Mathematical/Computational Biology - grad school

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges of selecting graduate schools for mathematical and computational biology. Participants share their experiences and insights regarding program requirements, interdisciplinary approaches, and personal backgrounds in biology.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses interest in applying to graduate schools with a focus on mathematical/computational biology, mentioning a tentative list of programs.
  • Another participant shares their experience with a computational/statistical biology program at UCLA, noting the importance of having a biology background, which influenced their decision not to apply.
  • A suggestion is made to consider faculty at UChicago who may align with the participant's interests, although the relevance is uncertain.
  • The original poster mentions having taken some biology classes and a summer internship in genetics and computational biology, seeking advice on preferred areas or courses for applicants.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on specific programs or requirements, and multiple perspectives on the importance of a biology background are presented.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight the necessity of a biology background for computational biology programs, while others suggest that interdisciplinary math programs may be suitable. The discussion reflects varying levels of preparedness and interest in biology among potential applicants.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering graduate programs in mathematical and computational biology, particularly those with a background in applied mathematics and an interest in interdisciplinary studies.

ptolema
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I'm getting ready to apply to grad schools, and I'm having a hard time choosing schools to apply to. I'm an applied math major, and I'm really interested in mathematical/computational biology. I don't necessarily want to study math in grad school, but I'm open to math programs with a more interdisciplinary approach. So far, I have this tentative list:

UCSF - Integrative Program in Quantitative Biology
UCSD - Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
Duke University - Math
Duke University - Computational Biology & Bioinformatics

Can anyone offer advice/suggestions to help me decide which to apply to?
 
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Hey there. Computational/statistical bio is a very neat program. I met some UCLA faculty in that program about a year ago before I applied to grad school just to learn what's it's like - a family friend is a professor there. I ended up going for physics elsewhere, but I learned a lot from visiting.

Do you have at least 1 or 2 bio classes? All the staff mentioned that even though it's math based, you have to have a bio background of sorts or at least demonstrate an interest in it. That stopped me from applying for it. The work is very cool though to say the least.

Edit: the faculty were all very nice there.
 
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UChicago has some faculty you may be interested in (likely not, but may as well mention them) - Aaron Dinner, Jonathan Weare and Greg Voth.
 
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F=qE said:
Hey there. Computational/statistical bio is a very neat program. I met some UCLA faculty in that program about a year ago before I applied to grad school just to learn what's it's like - a family friend is a professor there. I ended up going for physics elsewhere, but I learned a lot from visiting.

Do you have at least 1 or 2 bio classes? All the staff mentioned that even though it's math based, you have to have a bio background of sorts or at least demonstrate an interest in it. That stopped me from applying for it. The work is very cool though to say the least.

Edit: the faculty were all very nice there.

I do have some bio classes (1 year of general biology) and a summer internship involving genetics and computational bio. I've also picked up some bio from sitting in on classes and video lectures. Is there a particular area/course that they prefer?
 

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