Information for Prospective Students

The Biomedical Informatics and Computational Biology graduate program is an all-University, interdisciplinary graduate program that offers Ph.D., M.S., and Minor degrees. The graduate faculty members come from the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities, Rochester, and Hormel Institute), Mayo Clinic, and IBM.

The program aims to create a paradigm shift in the way interdisciplinary, multi-institutional higher education is delivered. With multiple institutional partners, we provide students the opportunity to work with faculty from academia, a clinical institution, and industry. The program is designed to overcome challenges of geographically dispersed partnering institutions by delivering courses via ITV, video-conferencing, and regular meetings of all faculty and students.

We expect students to gain competency in the areas of computer science, informatics, mathematics, statistics, and the biological and health sciences. While the students' research will focus on development and applications of computational methods, internships in industry or laboratories will prepare students for an interdisciplinary and collaborative work environment and provide hands-on experience with experiments to gain a deeper understanding of the data types that are generated. We expect that most students will become part of a research team and will promote this mode of training through paid traineeships that require co-advising across institutions and disciplines.

This program is open to working adults and part-time students seeking master's and/or Ph.D. degrees. A limited number of fellowships for full-time Ph.D. graduate students is expected to be available.

Tuition and Fees

Prerequisite Coursework

We expect incoming graduate students to have a strong background in the quantitative sciences and varied backgrounds in the life/health sciences. Specifically, we expect incoming students to have taken the following courses at the undergraduate level prior to entering the program:

1. Calculus (1 year)
2. Introductory computer science course and basic programming skills (1 semester)
3. Chemistry (1 year)
4. General biology course (1 semester)

In addition, we expect students to have background in either two of the areas 1-3 or one of the areas 1-3 and one of the areas 4 and 5:

1. Multivariable calculus, differential equations, linear algebra
2. Algorithms and data structure, discrete mathematics
3. Statistics or biostatistics; probability theory
4. Biochemistry, genetics and cell biology
5. Health sciences (pharmacology, physiology, or related areas)

A student might be admitted without meeting the prerequisite requirements, but a plan must be in place to make up deficiencies within the first year.

Submitting Your Application

The Graduate School requires all applicants to complete their application online. The BICB graduate program accepts applications from December 15 through April 1 for the Ph.D. program for fall semester. Applications for the M.S. program are accepted throughout the year for either fall or spring.

In your personal statement, describe your past experiences, why you wish to pursue graduate studies in biomedical informatics and computational biology, your career aspirations. In addition, please indicate the names of the BICB graduate faculty whose interests overlap with yours. We strongly encourage you to contact these faculty members before you apply. Although there is no page limit for the personal statement, we recommend that it be 2-3 pages.

We require the general GRE test (no subject test is required), unless significant work experience in a related field can be demonstrated, in which case the applicants should request a waiver in the cover letter. Scores should be sent directly to the U of M Graduate School by the Educational Testing Service (Institution #6874, University of Minnesota). TOEFL scores (for non-native speakers) should be sent to the same institution code. See Graduate School web page for further information.

For applications to the BICB Ph.D. program, three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your academic and professional experience should be submitted to:

BICB Graduate Program
University of Minnesota Rochester
300 University Square
111 South Broadway
Rochester, MN 55904

In addition, for all applicants, we request that reviewers complete the online evaluation through the Graduate School’s online application system.

Transcripts (originals) of all universities and colleges attended must be sent directly from the applicant’s institution to the Graduate School at the following address:

University of Minnesota Graduate School
Office of Admissions
309 Johnston Hall
101 Pleasant Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455