Program in Computational Biology

Joint Pitt-CMU PhD Program in Computational Biology

James Faeder and Russell Schwartz, Directors

Computational biology is defined as the development and application of data-analytical and theoretical methods, mathematical modeling, and computational simulation techniques to the study of biological, behavioral, and social systems.* It is an interdisciplinary approach that draws from specific disciplines such as mathematics, physics, computer science and engineering, biology, and behavior science.

The Joint CMU-Pitt PhD Program in Computational Biology is an intensive, interdisciplinary training program that provides students with a deep understanding of the current state of the art in computational biology. Students in this program acquire the quantitative background and research skills needed to advance the field of computational biology. In addition, they develop the critical thinking skills needed to appreciate the potential, strength, and limitations of computational, mathematical, and engineering tools for tackling biological problems.

*NIH Working Definition, July 17, 2000

Contact Information

	University of Pittsburgh:	Carnegie Mellon University:
Directors:	James R. Faeder, PhD Associate Professor Department of Computational and Systems Biology School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh 3501 Fifth Avenue, BST3, Room 3082 Pittsburgh, PA 15260 412-648-8171 (phone) 412-648-3163 (fax) faeder@pitt.edu	Russell Schwartz, PhD Professor of Biological Sciences, and Computer Science Carnegie Mellon University 654B Mellon Institute, 4400 Fifth Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-268-3971 (phone) 412-268-7129 (fax) russells@cmu.edu

Associate Directors:	Nathan Clark, PhD Associate Professor Department of Computational Biology School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh 3501 Fifth Avenue BST3 Room 3080 Pittsburgh, PA 15260 412-648-7785 (phone) 412-648-3163 (fax) nclark@pitt.edu	Carl Kingsford, PhD Associate Professor Department of Computational Biology School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University Gates Hillman Center, Room 7705 5000 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-268-1769 (phone) 412-268-2977 (fax) carlk@cs.cmu.edu

Program Coordinators:	Kelly M. Gentille Educational Programs Administrator Department of Computational Biology School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh 3501 Fifth Avenue, BST3, Room 3067 Pittsburgh, PA 15260 412-648-8107 (phone) 412-648-7819 (fax) kmg120@pitt.edu	Nicole Stenger Academic Programs Manager Computational Biology Department Carnegie Mellon University 4400 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-268-2474 (phone) 412-268-2977 (fax) nstenger@cs.cmu.edu

Program Website:	www.compbio.pitt.edu	www.compbio.cmu.edu

Admissions

The interdisciplinary character of the program is unique and distinct from many other programs that are focused toward a specific discipline. The program seeks outstanding students from the biological, physical and computational sciences, and engineering. For example, computational biology majors, or double majors in biology and quantitative sciences, are ideal candidates.

Recommended Prerequisites

For students planning their undergraduate course schedules in anticipation of applying for the PhD in computational biology, prerequisites in life sciences, computer science, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and computational biology are recommended. Students whose background does not include these courses may be admitted with the additional requirement to take appropriate compensating classes. For more information on prerequisites, see http://www.compbio.cmu.edu/?page_id=91

Application

REQUIRED MATERIALS - Deadline December 15, 2017

The Online Application
Statement of Purpose
Three letters of Recommendation
Unofficial Transcripts (submitted online)
Conversion of GPA (for international students only)
Unofficial GRE Scores (submitted online)
Unofficial TOEFL Scores (submitted online)
Application Fee

Applications are reviewed by the Joint CMU-Pitt PhD Program in Computational Biology. Each admitted student is assigned an initial university of matriculation, and receives an admissions offer letter from that university. Incoming students can be placed directly in a laboratory (if mutual interest exists between a student and an advisor), or go through a period of three rotations, after which the student chooses an advisor. Students have the ability to change advisors (subject to agreement of the new advisor and availability of support) and to transfer between the two universities to reflect advisor changes.

For more information on application process, see http://www.compbio.cmu.edu/?page_id=163

Financial Aid

All students are provided with a stipend and full tuition remission. Assistance is also provided for health insurance.

Teaching Assistantships

Although all students are supported as research assistants throughout their time in the program, there are opportunities to assist in the teaching courses of the program. Students are also encouraged to develop teaching skills by mentoring other students and passing on their knowledge to lab mates and fellow students.

Terminal Masters Degree

The program does not admit students whose goal is to attain a Master’s of Science degree. However, it might become necessary for a PhD student to transfer to an MS track for academic reasons or reasons beyond the student’s control, e.g., medical circumstances or a change in family circumstances necessitating a long-distance move.

Courses

http://www.compbio.cmu.edu/?page_id=87

Training Faculty

The program provides students with cross-disciplinary training in established as well as newly emerging fields of computational biology. Students have access to a community of faculty mentors from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, which not only provides a breadth of research areas for investigation, but also offers the technical and intellectual resources to make rapid progress toward their doctoral degree.

For a list of training faculty, see http://www.compbio.cmu.edu/?page_id=31615

Programs

Doctoral

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