Ph.D. in Biomedical Science: Area of Concentration: Cell Biology
Quantitative Cell Biology
The Center for
Cell Analysis and Modeling (CCAM) is offering a new,
cross-disciplinary training program in Quantitative Cell
Biology (QCB). The program is made possible by a $12.3M
federal grant from the National Institutes of Health as part of the
agency’s Roadmap for Medical Research, which supports multidisciplinary
projects to accelerate progress in medical research. The Health Center
is one of just five National Technology Centers for Networks and
Pathways in the country.
The QCB program specifically targets students with
backgrounds in mathematical or physical sciences, providing a rigorous
cross-disciplinary training in quantitative cell biology to those
students and to interested students with more conventional biology
backgrounds. The program includes Ph. D. students in both the Biomedical
Sciences Ph.D. program at the University of Connecticut Health Center
and the BioMedical Engineering Ph.D. program administered 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.
ADMISSION
Prospective students may apply to the
PhD program in
Biomedical Sciences at the University of Connecticut Health Center.
The application deadline is December 15th. 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.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Course work in the Quantitative Cell Biology predoctoral program 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. We are
currently developing a modular, multidisciplinary curriculum that will
include a series of short, 2-3 week courses in faculty specialties that
will be tightly focused on a given topic. In addition, the CCAM Modeling
Laboratory, which serves as an intellectual home to trainees primarily
interested in mathematical modeling, organizes course modules in
biophysics and mathematical modeling. Working with their thesis advisor,
students can tailor short course selections to meet their individual
needs, both in terms of deficiencies and in terms of specialized
interests. This novel approach to the didactic portion of graduate
training allows will allow the student to meet the seemingly conflicting
pressures of obtaining a broad exposure to needed skills and knowledge
while still acquiring depth in a particular specialty. Modules will be
scheduled so as to maximize opportunities for the students to take
valuable courses offered in the traditional curricula and avoid
conflicts with concurrent modules.
Courses available to trainees include within the traditional curricula
several recently developed 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,( taught concurrently with
Cell Biology I)
- Biochemistry II: Biophysical Techniques (taught concurrently with
Biochemistry I ).
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.
Contact the Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling Director:
Dr. Les Loew at les@volt.uchc.edu
Visit the Center for
Cell Analysis and Modeling (CCAM) page at:
http://www.ccam.uchc.edu
Visit the Quantitative Cell Biology Training Program page at:
http://www.ccam.uchc.edu/qcb/qcb.html
Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling
University of Connecticut Health Center Graduate School
263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-1507
Phone: 860-679-1452 |
