Epidemiology PhD Program
PLEASE READ: For the 2025-2026 academic year, the University of Rochester will pause our acceptance and review of applications to our Epidemiology and Health Services Research PhD programs. We will not review any applications and will not be enrolling any PhD students this year. This pause is only for 1 year and we will return to accepting applications and enrolling students next year (during the 2026-2027 academic year). Please note that we continue to accept and review applications this year to our Masters programs as usual (MS in Epidemiology, MS in Clinical Investigation, MS in Health Services Research and Policy, and our Master of Public Health programs), as well as all of our certificate programs. The pause is for our Epidemiology and Health Services Research PhD programs only.
Since 2002, the PhD in Epidemiology program in the Department of Public Health Sciences has trained innovative and productive epidemiologists in the study of the distribution and determinants of disease in human populations, both locally and nationally/internationally. Set within a large medical center with all its clinical research resources and collaborative faculty, our doctoral program prepares students for academic careers focused on research and education in the public health and medical fields, as well as careers in private industry, government, and non-profit agencies. Our students come from around the world, and while in Rochester, live, learn, and grow in an academic environment that nurtures individuality, scientific inquiry, intellectual discussion, and personal development.
Read A Welcome Message from the Director
Program Highlights
- The Epidemiology PhD program trains innovative and productive epidemiologists in the study of the distribution and determinants of disease in human populations
- Interdisciplinary courses in epidemiology theory and methods, applied epidemiology, biostatistics, data management and statistical programming, ethics, and public health are coupled with broad based research training to develop skilled epidemiologists
- Students research takes advantage of faculty and resources of a large academic medical center, providing numerous opportunities for clinical and community based research
- Stipends, health insurance, as well as training and conference travel expenses are provided for doctoral study
- The program prepares students for careers in academia, government, non-profit organizations, and the private sector
- The Epidemiology PhD program exists within the Department of Public Health Sciences, which also houses MS programs in Epidemiology, Public Health, Health Services Research, and Clinical Investigations, and a PhD program in Health Services Research
Our Program By The Numbers
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What Sets Us Apart
Curriculum
Information on core courses, electives, lab rotations to guide you through our program
Research
We support and guide trainees in several areas of research. Browse research by current program trainees
Mentor Relationships
Meet the faculty mentors and student researchers on our program and see photos of our department family
Discover Public Health Sciences
Latest News
Upcoming Events
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There is no upcoming seminar scheduled.
What Our Students Say...
"I chose the University of Rochester's Epidemiology program because of the variety of faculty research interests, as well as the affiliation with the medical center, which offers unique research opportunities."
Ashley Holub, Ph.D., Class of 2020
Currently: Postdoctoral Fellow at Johnson & Johnson
Background: During her time at URMC, Ashley was a human subjects research coordinator for the Seychelles Child Development Study and also conducted research within the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Her research interests are centered around pediatrics and psychiatric epidemiology.
Thesis: “Stress, health behaviors, and health outcomes in caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder”
Contact Us
For information related to the doctoral degree program in Epidemiology, please contact:
David Rich, Sc.D., M.P.H., Director
Epidemiology Doctoral Program
Department of Public Health Sciences
265 Crittenden Blvd.
Rochester, NY 14642
Office: (585) 275-1985
Fax: (585) 461-4532
Administrative: (585) 275-8784