Getting Started

Keep track of what you need to do before starting at Stanford. The Graduate Student Gateway contains essential information, deadlines, and resources across many topics, including:

• Enrollment
• Housing
• Finances
• Diversity and inclusion
• Health and wellness
• Policies and standards

Most incoming students take the “BIOS 200: Foundations in Experimental Biology” course, open to first-year Biosciences graduate students only. The overall mission of the course is to facilitate the first steps toward becoming scientists —from being consumers of information to producers of knowledge. Students learn to read for breadth and depth, construct compelling arguments, find important research questions and potential solutions, and collaborate in interdisciplinary teams. Additionally, students develop an original research proposal which may be used for NSF or other fellowship applications.

Students can learn more about course offerings on Explore Courses.

Lab rotations occur in the first year of your PhD and usually average 8-10 weeks (one academic quarter). Rotation requirements, like the length of each rotation, number of rotations, when to pick a thesis lab, and rotations outside of the department, are set by your department or program. Connect with your home program for more information about specific requirements.

There are multiple opportunities to get involved with teaching, including creating your own course. Learn more about graduate teaching opportunities here.

In particular, the Mini-Courses program allows students to lead 1-3 week courses that address topics of high interest to the Biosciences student community. Learn more about mini-courses here.

BioSci Careers is the career center specifically for Biosciences students. You can find their website here.

There are also broader Stanford resources available to graduate students including the Hume Center for Writing and Speaking. 

A number of career development opportunities on campus are also listed on the BioAIMS website.

Support is offered through the Grant Writing Academy. If students get a grant accepted, given that most grants do not cover the entire cost of education, funding will replace a portion of the PI or Dean’s funding. Stanford will supplement any remaining costs.

Eligible students will likely need to apply to the NSF by the deadline that occurs early in the academic year before all rotations have occured. Find out more details about the NSF & eligibility here. The NSF GRFP Summer Program and Proposal Bootcamp offerings are very popular with graduate students. There is also a NSF GRFP peer mentoring program run by students. Learn more here. 

Funding is also available to attend external conferences. Stanford Biosciences Office of Graduate Education has a Travel Grant Program. Learn more here. 

The Bechtel International Center is the primary resource for international students at Stanford.

The Bechtel International Center (I-Center) provides information on a wide range of issues that are important to international students, scholars, and their families: immigration matters, social and cultural concerns, and personal issues. In addition, the I-Center hosts programs and events to help international students adjust to life in the United States.

Additionally, incoming international and/or undocumented students are fully funded through a variety of sources (Biosciences funding, PI funding, fellowships, etc.).

As fellowships for international applicants are limited, we strongly encourage applicants to apply for scholarships/fellowships in their home country that can be used overseas. Some useful websites that include information on external fellowships are:

Fulbright Foreign Student Program

The Fogarty International Center at the NIH

International Center at the Institute of International Education (IIE)

SUNet ID

This login is your key to access Stanford’s online resources.

Your account identifies you, uniquely and permanently, as a member of the Stanford community. It is what is used to log in to Stanford computer systems.

University IT provides a helpful starter’s guide for Stanford technology, from purchasing a laptop to managing your SUNet ID and connecting to the campus network.

Axess

This web-based system is the go-to hub for most student business. Students use Axess to accomplish the following tasks:

• File or adjust a study list and select grading options each quarter
• Update emergency contact information
• View and print an unofficial transcript
• Check registration status each quarter (e.g. pending holds)
• Review grades
• Ensure University bill is paid
• Acknowledge University patent agreement

Axess also hosts services for official transcript requests, campus housing applications, and printing enrollment certifications.