Program Summary
The Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Program (BCB) at Iowa State University is an exciting new Interdepartmental Graduate Major which offers outstanding opportunities for graduate study toward the Ph.D. degree in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. The BCB program involves more than 40 nationally and internationally known faculty - biologists, computer scientists, mathematicians, statisticians, and physicists - who participate in a wide range of collaborative projects. Iowa State University was awarded a $3 million National Science Foundation Training Grant in Computational Molecular Biology and has established several new research centers including a Center for Bioinformatics and Biological Statistics and a Center for Plant Genomics. The Training Grant and new centers provide funding for graduate assistantships, new faculty, and new facilities for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology research.

The BCB program emphasizes interdisciplinary research in six related areas of focus:

• Bioinformatics
• Functional and Structural Genomics
• Genome Evolution
• Macromolecular Structure and Function
• Metabolic and Developmental Networks
• Mathematical Modeling and Computational Biology

The BCB Faculty Research page lists faculty according to their primary research area and provides access to homepages for individual faculty. You can obtain additional information about specific research programs by directly contacting individual faculty members. Contact information is provided on the BCB Faculty Directory page.

First-year students receive graduate research assistantships and participate in research rotations in three or more laboratories to gain experience in both "wet" and "dry" lab environments. A listing of faculty currently interested in having students rotate through their lab is maintained on our rotations page and includes a brief description of potential rotation projects for each laboratory. BCB students also have the opportunity to work as interns with industrial partners. In the second year, students initiate an interdisciplinary thesis research project under the guidance of two mentors, one biological scientist and one mathematician/computer scientist/statistician. One mentor serves as the student's "major professor" and the other as the "co-major professor." Joint mentoring is viewed as a critical component of the interdisciplinary BCB training program.

Fellowships
Standard stipend. All graduate students admitted to the BCB program are supported by graduate assistantships. The standard stipend for the 2000-2001 academic year is $16,800; we anticipate an increase to approximately $17,400 for 2001-2002. Tuition and health insurance are also paid by the BCB program. First-year students are guaranteed a one-year research assistantship. After the first year, students are supported be either research or teaching assistantships. Special competitive fellowships also are available for both U.S. and international BCB students.

NSF fellowships. US citizens and permanent residents are eligible for a fellowship from Iowa State's National Science Foundation Training Grant in Computational Molecular Biology. Fellowships have a duration of 1-3 years and provide a stipend of $20,000 per year. In addition, tuition, fees, and health insurance are paid for the duration of the fellowship. Funds for textbooks and scientific journals, computer software and hardware, short courses, internships, travel, and related expenses are also available. All applicants to the BCB program will automatically be considered for an NSF fellowship. Additional information can be found at the NSF training grant website.

Application Information
We currently are accepting applications for admission to the BCB program in Fall 2001, which will be our next new student enrollment period. To receive full consideration, all application materials must be received by February 1, 2001.

ADMISSION CRITERIA

A limited number of student positions are available in the BCB program. In an effort to admit the best-qualified candidates with the greatest potential for success, our Admissions Committee considers many factors in evaluating applications for admission. These include previous academic training (courses taken and grades received), quality of schools attended, statement of professional goals, research experience and publications, and letters of recommendation, as well as GRE and TOEFL scores. We especially encourage applications from women and minorities.

Admission to the BCB program is highly competitive. Total GRE scores of applicants admitted for Fall 2000 averaged over 2000; TOEFL scores of international applicants admitted averaged approximately 625.

We invite and encourage prospective applicants to review the admission criteria outlined below for assistance in determining whether to apply.

Degree Objective and Timeline. The Bioinformatics and Computational Biology graduate program is designed to provide doctoral (Ph.D.) level training. The coursework, research and thesis required for the Ph.D. degree typically can be completed in five years. In special circumstances (such as when a student has a prior Ph.D. degree), students may be admitted as M.S. candidates.

Undergraduate Work. A four-year university degree (the equivalent of a bachelor's degree) is required. Successful applicants typically have an undergraduate degree in molecular biology, computer science, mathematics, statistics, physics or a closely related discipline. Strong computational, mathematical or statistical training is desirable. However, all exceptionally well-qualified applicants who present strong evidence of research potential will be considered for admission.

Academic Performance. Applicants should have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) comparable to at least a "B+" average or 3.30 out of a possible 4.00, and rank in the top quartile (25 percent) of their graduating class. Strong performance in relevant science, computer and math courses is especially valued.

Examinations. The general Graduate Records Examination (GRE) is required (requirement waived for applicants with Ph.D.). GRE scores (verbal, quantitative, analytical) of successful BCB applicants typically total ~2000. Subject GREs are not required. International applicants must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Successful BCB applicants typically score over 600.

Submitting Your Application

• You can use the online BCB Program Application Form to initiate the application process, or use our downloadable forms.
• If you have specific questions or wish to receive printed application forms, please use the online BCB Information/Application Request Form.

Contact Us

Bioinformatics and Computational Biology 2014 Molecular Biology Building Iowa State University Ames, IA, 50011-3260
Email: Phone: Toll-free: Fax:	bcb@iastate.edu 1-515-294-5122 1-888-569-8509 1-515-294-6790