Explore Programs in Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience, and More!
Turn your passion for science into the next biotech breakthrough. The wide selection of life sciences graduate programs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute empower you to build your conceptual knowledge, technical skills, and leadership capabilities—and ultimately advance your career in a biomedical, biotech, or other health-related field.
The Greater Boston area is the place to be for life sciences. Worcester County is an epicenter of the industry, home to leaders including AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Insulet that are carving out a foothold in WPI’s backyard.
Program Highlights
- Solve complex health challenges and make an impact. Whether your goal is to work in research or industry, the unique blend of quantitative and entrepreneurial methodologies in our programs will turn you into a true innovator.
- Work with sophisticated tech in well-resourced labs, including our 130,000 sq. ft. Life Sciences & Bioengineering Center featuring histology, instrumentation, microscopy, and vivarium facilities—available to on-campus and online students.
- Choose from a variety of interdisciplinary life sciences programs, including Chemical Engineering, Computational Biology, and Medicinal Plant Chemistry.
- Collaborate with world-class faculty who are industry, research, and scholarly leaders. Work alongside them, not just under them.
- Build experience and connections through corporate partnerships in a region rich with biotech, biomedical, and healthcare organizations.
- Upskill for your next role in our workforce development programs designed in partnership with local biotech companies.
Life Sciences at WPI: Graduate Programs Built for Opportunities
42,000
new life sciences jobs added in Massachusetts by 2032
MassBioEd (2023)
40+
current faculty with NSF Career Awards
Top 10
graduate schools
Carnegie Research 1 (R1) Designation
One of 187 schools in U.S. with very high research spending and doctorate production
The American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
Flexible Programs for Scientists at Any Level
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Bioinformatics & Computational Biology (MS) |
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Biology & Biotechnology (MS) (Thesis) |
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Biomanufacturing (Graduate Certificate) |
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Biomedical Engineering (MS) |
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Bioscience Management (MS) |
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Biochemistry |
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Biotechnology (MS) (Non-Thesis) |
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Chemical Engineering (MS) |
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Chemistry (MS) |
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Chemistry (Medicinal Plant Focus) |
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Life Sciences Management (Graduate Certificate) |
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Neuroscience (MS) |
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Looking to Pursue Your PhD in Life Sciences? Explore our doctoral programs in biology and biotechnology, chemistry and biochemistry, and chemical engineering. |
Hear From Our Students
"The COVID vaccine is a powerful example of what genetic medicine can do for innovation, patients and shareholders. Developed in record-breaking 10 months, the vaccine spared 280,000 US lives, 1.2 million hospitalizations and generated $55 billion in revenue, almost tripling the number one selling drug the year before." – Luca Issi ’14 (PhD), Senior Biotechnology Analyst, RBC Capital Markets
“Project-based learning brings a certain depth to the material being learned. I feel that I am applying what I am learning to what interests me. The curriculum has emphasized real-world application of the educational material, problem solving, time management, and teamwork.” – Sabine Hahn, PhD, Biology & Biotechnology
“Everyone is willing to help—from professors to colleagues, everyone is always available to help you with a wide range of issues … like classes to take, troubleshooting experiments, discussing data, and coming up with ideas. As an international student far from home, it is very encouraging that there are people you can count on for help when you need it.” – Mark Xatse, PhD, Biochemistry
“The members of my labs, past and present, have really been the best mentors and support network that I could ask for. I have had the honor to work alongside both mathematicians and biologists who support me, challenge me, and make me a better scientist and person.” – Dayna Mercadante, PhD, Bioinformatics & Computational Biology
“A few skills I’m learning this year are splitting cells and maintaining cell lines. For the second year of my master’s program, I’ll begin working with synthetic gene circuits and learning bacterial bioengineering experiments like ChIP-seq (chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing).” - Lauren Abraham ’24, ’26 (MS) Biotechnology