How to Apply

Ph.D. in Bioinformatics

The Ph.D. in Bioinformatics is offered through the Graduate Program in Genomic Sciences. It requires a minimum of 72 credit hours, consisting of ten core lecture/laboratory courses in genomic sciences and bioinformatics, four semesters of journal club, electives and research. Graduate students must maintain a B average or above.

Bioinformatics Curriculum

The Ph.D. degree is research oriented. It requires written and oral preliminary exams, a research dissertation, and an oral dissertation defense.

There are no formal teaching requirements. However, students are strongly encouraged to seek appropriate teaching opportunities.

Recommended Prerequisites

Entering graduate students in bioinformatics should have an undergraduate major in the biological or physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, or computer science. In addition, they should have completed undergraduate courses in calculus and linear algebra, computing in C++ or Java, statistics for biological sciences, and principles of genetics. Alternatively, accepted students must take these courses as prerequisites beyond the credit requirements for the degree.

Advisory Committees

Ph.D. students meet with each core Bioinformatics faculty member during their first semester to select their major advisor. Students form an advisory committee and file a plan of work within the first year of graduate study. The advisory committee must be comprised of at least four NC State faculty: one specializing in bioinformatics, one in functional genomics, and two additional faculty members.

Work Space

Incoming graduate students in bioinformatics are assigned desk space in the Bioinformatics Research Center. Students whose major advisor has a laboratory outside the BRC will move to that lab at the end of the first year of graduate study.

Research Opportunities

Graduate students will have the opportunity to gain research experience in the Genome Research Laboratory, the Bioinformatics Research Center, or any of the laboratories of the 100 genomic science faculty on campus. Opportunities for research are also available in several off-campus companies and research organizations.

For More Information

For more information on the Ph.D. program in bioinformatics, please contact one of the following:

Ms. Juliebeth Briseno
Program Assistant, Genomic Sciences
Bioinformatics Research Center
NC State University
Campus Box 7566
Raleigh, NC 27695-7566
jbrisen@unity.ncsu.edu
919-515-2535

Dr. Zhao-Bang Zeng
Director, Bioinformatics Research Center
NC State University
Campus Box 7566
Raleigh, NC 27695-7566
zeng@stat.ncsu.edu
919-515-1942