2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
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Faculty
Professors
Charles J. Bieberich
B.S., University of Tampa, 1982; Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, 1987
Thomas Cronin
SciB., Dickinson College, 1967; M.S., Duke University, 1969; Ph.D., Duke University, 1979
David M. Eisenmann
B.S., University of Pennsylvania, 1985; Ph.D., Harvard University, 1992
Philip J. Farabaugh
B.A., University of California, San Diego, 1972; Ph.D. Harvard University, 1978
Jeffery W. Leips
B.S., Florida State University, 1983; Ph.D., 1997
Tamra Mendelson
B.S., University of Wisconsin, 1991; P.h.D., Duke University, 2001
Kevin Omland
B.A., Dartmouth College, 1985; Ph.D., The University at Albany, 1995
Phyllis R. Robinson
B.A., Wellesley College, 1973; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1981
Suzanne O. Rosenberg
A.B., Barnard College, 1970; Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, 1975
Associate Professors
Rachel Brewster
S.F.B., University of Geneva (Switzerland), 1989; Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1996
Mauricio M. Bustos
B.A., Universidad Nacional de Cordoba (Argentina), 1982; Ph.D., University of California, Irvine, 1986
Ivan Erill
B.S., Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 1996; M.Eng., 2000, Eng. D., 2002
Maricel Kann
B.S., Universidad de la República (Uruguay), 1991; M.S., 1994; Ph.D., University of Michigan, 2001
Bernard Lohr
A.B., Cornell University, 1984; M.S., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1989; Ph.D., Duke University, 1995
Weihong Lin
B.S., Zhongsham University (China), 1982; M.S., 1988; Ph.D., Colorado State University, 1998
Hua Lu
B.S., Nanjing University (China), 1990; M.S., 1993; Ph.D., Texas A&M University, 1999
Stephen M. Miller
B.S., Case Western Reserve University, 1984; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1991
Harold J. Schreier
B.S., California Polytechnic State University, 1978; Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 1983
Michelle Starz-Gaiano
B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1994; Ph.D., New York University, 2002
Assistant Professors
Jeffrey Gardner
B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2002; Ph.D., 2008
Erin Green
B.A., Bryn Mawr College, 2000; Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley, 2007
Daniel Lobo
B.S. University of Seville, Spain 2005; M.S. University of Malaga, Spain 2007; Ph.D. University of Malaga, Spain 2010
Senior Lecturers
Steven Caruso
B.S., University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1994; Ph.D., 2002
Esther Fleischmann
B.A., New York University, 1974; Ph.D., University of Georgia 1988
Sarah Leupen
B.A., Oberlin College, 1993; Ph.D., Northwestern University, 1998
Cynthia Wagner
B.A., Concordia College, 1981; Ph.D., Washington University, 1998
Julia B. Wolf
B.S., Brenau College, 1979; M.S., University of Maryland Baltimore Country, 1983
Lecturers/Instructors
Elizabeth Feeser
B.S. Georgetown University, 2002; Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University, 2008
Jennifer Hughes
B.S. University College Cork, Ireland, 1998; Ph.D. University College Dublin, Ireland 2003
Javier Rivera Guzman
B.S. Inter American University of Puerto Rico, 2002; Ph.D. Indiana University School of Medicine, 2009
Tracy A. Smith
B.S. Washington College, 2000; Ph.D. University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2014
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Mariajose Castellanos
B.S., Autonomous University of Mexico, 1999; Ph.D., Cornell University, 2005
Douglas D. Frey
B.S., Stanford University, 1978; M.S., University of California, Berkeley, 1980; Ph.D., 1984
Mark R. Marten
B.S., State University of New York at Buffalo, 1986; M.S., Purdue University, 1988; Ph.D., 1991
Govind Rao
B.S., Indian Institute of Technology (Madras, India), 1984; Ph.D., Drexel University, 1987
Chemistry And Biochemistry
Bradley R. Arnold
B.S., Dalhousie University, 1983; Ph.D., University of Utah, 1991
C. Allen Bush
B.A., Cornell University, 1961; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1965
Richard L. Karpel
B.A., Queens College, 1965; Ph.D., Brandeis University, 1970
Michael F. Summers
B.S., University of West Florida, 1980; Ph.D., Emory University, 1984
Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Hillol Kargupta
B.Tech., Regional Engineering College (India), 1988; M.Tech., Indian Institute of Technology (India), 1990; Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1996
Mathmatics and Statistics
Kathleen Hoffman
B.S., University of New Hampshire, 1991; Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park, 1997
Florian Potra
B.S., Babes-Bolyai University (Romania), 1973; MS, 1974; Ph.D., University of Bucharest, 1980
Senior Research Scientist
Janice Zengel
B.A., McDaniel College, 1970; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1977.
