Predoctoral Training in Quantitative Cell Biology
The Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling (CCAM) offers a new, cross-disciplinary predoctoral training program in Quantitative Cell Biology. The QCB program specifically targets students with backgrounds in mathematical or physical sciences as well as conventional biology backgrounds, providing a rigorous cross-disciplinary training in quantitative cell biology. The program includes Ph. D. students from both the Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program at the University of Connecticut Health Center and the BioMedical Engineering Ph.D. program at the University of Connecticut main campus at Storrs. Faculty associated with the program engage in a broad spectrum of research in mathematical and theoretical biology, biophotonics, biocomputing and informatics, and molecular cell biology.
Prospective Students
Apply to either the to either PhD program in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Connecticut Health Center, or the Biomedical Engineering Program administered at the main Campus at Storrs using the following links:
Biomedical Sciences Program (University of Connecticut Health Center)
Biomedical Engineering Program (University of Connecticut Storrs)
Application Deadline
The application deadline is December 15. Quantitative Cell Biology should be indicated as the area of interest on the application. Individuals interested in this program should also submit a letter of interest in the QCB program to:
Dr. Les Loew
Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling
263 Farmington Avenue
University of Connecticut Health Center Farmington, CT 06030-1507
email: les@volt.uchc.edu
Or contact individual program faculty directly. A list of faculty and their research interests can be found here: http://www.ccam.uchc.edu/people/people.html
Course Work
In the Quantitative Cell Biology predoctoral program, the course work is specifically tailored to the needs of the individual students based on their backgrounds, and includes core didactic courses in biology, in addition to cross-training in mathematical modeling, computational techniques, and courses in biophysical/imaging techniques.
Courses available to trainees within the traditional curricula include courses in computational and/or biophysical methods that complement the traditional biology courses at UCHC. Examples include: •Computational Cell Biology for Biomedical Engineers• Mathematical Modeling • Introduction to Mathematical Biophysics • Computational Neuroscience • Bioinformatics • Practical Applications in Sequence Analysis • Biophotonics • Cell Biology II: From Experiment to Model • Biochemistry II: Biophysical Techniques .
General Program Features
First year students undergo 2 laboratory rotations, at least one of which is in a cross-disciplinary laboratory (e.g. for students with biology backgrounds, at least one rotation project will include either mathematical modeling or optical engineering). A Preliminary Examination, in the form of a grant proposal written in the students’ thesis research area is given in the second year. Once the Preliminary Examination has been successfully completed, trainees become fully committed to their thesis research. More information on the requirements for completion of the Ph.D. program can be found at the Biomedical Engineering and Biomedical Sciences websites.
