EARN A BACHELORS DEGREE IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND A MASTERS DEGREE IN BIOINFORMATICS IN APPROX. 5.5 YEARS
About Bioinformatics:
Bioinformatics is the intersection between biology and computer science, and is one of the most important and hottest fields in modern biology. A good introductory description is here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioinformatics). A primary focus of bioinformatics is the ability to take a genome sequence, whether from a human or a bacterium, and predict from the sequence the complete set of genes, how they are regulated, and what they do. This field is crucial to everything from biotechnology to individualized human medicine.
� Payscales for bioinformatics careers: http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Skill=Bioinformatics/Salary
� Summary of need for trained bioinformaticists: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v470/n7333/box/nature09764_BX3.html
How the Pipeline Program Works:
If you are in UT's BSc program in Biological Sciences, you can take up to 9 semester credit hours of graduate coursework that can count towards BOTH the BSc degree AND the MSc in Bioinformatics. Getting both degrees this way allows you to:
� Save between 1 and 2 years over what it would take to earn both degrees separately
� Save the tuition and housing costs associated with that extra time
� The GRE is not required for the pipeline program.
� Improve job prospects or your chances of getting into top-tier graduate/professional programs
� An online video about UT's program is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7ZcXsUrk4M
Who Can Apply:
� You need to have completed ≥4 semesters as a full-time student (or equivalent in credit hours), and to have declared your major as biological sciences.
� You need a total GPA of ≥3.0 (4-point scale), and ≥3.3 in biology courses taken to date.
How to Apply:
� Contact the Biology Advisor for the Pipeline Program, Dr. John Gray.
� Supply two letters of recommendation. One must be from your faculty advisor in the Department of Biological Sciences. The other can be from any UT faculty member who knows you well enough to write a meaningful letter.
� IF your native language is not English, then supply TOEFL scores. [We require a score of 550 or higher for the paper-administered version, 213 or higher for the computer-administered versions, and 80 or higher for the Internet-administered version.]. IELTS scores are accepted in place of TOEFL (6.5 or higher). However, as of Spring 2014 admissions, IELTS will no longer be accepted.
Funding:
Even with no scholarship support, this program will save you a substantial amount of money compared to separately completing the two degree programs (see Cost Comparison below). In addition, tuition scholarships are available for the graduate portion of the pipeline program if you are anOhio resident. These are made possible by the Choose Ohio First tuition scholarship program. For more information about this, and about UT's Program in Bioinformatics & Proteomics/Genomics, see: http://www.utoledo.edu/med/depts/bioinfo/index.html
COST COMPARISON: Pipeline vs. BS + MSBS Taken Separately
$56,625 = approximate cost of tuition only for BS and MSBS taken separately
$49,103 = approximate costs of tuition only for the Pipeline Program
$7,522 Savings
This pipeline program is part of the new UT School of Biomarker Research & Individualized Medicine (BRIM), and the Colleges of Medicine & Life Sciences and of Natural Science & Mathematics.
BIOL/BIPG Pipeline Curriculum
1st year Fall
BIOL 2150 Fundamental of Life Science I (4)
BIOL 2160 Fundamental of Life Science I lab (1)
CHEM 1230 General Chemistry I (4)
CHEM 1280 General Chemistry I Lab (1)
ENGL 1110 Composition I (3)
ARS 1000 Orientation (1)
Elective (3)
TOTAL 17
1st year Spring
BIOL 2170 Fundamental of Life Science II (4)
BIOL 2180 Fundamental of Life Science II lab (1)
CHEM 1240 General Chemistry II (4)
CHEM 1250 General Chemistry II Lab (1)
ENGL 1130‐50 Composition II (3)
Elective (3)
TOTAL 16
2nd year Fall
BIOL 3010 Molecular Genetics (3)
BIOL 3020 Molecular Genetics lab # (2)
CHEM 2410 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 2460 Organic Chemistry I Lab (1)
MATH 1750 or 1850 (Calculus I) (4)
Elective (3)
TOTAL 16
2nd year Spring
BIOL 3030 Cell Biology (3)
BIOL 3040 Cell Bio Lab # (2)
CHEM 2410 Organic Chemistry II (3)
MATH 1760 or 1860 (Calculus II) (3)
MATH 2600 Introduction to Statistics (3)
Elective (3)
TOTAL 17
3rd year Fall
BIOL 3090 Developmental Biology (3)
PHYS 2070 or 2130 General Phyiscs I (5)
CHEM 3510 Biochemistry I (3)
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
TOTAL 17
3rd year Spring
BIOL 3070 Human Physiology (3)
PHYS 2080 or 2140 General Phyiscs I (5)
CHEM 3520 Biochemistry II (3)
BIOL 4110 Human Genetics OR (3)
BIOL 4210 Molec Basis of Human Disease
Elective (3)
TOTAL 17
Summer
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
TOTAL 6
4th year Fall
Elective (3)
BIOL 4700 Biological Lit & Commun (3)
BIOL 4110 Human Genetics (3)
BIPG 5200 Statistical Methods Bioinformatics (3)*
BIPG 5100 Fundamentals of Bioinformatics (3)*
INDI 6020 On being a Scientist (1)
TOTAL 16
4th year Spring
BIPG 6100 Intro to Bioinformatic Computing (3)*
Intro to Biomedical Research (0) #
BMSP 6390 Mentored Research (2)
EITHER BIPG 6400 Applications of Bioinfo. (3)
OR BRIM 6200 Biomarker Discovery,
Validation & Implementation
BMSP 6350 Cell Biology and Signaling (3)
Grad Elective (3)
Grad Elective (3)
TOTAL 17
Summer
BIPG 5400 Bioinfo Databases (1)
BIPG 5500 MicroArray Analysis (1)
BIPG 5110 Practical Bioinformatics (1)
BIPG 6990 Thesis Research in BPG (6)
TOTAL 9
5th year Fall
BIPG 5300 Journal Club Grad (1)
BIPG 6990 Thesis Research in BPG (8)
Grad Elective (3)
TOTAL 12
BS = 124, MSBS = 45 (27 didactic, 16 research)
Courses in red count towards MSBS only. *These courses provide the 9 cr that count towards both degrees.
# Together, BIOL 3020 and 3040 substitute for the BMSP 6400 (Methods) requirement.
# This is not a formal course, & you do not register for it, but all incoming students must attend because this is how rotation mentors are chosen. All faculty members with openings in their labs present a summary of their research, so students can decide
which they want to consider as thesis advisors.
Qualifying exam is given at end of spring 4 term. Total credit hours (including overlap):
If you have questions about the pipeline program, please talk to your faculty advisor, and/or contact:
Ms. Joanne Gray, Bioinformatics Program Secretary: joanne.gray@utoledo.edu
Dr. John Gray, Biological Sciences Pipeline Director: jgray5@utnet.utoledo.edu
Dr. Bob Blumenthal, Bioinformatics Program Director: robert.blumenthal@utoledo.edu