QSB Program of Study

Learn more about why the program length, cohort size, training opportunities, and access to exceptional faculty are attractive elements to the QSB Program at Northwestern University. 

 

CORE ACADEMIC PROGRAM

  • One year program that runs from the first Tuesday in September - August 31
  • Close integration with the IBiS Ph.D. program to enhance education
  • QSB students take IBiS core classes and are in IBiS research labs
  • Courses familiarize students with systems and computational approaches and techniques, statistics, quantitative analysis, and programming in R, Python and Matlab
  • Thesis research grants full participation in lab activities such as journal clubs and departmental seminars

OPTIONAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (click here for details)

  • International Students:
    • In-Program Internship: International students can do an optional, tuition-free internship in a Northwestern University lab, as long as it is either unpaid or less than 20hrs/week of paid work.
    • Internship via CPT: The QSB program can no longer offer internships through the CPT (Curricular Practical Training) mechanism because the US government has stopped approving CPT work authorization visas for any program that did not require all students to complete internships.
  • US Citizens and green card Students: Paid or unpaid tuition-free internships can be arranged for up to a year in Northwestern research labs, or at non-Northwestern companies and research labs.

OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT) FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS (click here for details)

  • QSB graduates are automatically eligible for 36 months of training work authorization (optional)
    • NOTE: The seven-month internship program does NOT count towards the 36-month (optional) practical training authorization

ADVISING & MENTORING

  • Small cohort sizes which allow stronger one-on-one mentoring with renowned faculty
  • Guidance by an advisory committee which consists of a thesis research advisor and two additional faculty members
  • Pairing with IBiS Ph.D. student “buddies” to help new students get acclimated to Northwestern, Evanston, and greater Chicagoland

CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

  • BioSurvival Skills are a series of workshops on topics such as presentation skills, grant and CV writing, and job hunting offered by IBiS, DGP, and NUIN.
  • BioOpportunities invites alumni and other professionals to talk about careers available to graduate students offered by IBiS, DGP, and NUIN.
  • Northwestern Professional Development in the areas of Career Exploration, Leadership and Management, Speaking and Presenting, and writing and Research offered by TGS.