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Graduate Training Program

Quantitative Biology graduate training at MSU is centered on two interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs:

Graduate Students at Conference
  • Our new dual-major Ph.D. program, the Quantitative Biology (QB)interdisciplinary Ph.D. program, or QB program, trains Ph.D. students in the quantitative, computational, and biological aspects of structural biology or systems biology. The QB program features an interdisciplinary research project with two faculty mentors, one each from biological and non-biological disciplines, coursework apportioned between three QB courses and the primary department's courses, and teaching responsibilities and comprehensive exams centered in the primary department. While very similar in organization and requirements to the other dual-major Ph.D. programs described below, the QB program includes specially designed courses (QB826, QB827, QB828, and QB829) offers more flexibility for the students who can belong to one of many primary departments (e.g., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Chemistry, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Mathematics, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Physics and Astronomy, Physiology, Plant Biology, or Statistics and Probability) in addition to the QB program. A large emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary training through interdisciplinary teamwork, crossing-training from student to student, laboratory rotations, and the QB interdisciplinary student community and activities. Receiving a dual-major degree in a traditional discipline plus QB indicates proficiency in that discipline (as fundamental training to ensure future job prospects) as well as expertise in the rapidly growing area of quantitative biology. Contact Claire Vieille (Vieille@msu.edu) if you are interested in pursuing a QB Ph.D. degree.
  • Additional Interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs (based on the University's dual-major Ph.D. guidelines) available through the Quantitative Biology Initiative feature an interdisciplinary research project with faculty mentors in both biology and the physical/chemical/computational/mathematical sciences, coursework apportioned between the two departments, and teaching responsibilities and comprehensive exams centered in the primary department. There are now interdisciplinary dual-major Ph.D. programs between Biochemistry and Chemistry, Biochemistry and Computer Science, Biochemistry and Physics, Biochemistry and Chemical Engineering, and Biochemistry and Mathematics. Contact Leslie Kuhn kuhnL@msu.edu if you are interested in pursuing a joint degree in these or other areas!
  • A perspective from one of our dual-major Ph.D. graduates, Brandon Hespenheide (Biochemistry & Physics Ph.D., MSU, 2003; now a Postdoctoral Fellow in Physics at Arizona State University)
  • Quantitative Biology Research Focus Areas and Faculty are cross-listed, to help students and researchers identify potential mentors or collaborators for projects
  • Courses relevant to Quantitative Biology are offered in many departments at MSU
  • Science at the Edge Quantitative Biology Seminars present exciting cross-disciplinary research
  • Conferences are hosted annually in topics relating to Structural Biology, Systems Biology, and Gene Expression in Disease and Development
  • Applications are invited for: Graduate Student Fellowships for Interdisciplinary Research in Quantitative Biology
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