MS Biomedical Data Science

Stanford’s MS BMDS program emphasizes hands-on, translational learning that bridges classroom knowledge with real-world biomedical research and health care systems.

Capstone or Research Project

• Students typically complete a substantial research or capstone project in their second year

• Projects are often embedded within Stanford's many labs or research institutes, and may involve:

  • Clinical trial analysis

  • Genomic data interpretation

  • AI applications in diagnostics or treatment planning

  • Health system optimization using EHRs

Lab Affiliations & Research Centers

Students may collaborate with or pursue research in:

• Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research (BMIR)

• Department of Genetics

• Stanford AI in Medicine & Imaging (AIMI)

• Clinical Excellence Research Center (CERC)

• Quantitative Sciences Unit (QSU)

Internships & Industry Exposure

• While not a formal part of the curriculum, students benefit from proximity to Silicon Valley's biotech and health tech ecosystem, including opportunities for summer internships, hackathons, and research assistantships

• Common partners: Google Health, Verily, Genentech, Kaiser Permanente, and startups focused on digital health and genomics

Graduates of the MS BMDS program are exceptionally prepared for high-impact roles at the intersection of data science, biology, and healthcare. They bring critical expertise in computational tools and statistical thinking to some of the most pressing challenges in biomedical research and personalized medicine.

Career Outcomes

Graduates typically move into roles such as:

• Biomedical Data Scientist

• Clinical AI Developer

• Genomic Data Analyst

• Computational Biologist

• Health Informatics Specialist

• Bioinformatics Engineer

• Applied Research Scientist (HealthTech/Pharma)

Top Employment Sectors

• Academic medical centers and hospitals

• Biotech and pharmaceutical companies

• Digital health startups

• Research labs and think tanks

• Public health agencies (CDC, WHO, NIH)

Further Education & Research

Many graduates go on to:

• PhD programs in biomedical informatics, computational biology, or biostatistics

• MD or MD/PhD tracks with a focus on clinical data

• Postgraduate fellowships at Stanford or institutions worldwide

• Roles in health policy or global health analytics

Salary Overview

• Average Starting Salary: ~$90,000–$110,000 USD

• Overall Range: $75,000–$135,000

• Signing Bonuses: Up to $10,000 reported

• Employment Rate: ~85% employed within 3–6 months of graduation

• Many graduates also pursue PhD or MD-PhD pathways at top research institutions

Top Employers

BMDS graduates are employed by leading organizations in biotech, tech, and public health sectors, including:

• Genentech

• Google Health / Verily Life Sciences

• FDA / CDC / NIH

• Stanford Medicine & Research Institutes

• Pfizer / Roche / Illumina

• Amazon Web Services (Health AI teams)

Geographic Placement

• San Francisco Bay Area: 45%

• Boston / Cambridge: 18%

• Seattle / New York City: 10%

• Remote / Hybrid Roles: Growing trend

• Global Placements: Especially common among research-focused and biotech alumni

Industry Sectors

Graduates work across a range of high-impact industries, such as:

• Biotech & Pharma (drug discovery, translational research)

• Healthcare AI & Genomics (predictive modeling, health tech startups)

• Government & Public Health (bioinformatics roles at national agencies)

• Academia & Research (data-intensive labs and centers)

• Tech & Cloud Platforms (ML/AI-driven healthcare solutions)

 Career Growth & Progression

Typical career trajectory of Stanford BMDS graduates:

• Entry-Level: Research Analyst, Bioinformatics Associate

• Mid-Level: Senior Data Scientist, Machine Learning Engineer

• Advanced Roles: Team Lead, AI Health Strategist, Principal Scientist

Many graduates leverage Stanford’s ecosystem to:

• Step into leadership roles in biotech or health-tech

• Launch startups in data-driven healthcare

• Transition into PhD or advanced research positions

Career Highlights Summary

• Salary: Avg ~$90K (Range $75K–$135K), with potential $10K signing bonus

• Roles: Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Machine Learning, Health AI

• Employers: Genentech, Google Health, NIH, Stanford, AWS

• Locations: SF Bay Area (45%), Boston (18%), Remote/Hybrid growing

• Employment Rate: 85% within 3–6 months of graduation

What This Means for You

• High earning potential right after graduation—especially in biotech and ML roles

• Specialization advantage in genomics, healthcare AI, and precision medicine

• Strategic location access to top-tier research centers and Silicon Valley firms

• Accelerated career pathways into innovation, leadership, or advanced academia