College of Computing

The Ph.D. Program in Bioinformatics

The mission of the Georgia Tech Bioinformatics PhD Program is to educate and prepare graduate students to reach the forefront of leadership in the field of bioinformatics and computational biology; and to integrate research and education on the use of information technologies in biology and medicine. Thus, the program leading to a PhD in Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary program spanning a variety of academic departments at Georgia Tech.

Bioinformatics is a multidisciplinary field in which physical sciences, life sciences, computer science, and engineering are merged to solve both fundamental and applied problems in biology and medicine. The outcomes of bioinformatics and computational biology particularly include:

1. new and global perspectives into the organization and function of biological systems (fundamental biology);

2. new and novel targets for drug discovery and development;

3. and genetic/proteomic profiling for pharmaco-genomics or personalized medicine.

Thus, Bioinformatics is emerging as a strategic discipline at the frontier between Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedicine, Bioengineering, Computer Science and Mathematics, impacting fundamental science, medicine, biotechnology, and society.

With its broad mission statement, this program at Georgia Tech has the following focus / strength areas:

1. Development of software tools, algorithms, and databases for gene identification, protein structural prediction, clustering analysis, and data mining.

2. Application of bioinformatics to disease diagnosis, classification, prognosis, and treatment.

3. Application of bioinformatics to fundamental biology and systems biology.

There is an increasing demand for scientists with advanced training in Bioinformatics. Professionals in this area should have a thorough knowledge of Molecular Biology, Mathematics and Statistics as well as Computer Science and Engineering.

Back in 1997 the College of Science at Georgia Tech proposed and established a professional Master of Science in Bioinformatics degree program, the first of its kind in the United States. This interdisciplinary program consists of a unique combination of courses. The students are taught with the equal strength in several scientific disciplines and are prepared for further successful work in industry or academy. At present there are more than 40 students in the program, with twelve graduates already employed in Academy and Industry, particularly at SmithKlineGlaxo, Navartis, Johnson & Johnson, Informax, Los Alamos National Lab, the Vanderbilt University, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, etc.

Since 1993, the School of Biology at Georgia Tech has implemented a PhD in Biology with concentration in Bioinformatics. This option will stay in place for those students who would like to pursue PhD in Biology.

The group of prospective applicants for the PhD program is expected to consist of students with a MS in Bioinformatics as well as holders of BS/BA and higher degrees in different disciplines. The applicants with Life science degrees are usually looking for the interdisciplinary education with the focus on Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science. The demand of this sort perfectly fits to what Georgia Tech can offer: high quality education in Mathematics, Physics and Computing along with advanced courses in Biology and Biochemistry.