailing Address:

SOPHAS Transcript Processing Center P.O. Box 9111 Watertown, MA 02471

Electronic transcripts: See  SOPHAS Instructions

Personal Statement

Official test scores Submission of GRE test scores is optional.

TOEFL or IELTS scores are required from international applicants who possess degrees from institutions outside the United States. Use code #5688. The PhD Program requires a minimum score of 100 on the TOEFL (official test scores from similar English-language tests may not be substituted in place of the TOEFL).

Requests to be waived from the TOEFL requirement are determined on a case by case basis by the Program Director. Email Dr. Beth Molnar at  [email protected]  with your request and relevant materials (eg, CV/resume, transcripts).

3 letters of recommendation Only academic and professional letters of recommendation will be accepted.

SOPHAS application fees and fee waivers:

Got questions?

We welcome your questions about our program. Please send general program inquiries and admissions-related questions to:

Beth Molnar  Program Director

Faculty Areas of Expertise

Completing your public health training at Northeastern University affords you the opportunity to learn from and work with public health professionals striving to improve the health of individuals, families, and communities around the world. Below are the main areas of expertise for our faculty. That said, the public health field is vast, has many interdisciplinary overlaps, and is ever-evolving. We both welcome and drive that change for current and future public health careers.

Cutting edge data collection and analysis methods, including application to large, real world datasets.

Meet the Faculty

• Jessica Davis
• Christine Lary
• Sara Lopez-Pintado
• Justin Manjourides
• Farzad Noubary
• Aarti Sathyanarayana
• Louisa Smith
• Jay Spitulnik
• Alessandro Vespignani

Enhancing the health of groups, including those living outside of metropolitan areas.

• Allison Bauer

Leo Beletsky

• Danielle Crookes
• Adrianna Crossing
• Jennifer Evans
• Amy Helburn
• Aleksandra Jakubowski
• Robert Leeman  
• Alisa Lincoln
• Neil Maniar
• Jean McGuire
• Deborah Milbauer
• Shan Mohammed

Beth Molnar

• Herman Saksono
• Carmel Salhi
• Claudia Santelices
• Laura Senier
• Ashleigh Shields
• Idia Binitie Thurston
• Julia Varshavsky
• Steve Zoloth

Relationships between people and their physical contexts: the impact of people’s behaviors on those contexts and the impact of these contexts on health (e.g., pollution).

• Kaitlyn Alvarez Noli

Distribution and determinants of health-related issues within populations and applying lessons learned to ameliorating these issues.

• Stephen Flaherty
• Matthew Goodwin
• Matthew Miller
• Brianne Olivieri-Mui

Determinants of and ways to improve health in a worldwide context with a goal of achieving equity.

• Tamara Jimah
• Syamak Moattari
• John Olawepo
• Michael Trisolini

Exploring the best practices and methods for explaining and disseminating information to promote better health.

• Marina DiMarco
• Elizabeth Glowacki
• Annemarie Sullivan

Enhancing efficiency, effectiveness and value in health and influencing rules and regulations accordingly to achieve health-related goals.

• Nasim Ferdows
• Katie Kraschel
• John Lowrey
• Kristin Madison

Applying organized knowledge and skills using devices, medications, vaccines, procedures and systems to address health-related issues and improve quality of life.

• Stephen Intille
• Winston Kennedy
• Robert Leeman
• Varun Mishra

Individual psychological states and how they influence people’s actions, along with ways to enhance these for the betterment of health.

• Janice Maras
• Idia Thurston

Student Spotlight

Northeastern University researcher studies the use of social robots in mental health and well-being research

At a hospital in Bedford, Massachusetts, Jibo asks a group of veterans how they’re doing. They tell Jibo they’re in a lot of pain and Jibo reminds them that stretching helped them the other day. Perhaps they’d like to try it again today?

