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Degrees in Quantitative and Systems Biology

The Quantitative and Systems Biology program takes advantage of advances in techniques and theory that bridge molecular and ecosystem scales toward the reunification of biology as a field. Biologists’ ability to gather and integrate large amounts of quantitative data in field and laboratory settings is advancing hand-in-hand with theory and modeling to better explain and more successfully engineer the nature and diversity of living systems on Earth.

The Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program at UC Merced provides individualized, research-based courses of study leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Research projects are available on diverse topics including:

  • biomolecular interactions
  • genomics and proteomics
  • microbial community and host-microbial interactions
  • cellular interactions in immune, neural and developmental networks; signal transduction
  • organ systems and whole animals (both vertebrate and invertebrate)
  • comparative ecology, evolution, and organismal biology
  • computational biology

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the program and faculty, research projects often span multiple topics to address complex questions and linkages across levels of biological scale (e.g. molecules, cells, organisms, communities) typical of systems biology and quantitative biology (e.g. measuring individuals to describe populations). Coursework in this graduate program provides a background in the tools of modern biology, including computational biology, genomics and advanced instrumentation. The Quantitative and Systems Biology Program offers particular opportunities for students interested in multidisciplinary projects at the interface of biology with other disciplines, including computer science and bioengineering. Career opportunities for graduates include research positions in government and industry, as well as academic positions at colleges and universities.

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. We currently offer concentrations in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Computational and Theoretical Biology, and we plan to expand the concentrations in the future.

Ph.D. in Quantitative and Systems Biology

Doctoral Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Quantitative and Systems Biology Skill–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.

M.S. in Quantitative and Systems Biology

Masters Program Learning Outcomes

Plan I – Thesis

  1. Quantitative and Systems Biology Skill–Knowledge and understanding of quantitative (statistical, computational, and model dependent) and high-throughput experimental systems approaches to biological problems.
  2. Ethics–Knowledge and understanding of ethical standards in proposing and executing professional scientific research.
  3. Communication–Ability to effectively engage in effective communication of original and existing scientific inquiry and results orally and in writing.
  4. Scholarship–Ability to demonstrate graduate-level scholarship in specialized areas of biology, including command of relevant literature.
  5. Research Ability–Ability to execute and defend original research that contributes to knowledge in the relevant field of biology.

 

Plan II – Non-Thesis

  1. Quantitative and Systems Biology Skill–Knowledge and understanding of quantitative (statistical, computational, and model dependent) and high-throughput experimental systems approaches to biological problems.
  2. Ethics–Knowledge and understanding of ethical standards in proposing and executing professional scientific research.
  3. Communication–Ability to 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 command of historical and current literature and broader scientific context, identification of open research problems, and identification of feasible techniques to approach those problems.