At the University of Pittsburgh–Carnegie Mellon Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), we believe tomorrow's physician-scientists must do more than excel in medicine and research—they must lead interdisciplinary teams, harness emerging technologies, communicate science effectively, and translate discovery into better patient care.
Our NIH-funded MSTP combines the strengths of one of the nation's leading biomedical research universities with a world leader in artificial intelligence, engineering, and computational sciences. The result is a training environment designed to prepare graduates for long-term success as physician-scientists at the forefront of biomedical discovery.
With cohorts of around15 students each year, trainees benefit from personalized mentorship, a collaborative culture, and extraordinary scientific opportunities that few institutions can match.
Why Pitt-CMU MSTP?
A Biomedical Research Powerhouse
The University of Pittsburgh consistently ranks among the nation's leading recipients of NIH funding, providing students access to one of the country's richest biomedical research environments.
Students train within:
- More than 150 scientific institutes and research centers
- 51 NIH-funded institutional (T32) training programs
- A Clinical and Translational Science Institute supporting over $500 million in clinical and translational research
- Eleven established translational research programs connecting laboratory discoveries to patient care
- UPMC, a global integrated academic health system with more than $20 billion in annual revenue and an electronic health record encompassing approximately five million patients
This ecosystem enables physician-scientists to pursue research ranging from molecular mechanisms to population health, with unparalleled opportunities for clinical translation.
The Carnegie Mellon Advantage
Few MSTPs offer the opportunity to seamlessly integrate biomedical science with world-leading expertise in engineering and computation.
Through our partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, students gain access to:
- The nation's #1-ranked Artificial Intelligence program
- One of the country's top Computer Science programs
- A nationally recognized College of Engineering
- Internationally renowned faculty in robotics, machine learning, computational biology, neuroscience, psychology, and biomedical engineering
- State-of-the-art facilities including the AI Foundry (Cloud Lab), Robotics Innovation Center, and emerging interdisciplinary research spaces
Students benefit from joint graduate programs, shared research centers, cross-appointed faculty, and the ability to choose mentors and collaborators across both universities.
Whether your research involves genomics, machine learning, medical imaging, robotics, neuroscience, or precision medicine, Pitt and Carnegie Mellon create an environment where disciplines naturally intersect.
A Curriculum Designed for Physician-Scientists
Our curriculum intentionally develops the skills needed for successful careers in modern academic medicine.
Students receive structured training in:
- Skills in Investigative Science
- Research Basis of Medical Knowledge
- Database Methods and Analysis
- Translational Research
- Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
- Scientific Grant Writing
- Research Ethics
- Scientific Communication
During graduate school, students also participate in three longitudinal clinical clerkships, maintaining clinical skills while completing their PhD research and strengthening the integration between scientific discovery and patient care.
Beyond Traditional MD-PhD Training
Learning to Lead
Scientific excellence alone is not enough.
Throughout training, students develop professional skills that prepare them to become future leaders in academic medicine through workshops focused on:
- Grant writing
- Scientific communication
- Career development
- Team science
- Leadership
- Research ethics
- Community engagement
Monthly Wednesday workshops provide opportunities for students to present their science not only to peers and faculty but also to members of the public, strengthening the ability to communicate complex discoveries to diverse audiences.
These experiences prepare graduates to become investigators, educators, advocates, and scientific leaders.
Personalized Mentorship
With approximately 15 students entering each year, our program maintains a close-knit community where every trainee receives individualized attention.
Faculty mentors, physician-scientist advisors, peer mentors, and program leadership work together to support each student's scientific development, clinical training, career planning, and personal well-being throughout all phases of training.
A Collaborative Community
The Pitt-CMU MSTP is intentionally designed to foster connection.
Students participate in:
- House system communities
- Student organizations and interest groups
- Annual MSTP retreat
- Second Look weekend for admitted applicants
- Social events throughout the year
- Peer mentoring across training stages
Our collaborative culture encourages students to celebrate one another's successes while building lifelong professional relationships.
Outstanding Outcomes
Our students graduate exceptionally well prepared for physician-scientist careers.
Recent outcomes include:
- Median of 9 peer-reviewed publications per student
- Median of 3 first-author publications
- Nearly 60% of students publish in journals with an impact factor of 12 or higher
- Exceptional success securing individual NIH F30 fellowships, averaging 0.22 awards per MSTP student
- Residency matches whose specialty departments rank, on average, within the top decile nationally for NIH funding
These outcomes reflect a training environment committed not only to scientific excellence but also to launching successful independent careers.
Our Mission
The Pitt-CMU MSTP is committed to three overarching goals:
Impart transformational knowledge and investigative skills.
We prepare students to ask important scientific questions, design rigorous experiments, and advance biomedical discovery.
Enable physician-scientists to flourish over the long term.
Our curriculum emphasizes resilience, mentorship, leadership, and career development to support lifelong success.
Build skills for productive partnerships.
Modern biomedical breakthroughs emerge through collaboration. Our students learn to work across disciplines, institutions, and communities to solve complex problems that improve human health.
Live and Learn in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh offers the advantages of a major biomedical research hub with an exceptional quality of life.
Students enjoy:
- Affordable cost of living compared with peer research cities
- Short commutes
- Vibrant neighborhoods
- Outstanding cultural institutions
- Professional sports
- Expanding biotechnology and innovation ecosystem
- Easy access to parks, rivers, and outdoor recreation
The city's affordability allows trainees to focus on research, education, and community while enjoying a high quality of life.