Information Systems
Anthony F. Norcio
B.A., University of Maryland, College Park, 1965; B.S., 1968; M.L.S., 1973; Ph.D., The Catholic University of America, 1978
Carolyn Seaman
B.A., College of Wooster, 1986; M.S., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1987; Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park, 1996
Courses in this program are listed under BIOL and MATH and STAT and CHEM and PHYS and CMSC.
This program offers comprehensive training in the fields of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology by combining courses in the areas of biology, chemistry, physics, computer science and mathematics. Graduates will acquire the necessary skills for automated querying and data analysis using complex databases, extraction of essential information from genomic and proteomic data, modeling of biological systems, as well as the design and development of software and algorithms to support these activities. Students also have the opportunity to engage in independent research in the lab, the field or off-campus, working one-on-one with a faculty mentor. The curriculum consists of 88-92 credits in biology, computer science and related disciplines (chemistry, information systems, mathematics and physics), complemented by two specific courses on Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. This program is appropriate for any student desiring a rich and multidisciplinary grounding in all the essential elements of bioinformatics and computational biology.
Career and Academic Paths
An undergraduate degree in bioinformatics and computational biology from UMBC provides students with an excellent background for employment in industry, academics, government or for graduate studies in the areas of bioinformatics, biology, computational biology or molecular biology. For specific requirements regarding graduate programs, students should consult the Graduate Catalog of the institution they are interested in attending. Major itineraries and their associated career pathways are outlined in the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology requirements worksheet.
Academic Advising
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology majors who have not yet completed their gateway requirements will be advised by the undergraduate academic advisor for life sciences (see the description of degree requirements for details regarding the gateway). Subsequently, they will be assigned to one of the full-time faculty for advising. Students are required to see their advisors at least once each semester. Academic progress is monitored through graduation.
Honors Program
Bioinformatics and computational biology majors who have completed the following requirements will be eligible to enter the Biological Sciences Departmental Honors Program. The following courses, or acceptable transfer equivalents thereof, must have been completed with a cumulative GPA of 3.5: BIOL 141 , BIOL 142 , BIOL 302 , BIOL 303 , BIOL 313 and 495L; CHEM 101 , CHEM 102 , CHEM 351 ; MATH 151 and STAT 355 . Additionally, the student must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5 in the major and 3.25 overall.
This program, in addition to the regular requirements for the major, includes the following nine credits of coursework:
- (Two semesters for a minimum total of six credits)
- (One semester)
Eligible students should apply to the Biological Sciences Departmental Honors Committee. Forms are available in the biological sciences office.
Special Opportunities
Talented undergraduates committed to performing quality independent research are encouraged to apply for a variety of research opportunities offered by UMBC’s outstanding faculty. Under the guidance of faculty mentors, student research assistants work on their own lab research projects and help their mentors with important research. These unique, intensive experiences allow students to sharpen their critical thinking skills, learn how to write and read scientific papers, and expand their scientific understanding of computational biology concepts.
Tutorial Center
Bioinformatics students are invited to use the facilities of the Biological Sciences Tutorial Center, located in room 011 of the Biological Sciences Building. The center has 12 computer workstations for student use and two workstations for faculty. The center is open for students to study in groups, work on computer lab assignments and to access course Web pages and other information on the Web. Tutors are available for the biology core courses (Concepts of Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Molecular and General Genetics, Cell Biology, Plant Biology and Animal Physiology).
Student Organizations
Biology Council of Majors (BIO/COM) All bioinformatics majors are welcome to join the Biology Council of Majors (BIO/COM). This very active student organization strives to promote the achievement of the professional ambitions of its members and to serve as a means of social contact among them.
ProgramsBachelor of ScienceNon-DegreeCoursesMathematics
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