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Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics

University/Institute: Harvard Medical School (HMS)
Location: null - Boston, MA
Focus: Bioinformatics
Recommended Undergraduate Degrees: Biology, Computer Science, Math/Statistics, Other: Bioinformatics, Computational Biology
Degree Offered: Ph.D/DSc (5 years)Ph.D/DSc (Major/Primary Degree)

Key characteristics of program:

The Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics (BIG) track led by Program Director Dr. Peter Park and Associate Director Dr. Maha Farhat, provides students with the tools to conduct original research and the ability to develop novel approaches and new technologies to address fundamental biomedical questions. The track draws on three significant strengths of the local academic environment: the breadth of talented investigators at Harvard Medical School and its affiliated hospitals and research institutes; the rich variety of quantitatively-oriented courses in bioinformatics and genomics offered at Harvard and MIT; and national leadership of BIG faculty in genome-scale disease research and approaches to clinical applications.

Program Goals:

The rapid advances in genome technologies and the bioinformatics challenges in interpreting massive amounts of data have created amazing opportunities for young researchers. The BIG program offers an interdisciplinary PhD training aimed at producing leading researchers in these areas. Most of our students come with a very strong background in a quantitative field as well as a significant experience in molecular biology and genetics.

The BIG track is administered by the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School, located in Boston, Massachusetts. The students have a substantial flexibility in choosing their advisors--they can choose practically any faculty members who have a primary appointment at Harvard, in addition to the core faculty members listed on this site. Our core faculty is unparalleled in its record high-quality research in many areas of genomics and bioinformatics, both in basic science and translational research.

We believe that the students need to be experts not only in computational analysis but also have broad background in the biological sciences and expertise in an area of application, whether that is a basic biological phenomenon or a disease area. The students therefore take courses in genetics and molecular biology as well as a biological literature reading course, with graduate students in other programs at the medical school. For those interested in advanced quantitative courses, there are numerous courses at nearby institutions, e.g., Bayesian statistics at Harvard School of Public Health, machine learning at the Harvard main campus, or signal processing at MIT (10 minutes to MIT and 20 minutes to the main campus by a shuttle bus).

The Longwood Medical Area in Boston is one of the premiere medical research hubs in the world, and Harvard Medical School and its numerous affiliated hospitals offer a multitude of seminars each week. Boston has also become a center of biotech companies including many start-ups in recent years. So come join us for an opportunity to tackle an important problem in biomedical sciences, in the company of wonderful classmates and faculty!


Additional Information

Year Program Established: 2013
Scholarships/assistanceships may be available: Yes
Type of academic terms: Semester

Average number of applicants per year: 0
Average number of applicants accepted per year: 0
Average number of incoming students per year: 0
Average number of graduates per year: 0

Program URL: https://bmiphd.hms.harvard.edu/big-track/welcome-big
Syllabus URL: https://bmiphd.hms.harvard.edu/big-track/BIG-curriculum

Contact Person: Catherine Haskell (catherine_haskell@hms.harvard.edu)

Last updated: May 28, 2024

While ISCB provides for degree and certificate program listings that may be of interest to members and bioinformaticians at large, ISCB is not responsible for the content provided by outside sources. Such listings are not meant as an endorsement by ISCB.



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