Quantitative and Systems Biology, Ph.D.

Program Description

qsb.ucmerced.edu
Graduate Program Chair: David H. Ardell
Graduate Group Coordinator: Paul Roberts
Please direct inquiries to qsb.inquiries@ucmerced.edu

The Quantitative and Systems Biology Program QSB is a unified biology program whose unique strength lies in co-training students from all backgrounds in science and engineering to communicate across scientific boundaries to address complex questions and problems in basic and applied life sciences, while mastering core skills and disciplines. QSB faculty at UC Merced, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, and the DOE Joint Genome Institute represent 17 disciplinary strengths organized under four areas:

1. Molecular and Cell Biology

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Cell and Developmental Biology
• Microbiology and Immunology
• Neurobiology
• Physiology

2. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

• Molecular Evolution and Ecology
• Microbial Ecology and Genomics
• Organismal and Integrative Biology
• Population Ecology, Genetics and Genomics

3. Systems and Synthetic Biology

• Molecular Systems Biology
• Systems Ecology
• Synthetic Biology

4. Quantitative Biology and Bioinformatics

• Mathematical Biology
• Computational Biology
• Physical Biology
• Structural Biology
• Bioinformatics

QSB is actively recruiting doctoral and masters students with basic training and experience in at least one or more core research skills such as laboratory work, fieldwork, mathematical modeling, statistics or computer programming. QSB supports both rotations in the first-year and the possibility to enter the program directly into one faculty’s lab, or for students to arrange co-advisement among multiple QSB faculty. QSB students can take advantage of a wide diversity of support mechanisms for research opportunities and professional development, including Semester Research Fellowships, Conference Travel Award Accounts, Summer Research Fellowships, Recruitment Travel Awards and the Joint Genome Institute/UC Merced Genomics Distinguished Graduate Internship Program.

Concentrations
QSB offers Concentrations in specialized fields of biology. Students enrolling in a concentration will take courses aimed towards specialized skill development, and the degree conferred will include the concentration. Current concentrations offered are:

• Molecular and Cellular Biology. Students will develop scholarship, teaching and research ability in one or more areas of Molecular and Cell Biology broadly defined, including biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, developmental biology, immunology, microbiology, neurobiology, and/or physiology.
• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Students will develop scholarship, teaching and research ability in both Ecology and Evolutionary Biology broadly defined, including community ecology, biogeography, phylogenetics, and/or evolutionary and ecological dynamics.

Prospective applicants can view instructions on how to apply for graduate studies in QSB at the website, qsb.ucmerced.edu.

Ph.D. Program Learning Outcomes

1. Quantitative and Systems Biology Skill (QB/SB)–Knowledge and understanding of quantitative (statistical, computational, and model dependent) and high-throughput experimental systems approaches to biological problems, and demonstrated ability to conceive, plan, execute and/or interpret the applications of these approaches to research questions.
2. Ethics–Knowledge and understanding of ethical standards in proposing and executing professional scientific research.
3. Teaching/Communication–Ability to effectively assist in the teaching of science in a classroom environment, and engage in effective communication of original and existing scientific inquiry and results orally and in writing.
4. Scholarship–Ability to undertake and demonstrate original graduate level scholarship in specialized areas of biology, including integrative command of historical and current literature and broader scientific context, and identification of open research problems.
5. Research Ability–Ability to propose and defend a feasible research plan to apply scientific techniques to open research problems and execute, complete and defend original research that advances scientific knowledge.