PhD and Master’s students form a thriving and diverse community at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Students may pursue a PhD from the St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, or come from affiliated institutions to complete laboratory rotations, training placements or thesis work with leading faculty across the institution.
St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
The St. Jude Graduate School offers a unique PhD program focused on cutting-edge basic and translational research. Students work closely with renowned St. Jude faculty and can explore diverse research areas for rotations and thesis work. Throughout training, students are supported by generous benefits, extraordinary core facilities and a collaborative, close-knit environment.
University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Biomedical Sciences Program
The Biomedical Sciences Program (BSP) is an interdisciplinary PhD program offered through the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) in Memphis. In this flexible program, students may select from seven different research tracks and have options for laboratory rotations or thesis work with faculty members at UTHSC, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Apply to UTHSC Biomedical Sciences Program >
Learn more about the program >
University of Paris – Diderot
Since 2002, students have traveled to St. Jude from the University of Paris – Diderot as a part of their master’s level curriculum. Students are paired with faculty and receive training in a lab over the course of five months, while working on their individual projects. They receive academic credit, a research stipend and internship experience.
The Paris program at St. Jude is directed by Dr. Martine Roussel, Endowed Chair of Molecular Oncology, Co-Leader, Cancer Genetics, Biochemistry and Cell Biology Program in the St. Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Member, Department of Tumor Cell Biology.
View Paris students with their sponsors >
Graduate Training in Psychology
St. Jude offers outstanding clinical and research-based training placements for students from graduate programs in psychology at the University of Memphis and the University of Mississippi. Students in clinical placements will obtain training in both assessment and intervention with pediatric and young adult patients with cancer, sickle cell disease and/or HIV. Students in research placements will be matched with a faculty supervisor and integrated into his or her research team. Individual projects are unique to the mentor’s area of research, state of ongoing studies, student skill level and professional goals.
Learn more about Psychology graduate training >
Experiential Learning Internships
We believe in the power of learning by doing. Our experiential learning internships offer undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to perform hands-on research at St. Jude in an environment that is structured to support our interns’ learning goals. Interns gain experience, reflect on what they’ve learned and apply new knowledge and skills throughout their internship experience. Along the way, faculty advisors work closely with each intern and provide reviews and assessments to help identify opportunities for further growth.
Legal Internships
The Office of Legal Services offers immersive legal internships for second-and third-year law students. Interns work closely with in-house and outside counsel on substantive projects in many aspects of the law, with excellent mentoring, opportunities and client interactions.
Learn more about legal internships >
International Students
International graduate students come from institutions outside of the U.S. and perform their research at St. Jude under the guidance of a St. Jude faculty mentor. Degrees are granted by the scholar’s home institution. Students must have already been formally accepted into a program and must adhere to the regulations and requirements of that program.
Cancer Education Internships
The Cancer Education internships are project focused with exposure to various applications of scientific concepts in the cancer research setting. Interns will translate the world-class research taking place at St. Jude into usable teaching tools and strategies that enhance science and cancer education in the K-12 classroom.
In their words
Ilan Theurillat
Paris VII Program 2014, Dr. Martine Roussel’s lab
“St Jude gave me the opportunity to work in a very stimulating environment and to be mentored by excellent scientists. My internship here was a great experience and allowed me to gain technical and scientific skills that I am sure will be extremely helpful in my future career!"
Sarah Allouche
Paris VII Program 2014, Dr. William Evan’s lab
“Being involved in a project aiming to improve treatment of childhood cancer has been a great experience! St Jude is an amazing place to work and I have acquired a significant amount of skills for a scientific career.”
Alicia Lardennois
Paris VII Program 2014, Dr. Mark Hatley’s lab
“Working at St Jude was an amazing experience. It was enriching from both a professional and personal point of view. I learned so much being surrounded by great scientists and wonderful people. I will never forget it!”
Clémence Thieblemont
Paris VII Program 2014, Dr. Maureen McGargill's lab
“Doing my internship at St Jude was a wonderful experience. It allowed me to meet very good scientists and to work in stimulating and motivating conditions. Everyone at St Jude is full of positive energy and happy to help you-- it is an amazing environment for work.”
Joseph Mertz
Emory PhD Student, Dr. Junmin Peng’s lab
“St. Jude provides a great environment for learning how to perform cutting edge research, and why that research matters. The institution is pervaded by a sense of purpose, and you see that in every person you come across - whether it be the high quality shared resources within the institution, or the truly congenial atmosphere among colleagues. I will always be grateful for my opportunity to work here, and am constantly motivated to make the most of it.”
Tha’er Almomani
UTHSC Nursing Research PhD Student, Dr. Belinda Mandrell
“Working on my PhD research at St. Jude is a dream that came true. I’m very lucky to work with a motivated and experienced team at one of the few hospitals that supports extensive and collaborative nursing research. I hope this opportunity will open new windows for my future research career.”
Tarsha Harris
UTHSC Biomedical Sciences Student, Dr. Maureen McGargill’s lab
"It is an honor and blessing to have the opportunity to conduct graduate research at one of the most renowned institutions in the world. The guidance and support from my mentor and other knowledgeable faculty, coupled with access to the most current and cutting edge technologies via St. Jude’s many core facilities, has granted me exciting research and learning experiences."
Hong Wang
UTHSC Biomedical Sciences Student, Dr. Junmin Peng’s lab
“Being here at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital working in biomedical sciences with the most talented scientists and the most cutting edge techniques is really fascinating. I am so proud to say that I am a UTHSC PhD student based out of a lab at St. Jude.”
Yinan Wu
UTHSC IPBS Student, Dr. Stephen White's lab
“The graduate student training at St. Jude allows me to participate in the cutting edge research in biomedical sciences. It also gives me the opportunity to work with the real scientists who are solving the puzzles of life and making it better. It inspires me to be one of them in the future.”