Graduate Programs
Degree Programs
PhD Degree Programs
Ph.D. in Bioinformatics
The Indiana University School of Informatics, the first of its kind in the country, was created as a place where innovative multidisciplinary programs could thrive, a program where students can apply the skills of technology to a range of other fields. For current information and specific requirements, go to the website. All PhD candidates must meet with their academic and/or research advisor for course selection and plan of study. This program is administered with the approval of Indiana University, Bloomington.
Program of Study
Students in the doctoral program will explore the connections among technology, theory, social analysis, and application domains in a diverse and multidisciplinary curriculum. This curriculum will include core courses and seminars in informatics, an information subdiscipline [current subdisciplines are bioinformatics, health informatics, and human-computer interaction; courses in methodology and theory; electives in related disciplines inside and outside of the School leading to a Ph.D. minor; and a dissertation]. In addition, students will be encouraged to pursue internships as part of the elective courses or independent studies of their program.
The PhD in Informatics with specialization in Bioinformatics is a 90 credit hour program that includes:
- 15 credit hours of Core A
- 12 credit hours of Core B
- 6 credit hours of seminar courses
- 6 credit hours of electives
- 6 credit hours of rotation
- 15 credit hours in minor
- 30 credit hours minimum of dissertation
Areas of Specialization: Faculty research projects often involve representatives from several different research areas working together to develop innovative and even revolutionary new solutions. While students can expect to concentrate in particular areas, they will also be expected to explore the broader significance of their work as well as ways that their expertise can be leveraged to solve problems outside of their own domains.
Areas of research: Sequence pattern recognition, comparative genomics, structural genomics, fragment assembly in DNA sequencing, systems biology, models of evolution, molecular modeling, protein-protein interaction and protein function prediction, personalized medicine, drug design, biological database integration, data mining, and biomedical text mining.
Qualifying Examination - Written (Required)
All students will take a written qualifying examination that covers the core courses (CORE A and B). The examination will be set by a group of faculty who are familiar with the content of the core courses. Examinations will be offered in August. Examinations must be completed by the beginning of the student's fifth semester in the program but can be completed before that time when the core courses are completed. Students who do not successfully complete the examination can retake the examination a second time in January.
Qualifying Examination - Oral (Required)
- The oral examination will take place after the student successfully passes the written exam. Students must pass both the written and the oral exam before passing on to candidacy. Only two attempts to pass the oral examination will be allowed.
- The oral exam will be based on the student's response to the written exam and any material from the core courses.
Dissertation Proposal (Required)
This is an oral review that covers in-depth knowledge of the student's primary research area and dissertation proposal. The research proposal for dissertation must be approved by the student's research committee. That committee may have the same membership as the program committee or the students may choose different members. The advisor for the dissertation will be a faculty member in the School of Informatics and a member of the Graduate Faculty. At least one of the three members of the committee will be based outside of the school. The student will defend the thesis proposal at a public colloquium in the school. The review should be completed within one-year after passing the Qualifying Examinations.
Dissertation (Required)
A written elaboration of significant original research must be successfully presented to the research committee in a public defense as described in the Graduate School Bulletin.