LRI Graduate Programs
Lifespan Research Institute is proud to offer new opportunities for graduate students interested in advancing their careers, gaining experience beyond academia, contributing to impactful longevity research, and reimagining the future of aging. These funded programs are designed to support a wide range of goals and are open to students at every stage of their graduate education.
- Graduate Internship Program
The LRI Graduate Internship Program offers graduate students currently enrolled elsewhere the chance to strengthen research and communication skills, while experiencing an alternative research environment in industry.
Important Dates:
Application Due Date: September 15
Applications will begin being considered on May 1st and will be processed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled, or until September 15. Selected applicants will be invited for interviews and a decision will be rendered by the end of fall.
Start date: January 6th, 2025
End Date: Late August-early September, 2025 (based on the student’s academic schedule)
Eligibility:
- This program is designed for students currently enrolled in a terminal graduate program (i.e. Ph.D., MD, etc) and recent M.S. recipients. Students may not receive their terminal degree prior to starting the program, but may receive their degree whilst in the program. Applicants pursuing a M.S. or a non-terminal graduate degree are eligible for 1 year following the receipt of their degree. i.e. A student who expects to receive their PhD in May, 2026, is eligible should apply in 2025 for the 2026 term.
- Students in combinatory BS/MS programs are eligible for this program after 4 years after starting their degree. Prior to the 4 year mark, students should consider our summer or post-baccalaureate programs.
- Students on a hiatus from graduate school are eligible to apply, but said hiatus should have started no more than 2 years prior to applying to this program.
- International students should apply if they are eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), OPT, or J1-intern visas. Please note: we will complete any documentation needed to process CPT, OPT, or J1s, but it is the applicant’s responsibility to lead this process. Please note, visa applications often take 6 months of lead time, so students requiring visas should apply as early as possible.
If you have any questions regarding your eligibility for the program, you may contact LRI Director of Academic Affairs Dr. Lilli Fishman at [email protected].
Qualifications:
- Applicants should have some biologically-related prior research-intensive experience.
- Although GPA will be a consideration, there are no formal GPA requirements.
- There are no specific major requirements. Students of any major may apply, provided they can demonstrate experience relevant to the project in question.
- Applicants must be actively enrolled in a graduate program or have a graduation date that is within the term (i.e. for the 2025 program, graduate students should have a graduation date no earlier than March 2025.
- International students should apply if they are eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), OPT, or J1-intern visas. Please note: we will complete any documentation needed to process CPT, OPT, or J1s, but it is the applicant’s responsibility to lead this process. Please note, visa applications often take 6 months of lead time, so students requiring visas should apply as early as possible.
- Students are responsible for negotiating with their current university if they need to take a leave or maintain a low-credit hour commitment. Expected participation is full-time and in-person. Any class attendance, thesis preparation, or other academic activities are expected to be completed outside of working hours, but working hours can have some flexibility to accommodate academic obligations. For example: students would be expected to work 40 hours/week, but can clock out at 2pm for class, and make up class hours at another time.
Compensation
An hourly rate will be provided to cover room and board costs. Pay rates will be based upon levels used by government agencies, such as the NIH and NSF. Fellows will be eligible for benefits after the first 3 months of employment.
Housing
Participants in the program will need to locate their own housing. Advice can be provided by LRI and the host lab. A stipend will be provided to cover room and board costs.
- Master of Science (MS) in Biological Sciences
This partnership with Dominican University of California is a great opportunity for students to polish technical skills, hone communication and presentation skills, and prepare yourself for another advanced degree or for a specialized technical career.
Please see program website at: https://www.dominican.edu/academics/graduate-programs/master-science-biological-sciences-ms
Important Dates:
The online application will be constantly available. Students who apply before June 1st will be eligible for fall admission and students who apply before November 1st will be eligible for spring admission.
Start date: week of August 10th
End Date: week of January 10th
Eligibility:
- Students must have conferred their Bachelors degree before the start of the program.
- Unfortunately, due to limitations on remote classes, this program is open only to domestic students or those who otherwise possess a valid work authorization (students cannot participate in this program on an F-1 visa)
- Students must meet Dominican University of California’s admission criteria:
- Students must complete Dominican’s application, although this can be completed before or after applying to LRI Apply now!
- Official Transcript(s)– Dominican requires official transcripts (although unofficial is acceptable for the LRI application) Find complete instructions on how to submit your transcripts to Dominican here.
- GPA of 3.0 – A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 is required for the last 60 units of graded undergraduate or graduate course work.
- Resume
- Statement of Purpose or Intent
A statement between 300 and 800 words describing why you are interested in pursuing a graduate degree. - Two Letters of Recommendation
Academic or professional, on letterhead. - Prerequisite Requirements
– Biology. Two semesters.
– Calculus. Two semesters
– Physics. Two semesters
– Organic Chemistry. Two semesters
– Biochemistry. One semester
– Statistics. One semester - Personal Interview
Applicants who have been selected to continue on in the application process will be invited to interview - Optional — GRE Record
An official copy of general Graduate Record Examination scores may be submitted (GRE code 4284).
If you have any questions regarding your eligibility for the program, you may contact LRI Director of Academic Affairs Dr. Lilli Fishman at [email protected].