STUDENT spotlight

Ashley Houston

‘Fulfilling’ and ‘invaluable’ experiences shape Population Health PhD student’s journey The programs at Bouvé are engineered to put our students ahead of their peers. The college’s faculty and staff know what it takes to succeed in competitive fields that are in demand of graduates. You can read all the material put out by the school, but sometimes it’s best to hear it straight from one of our students, like Ashley Houston. 

Interviews with alumni

Why did you choose to apply to this program?

I chose to apply to the Population Health program because it is unique in that it combines multiple facets necessary to understand how to approach improving the health outcomes and behaviors of an entire population. This includes statistical and epidemiological methods, social theory and determinants, and how to translate health outcomes into policy recommendations.

What kind of research are you doing?

I am currently evaluating biases associated with different survival analysis methods and censoring techniques, particularly during their use when analyzing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis treatment cohorts. I aim to identify more efficient means to analyze these data under differing scenarios, resulting in less bias outcomes and more accurate effect measures to inform treatment recommendations.

What kind of research or professional experiences have you had?

I have over 6 years experience implementing clinical trials, including drug trials for asthma treatment and international research assessing tuberculosis treatments. My most current research, evaluating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis treatment outcomes in adolescents, was presented at the 46th UNION World Conference on Lung Health in December 2015.

What are your professional aspirations?

I aspire to be a member of an academic institution, teaching epidemiology and/or research methods courses, to mentor students early in their research careers, and to conduct personal research related to identifying more efficient processes for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of tuberculosis patients worldwide.

I chose this program due to its multidisciplinary take on health research.  It lets me merge together my interests and think of translational research.

I am focusing primarily on nutrition research, but have been able to work with a wide array of projects that incorporate this component, such as air pollution and the human gut microbiome.

I have gone to several conferences and also traveled to San Diego to do a research fellowship.

I like this program because I do not feel limited in my future career and plan to keep the options open.

I actually started in the Personal Health Informatics program but realized that I was doing most of the course work for Population Health and I switch programs last year. The Population Health program fit my interests in healthcare delivery and quality better, and I am glad I made the change.

My research is centered on healthcare delivery, utilization, and quality. I am interested in exploring the challenges in our healthcare system that lead to waste, low efficiency, and poor outcomes. I working on two projects at the moment: one on hospitals in accountable care organizations and how hospitals performed on a variety of measures including quality, community spending, and community benefits; the other is going to explore patterns of diagnostic imaging across Massachusetts with data from a massive claims dataset collected by the state.

I have worked in healthcare for many years in clinical, managerial, and research settings. I have presented at radiology conferences and quality symposiums on several occasions, and have worked extensively with faculty in research and clinical settings.

My goal is to work in an academic setting where I can do healthcare services research and teach.

  A mentor of mine and faculty member at NYU advised me to apply here.

I am working with Becky Briesacher, an amazing new faculty member.  We are researching nursing home prescribing practices. With a novel dataset she has acquired I hope to be able to investigate prescribing practices among HIV/AIDS nursing home patients.

The majority of the last 10 years of my professional career were spent in clinical laboratories in NYC, clinical chemistry and genetics specifically. During my MPH, worked at CHIBPS NYU on a study of young men who have sex with men in NYC and their HIV outcomes. After finishing my MPH, I took a data management and analysis position working with the New York City Fire Department studying health outcomes of 9/11 first responders.

After completing my PhD here at NEU, my hope is to go on to broaden the scope of literature on HIV/AIDS among under represented populations such as the different sub populations within the LGBT community and the elderly. Teaching is a challenge I would like to take on, but research is my real passion.

Frequently Asked Quesions

Do i need an advanced degree to apply to the program.

No, our program does not have specific requirements with regard to classes applicants must take or have taken prior to applying. However, the majority of the students in the program enter with a previous master’s degree.

Can I be waived from submitting official test score ?

Submission of GRE test scores is optional.

