Students interested in pursuing multidisciplinary research to gain a broad perspective in chemistry and biology are encouraged to apply to the Chemistry-Biology Interface (CBI) PhD program. The CBI Program spans departments in Johns Hopkins University’s schools of Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, and Public Health.
Selected applicants will be asked to visit Johns Hopkins University for an interview in the spring. The CBI Program will arrange for meetings with faculty and students, and conduct tours of the facilities and community.
Application Instructions
To apply to the CBI Program, you will need to submit:
- An online application for the chemical biology PhD
- An unofficial undergraduate transcript
- Statement of purpose
- Three (3) letters of recommendation
In addition, the general GRE along with one of the following subject tests are optional but may be submitted:
- Biochemistry
- Cell and Molecular Biology
- Biology
- Chemistry
Online applications for fall 2026 admission open early September 2025. Please submit all application materials (including letters of recommendation) by January 15th, 2026 to receive full consideration. Applicants interested in the Vivien Thomas Scholars Program must complete their application by December 1, 2025.
Note: Application fees are waived for applications associated with Explore Hopkins, JHU BioREU, SACNAS, ABRCMS, McNair Scholar, Leadership Alliance, UMBC Meyerhoff Program and more. To access the full list to see if you qualify, go to the Krieger Graduate Admission and Enrollment page.
To aid our applicants, we have provided a list of CBI preceptors’ rotation and lab availability.
Additional Application Information
Information about the Graduate Admissions Application Process can be found on the Graduate Admissions website. If you have any questions about the application process, please contact [email protected].
The program is committed to sustaining excellence by fostering a diverse community including underrepresented minority students and students from underserved backgrounds. The program particularly welcomes minority applicants and applicants with disabilities.
Admissions Statistics
For admission statistics, follow this link: Office of Institutional Research page on CBI.
International Applicants
A training grant from the National Institutes of Health provides support for our students during their first year in the graduate program at the Chemistry-Biology Interface. However, the NIH limits this to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. International students who are interested in applying to this program must secure an outside grant or fellowship.
Vivien Thomas PhD Scholars
The Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative (VTSI) is an endowed fellowship program at Johns Hopkins for PhD students in STEM fields. It provides full tuition, stipend, and benefits while also providing targeted mentoring, networking, community, and professional development opportunities. Students who have attended eligible institutions, including historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), community colleges, and regional institutions in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia for undergraduate study, are eligible to apply. More information about the VTSI program.
To be considered for the VTSI, all components of the PhD program application, including the VTSI supplemental components, must be completed by December 1. All supplementary application material, including letters of recommendation, must also be received by December 1.
Relocation Funds for Incoming Graduate Students
We recognize that it can be financially burdensome to relocate to a new city to attend a Ph.D. program. Students who are accepted to Ph.D. programs at JHU can apply to receive a $1500 need-based grant to offset the costs of relocating to JHU.
These grants provide funding to a portion of incoming students who, without this money, may otherwise not be able to afford to relocate to JHU for their Ph.D. program.
This is not a merit-based grant. Applications will be evaluated solely based on financial need.
More information can be found on the Provost’s website.