Explore biomedical informatics and data science with field-leading faculty mentors at the world-renowned Washington University School of Medicine – consistently top-ranked ranked nationally for research.

Get ahead for wherever you’re going

The BIDS fellowship empowers trainees to use biomedical informatics and data science tools and technologies, distinguishing themselves from peers applying to advanced degree programs and industry positions.

A flexible but challenging schedule prepares participants for the next chapter of their career during a gap year or to supplement part time work.

The rigorous boot camp experience builds in-demand skills whether you are applying to a PhD or master’s program, or a faculty member exploring specialty areas of knowledge.

Solve real-world problems

Choose from tracks in the sub-specialties of translational bioinformaticsapplied clinical informatics and population health informatics.

Under the guidance of faculty mentors, the fellowship focuses on the real-world skills needed to support advancements in biomedical informatics and data science.

Through weekly seminars, faculty mentorship, and engagement with members of their cohort, participants in this virtual program will build a body of evidence for current and future biomedical informatics practice, while gaining experience applying tools and technologies utilized in biomedical informatics and data science.

“The BIDS fellowship offered a unique platform to engage and learn from the experts in the field of bioinformatics at WashU. Having had some background in data analysis tools, this training helped me reach the next step by providing me with the skillset to execute single-cell RNA sequencing analysis independently. I find this training very useful and continue to use the skills I have developed to foster new collaborations.”

Devesha Kulkarni, PhD

Fellowship timeline

Offered every fall and spring term, this fellowship is a 13-week program that comprises two weeks of preparatory learning followed by 11 weeks of engagement and mentorship.

Online and hybrid options available

Meet with faculty mentors and attend events virtually to avoid unnecessary travel or relocation. Fellows also have the option to visit the lab on the WUSM campus in St. Louis and meet in person during a time that works with your faculty mentor.

Application deadline

Spring 2024: January 2, 2024
Fall 2024: August 12, 2024

Participant fee

$5,000

Professional training grants such as the KL2 Career Development Award can provide funding to cover the participant fee and allow scholars to pursue mentored, multidisciplinary research.

Faculty mentors

Translational Bioinformatics Track

Sabine  M. Dietmann, PhD

Sabine M. Dietmann, PhD

Assistant Professor of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medicine

sdietmann@wustl.edu

Applied Clinical Informatics Track

Joanna  Abraham, PhD, FACMI, FAMIA

Joanna Abraham, PhD, FACMI, FAMIA

Associate Professor of Anesthesiology

joannaa@wustl.edu

Chih-Hung Chang, PhD

Chih-Hung Chang, PhD

Professor of Occupational Therapy, Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery

chih-hung.chang@wustl.edu

Aditi Gupta, PhD

Aditi Gupta, PhD

Assistant Professor of Biostatistics

agupta24@wustl.edu

Andrew  P. Michelson, MD

Andrew P. Michelson, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

amichels@wustl.edu

Population Health Informatics Track

Randi  Foraker, PhD, MA, FAHA, FAMIA, FACMI

Randi Foraker, PhD, MA, FAHA, FAMIA, FACMI

Director, Center for Population Health Informatics
Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medical Sciences
Professor of Public Health, Brown School

randi.foraker@wustl.edu

Beth Prusaczyk, PhD, MSW

Beth Prusaczyk, PhD, MSW

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medical Sciences

beth.prusaczyk@wustl.edu

Fellowship Director

Randi  Foraker, PhD, MA, FAHA, FAMIA, FACMI

Randi Foraker, PhD, MA, FAHA, FAMIA, FACMI

Director, Center for Population Health Informatics
Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medical Sciences
Professor of Public Health, Brown School

randi.foraker@wustl.edu