TOEFL or IELTS scores are required from all international applicants who have not earned an undergraduate or graduate degree in the Unites States or in a country where English is the primary language.  Fluency in English is integral to success of graduate students in our program. Guidelines for submitting a request to waiver the TOEFL/IELTS requirement are outlined in the Admissions section.

Can I be waived from any courses?

Certain required classes (for example, introductory classes in Biostatistics and Epidemiology) can be waived if you’ve taken equivalent classes in previous graduate programs. Course waivers will be determined on a case-by-case basis once a student is accepted and officially matriculates into the PhD program. Please note: course waivers do not substitute for the 33-credit requirement. Students can enroll in elective courses to meet the requirement.

What kind of funding does the PhD program offer?

Our program offers graduate assistantships for doctoral students, which cover tuition and include a yearly stipend in exchange for 20 hours of work each week. You do not need to do anything further than submitting your application to the Program to be considered for a graduate assistantship.

Does the program offer online courses?

A few required courses have online course equivalents that doctoral students may choose to take. However, we do not offer the program as an  online program , and these online class offerings are very limited.

How does matching between PhD students and faculty advisors happen?

It is a critical part of the admissions process that there be a close match between a prospective student’s research interests and one of our faculty members. The first step is to examine faculty profiles and discuss potential matches in your personal statement. The next step happens within our faculty committee. There is no need to obtain any commitment from a faculty member before you apply.

Contact Information

We welcome any questions you might have about our program.

Director, PhD Program in Population Health; Professor Public Health and Health Sciences

323 International Village

Have more questions about Bouvé? We’re here to help.

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Want to take the next step and start your journey at Bouvé?

Apply today

Interested in learning more about what Bouvé has to offer?

The Department of Psychology offers a research-intensive PhD program within a close-knit community of faculty and students.

The Department of Psychology offers a graduate program leading to a PhD in psychology. The program offers four main specializations, behavioral neuroscience, cognition, perception, and personality/social, with cross-cutting themes in affective science, lifespan development, and health. The main objective of the program is to train a select group of students to become experts in the multidisciplinary field of psychological science. To accomplish this goal, the department takes a mentoring approach whereby the graduate students are apprentices in faculty laboratories, working closely with their faculty mentors throughout their time in the program. All students are fully supported with stipend and tuition waiver, 12 months a year, for their full five years in the program.

The department admits a small group of students to its doctoral program each year in order to maintain its apprenticeship model, with students admitted to work with a particular faculty mentor. In the laboratory, responsibility for collaboration in research gradually shifts from the faculty mentor to the student, culminating in the student’s doctoral dissertation. The program is five years in length, with students earning a Master’s degree at the end of their second year, in the course of working towards their PhD. Some students enter with a Master’s degree in an appropriate field; they are not required to earn another one.

The basic apprenticeship relation is supplemented by other activities, such as required courses (concentrated in the first and second years), advanced seminars and/or coursework in this as well as other departments or universities, a colloquium series, assignments as teaching assistants, the master’s project, and the dissertation and its oral defense. Graduate students also develop their teaching and research skills through close mentoring of undergraduate research assistants.

• Specializations in behavioral neuroscience, cognition, perception, and personality/social
• Cross-cutting themes in affective science, lifespan development, and health
• Program follows apprenticeship model, with students admitted to work with a particular faculty mentor
• Students without a Master’s degree in an appropriate field will earn one at the end of their second year
• Students develop teaching and research skills through mentoring of undergraduate research assistants
• All students are fully supported with stipend and tuition waiver, 12 months a year, for their full five years in the program
• Bachelor’s and Advanced-degree entry are possible

Application Materials

Requirements, application.

• Application fee – US $100
• Unofficial transcripts for all institutions attended (Official transcripts required upon acceptance of admission offer)
• Personal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE General Test– Not required
• Proof of English Proficiency for all applicants

Priority deadline for completed applications: December 1 st

Rolling admissions until March 15.  Check with department to see if there is availability.

• Program Website

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