Qualifications:
- Applicants should have some biologically-related prior research-intensive experience.
- There are no specific major requirements. Students of any major may apply, provided they can demonstrate experience relevant to the project in question.
- Expected participation is full-time and in-person. Class attendance, thesis preparation, or other academic activities are expected to be completed outside of working hours, but working hours can have some flexibility to accommodate academic obligations. For example: students would be expected to work 40hours/week, but can clock out at 2pm for class, and make up class hours at another time.
Compensation
An hourly rate will be provided to cover room and board costs. Pay rates will be based upon levels used by government agencies, such as the NIH and NSF. Fellows will be eligible for benefits after the first 3 months of employment.
Housing
Participants in the program will need to locate their own housing. Advice can be provided by LRI and the host lab. A stipend will be provided to cover room and board costs.
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Cell/Molecular Biology
This partnership with the University of Toledo allows students an extensive training opportunity that affords them world-class training in the bourgeoning topic of translational anti-aging and regenerative medicine research. This program prioritizes independent thought and a deep commitment to developing new strategies to extend healthspan and lifespan.
Please see program website at: https://catalog.utoledo.edu/graduate/natural-sciences-mathematics/departments/biological-sciences/phd-biology/#text
Important Dates:
The online application will be constantly available. Students who apply before June 1st will be eligible for fall admission and students who apply before November 1st will be eligible for spring admission.
Start date: week of August 10th
End Date: week of January 10th
Eligibility:
- Students must have conferred their Bachelor’s degree before the start of the program.
- Unfortunately, due to limitations on remote classes, this program is open only to domestic students or those who otherwise possess a valid work authorization (students cannot participate in this program on an F-1 visa)
- Students must meet University of Toledo’s admission criteria:
- Students must complete University of Toledo’s application, although this can be completed before or after applying to LRI https://www.utoledo.edu/graduate/admission/how-to-apply/
- Official Transcript(s)– University of Toledo requires official transcripts (although unofficial is acceptable for the LRI application)
- Resume
- Statement of Purpose or Intent
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- GRE is not required
If you have any questions regarding your eligibility for the program, you may contact LRI Director of Academic Affairs Dr. Lilli Fishman at [email protected].
Qualifications:
- Applicants should have some biologically-related prior research-intensive experience.
- There are no specific major requirements. Students of any major may apply, provided they can demonstrate experience relevant to the project in question.
- Expected participation is full-time and in-person. Class attendance, thesis preparation, or other academic activities are expected to be completed outside of working hours, but working hours can have some flexibility to accommodate academic obligations. For example: students would be expected to work 40 hours/week, but can clock out at 2pm for class, and make up class hours at another time.
- Unique to this program – students are required to serve a 1 semester (4 month) residency in Toledo where they will attend classes in person and engage with the community. Students will be given remote work or experiments to be done in Toledo.
Compensation
A salary will be provided – adjusted to experience and location. Pay rates will be based upon levels used by government agencies, such as the NIH and NSF. Fellows will be eligible for benefits after the first 3 months of employment.
Housing
Participants in the program will need to locate their own housing. Advice can be provided by LRI and the host lab. The salary is expected to cover housing and living expenses.
During these programs, participants will have the opportunity to train technically and intellectually alongside one of our world-class intramural scientific mentors and will attend regular programming that is focused on scientific communication skills. Our diverse set of academic programs gives graduate students a chance to interact with other students of all levels, which encourages every level of communication and collaboration.
Academia or Industry? Why Pick?
One of the most influential moments during a graduate student’s development is the moment when they decide whether to pursue a career in academia or industry; and they make this decision with only half the information they need. Most graduate students have no research experience outside of academia. To address this need, the LRI Graduate Programs are designed to give students a look into the world of research in a non-academic setting, while intellectually contributing to our goal of ending aging.
Programming Highlights
LRI Education sets itself apart from many other training programs with its focus on the development of scientific communication skills in addition to enhancing laboratory and critical thinking skills. Over the course of its educational programs, participants are guided through practical assignments that simulate documents and presentations scientists are often asked to produce, such as proposals, literature reviews, and abstracts. The communication training culminates in a formal presentation at a symposium where participants present the results of their work to their peers and mentors. While all programs utilize the same syllabus, assignments and expectations are scaled to reflect the student’s education level. Graduate students are expected to be leaders and to participate in programming and leading more junior students. Our students are trained to be leaders in their own right – leaders who prioritize ending the diseases of aging.
Please note that eligibility criteria differ between the programs, so please select the most appropriate program for your goals.
All applicants use a common application which includes:
- 1-3 letters of recommendation
- A scientific statement
- A personal statement
- A resume/CV
- Transcripts (unofficial is acceptable)
- A skill summary
While the common application is always open, please pay attention to your program’s deadlines to ensure you are considered for the correct admission date.
— Upcoming —
2025 Graduate Internship Program: September 15, 2025
Fall 2026 Master’s Admission: June 1, 2026
Spring 2026 Master’s Admission: November 1, 2025
Fall 2026 PhD Admission: June 1, 2026
Spring 2026 PhD Admission: November 1, 2025