Integrated Graduate Program in Physical and Engineering Biology

PEB logo

What is PEB?

Yale’s Integrated Graduate Program in Physical and Engineering Biology (PEB) was established to train a new generation of scientists skilled at applying physical and engineering approaches to biology research, and who are also sufficiently sophisticated in their biological training that they can readily identify and tackle cutting-edge problems in the life sciences. The PEB leadership is committed to a new paradigm that transcends traditional, artificial boundaries between both disciplines and between research, teaching, and learning.

Earn a PEB certificate

PEB students acquire a depth of knowledge in their home department and the PEB Certificate curriculum and activities provide a breadth of knowledge across disciplines. Upon completion of the PEB Certificate requirements, students earn a Certificate of Completion from the Integrated Graduate Program in Physical and Engineering Biology. PEB is not a degree-granting program. Students will receive their Ph.D. degree from a home department.

A network and a community

Through the program’s coursework and additional activities, PEB students bond and become part of a network of researchers who use quantitative methodologies to approach biological problems, across the university and beyond. PEB students also have opportunities to participate in a variety of outreach efforts, and to develop new ones.

PEB student group after Spring 2023 Discussion Group
Four founding members of PEB standing in a group

Left to right: Profs. Simon Mochrie, Corey O’Hern, Lynne Regan, and Thomas Pollard were the founders of Yale’s PEB in 2008. 

Program History

PEB was founded in 2008 by Professors Lynne Regan (MB&B and Chemistry), Simon Mochrie (Physics and Applied Physics), Corey O’Hern (MEMS, Physics, Applied Physics, and CBB), and Thomas Pollard (MCDB and MB&B). It was established to train a new generation of scientists who are skilled at applying physical and engineering approaches to biological systems, and who are also sufficiently sophisticated in their biological training that they can readily identify and tackle cutting-edge problems in the life sciences. The PEB leadership continues to be committed to a paradigm that transcends traditional, artificial boundaries both between disciplines and between research, teaching, and learning. The program was directed by Lynne Regan from 2008-2017 and has been directed by Corey O’Hern from 2018 – present. Dr. Dorottya Noble served as the Associate Director of the program from its inception until 2022. Dr. Emma Carley is the current Associate Director, starting in 2023.