• About Us
    • Leadership
    • What is Computational Biology?
    • What is Automated Science?
    • Computational Biology Careers Website
    • List of Educational Programs in Computational Biology
    • The Hillman Center
    • History
    • CBD at a Glance
    • News and Events
      • News
      • Calendar
      • Departmental Seminars
      • Meetings
    • Department Resources
  • Education
    • Ph.D. in Computational Biology
    • M.S. in Automated Science
    • M.S. in Computational Biology
    • Undergraduate Program in Computational Biology
      • Why Major in Computational Biology?
      • Degree Requirements
      • Sample Course Sequence for Computational Biology Majors
      • Guidelines for Transfer to Major in Computational Biology
      • Additional Major in Computational Biology
      • Visit Us
    • Minor in Computational Biology
    • Pre-College Program in Computational Biology
    • Courses Offered
      • Undergraduate Courses Offered
      • Graduate Courses Offered
      • Course Profiles
        • 02-201/601 Programming for Scientists
        • 02-250 Introduction to Computational Biology
        • 02-261 Quantitative Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory
        • 02-402/702 Computational Biology Seminar
        • 02-425/725 Computational Methods for Proteogenomics and Metabolomics
        • 02-450/750 Automation of Biological Research: Robotics and Machine Learning
        • 02-500 Undergraduate Research in Computational Biology
        • 02-510/710 Computational Genomics
        • 02-602 Professional Issues in Computational Biology
        • 02-604 Fundamentals of Bioinformatics
        • 02-613 Algorithms and Advanced Data Structures
        • 02-700 M.S. Research
        • 02-701 CPCB Course / Current Topics in Computational Biology
        • 02-715 Advanced Topics in Computational Genomics
        • 02-760 Laboratory Methods for Computational Biologists
        • 02-801 Computational Biology Internship
        • 02-900 Ph.D. Thesis Research
  • Research
    • Software
    • Faculty Research Pages
    • Computational Biology Technical Reports
    • White Papers
  • People
    • Faculty
      • Voting Faculty
      • Affiliated Faculty
      • Visiting Faculty
      • Adjunct Faculty
    • Staff
      • Department Staff
      • Research Staff
    • Fellows and Special Faculty
      • The Lane Fellows Program
      • Current Lane Fellows
      • Past Lane Fellows
      • Postdoctoral Fellows
      • Past Postdoctoral Fellows
      • Special Faculty
    • Alumni
      • Ph.D. Graduates
      • Alumni Profiles
  • Join Us!
    • Life in Pittsburgh
      • Neighborhoods Near Carnegie Mellon University
      • Things to Do in Pittsburgh
    • Positions Available
    • Apply to Ph.D. Program
    • Apply to MSAS
    • Apply to MSCB
    • Apply to Undergraduate Program
    • Apply to be a Lane Fellow
Find us
help@cbd.cmu.edu
Computational Biology Department Computational Biology Department
  • About Us
    • Leadership
    • What is Computational Biology?
    • What is Automated Science?
    • Computational Biology Careers Website
    • List of Educational Programs in Computational Biology
    • The Hillman Center
    • History
    • CBD at a Glance
    • News and Events
      • News
      • Calendar
      • Departmental Seminars
      • Meetings
    • Department Resources
  • Education
    • Ph.D. in Computational Biology
    • M.S. in Automated Science
    • M.S. in Computational Biology
    • Undergraduate Program in Computational Biology
      • Why Major in Computational Biology?
      • Degree Requirements
      • Sample Course Sequence for Computational Biology Majors
      • Guidelines for Transfer to Major in Computational Biology
      • Additional Major in Computational Biology
      • Visit Us
    • Minor in Computational Biology
    • Pre-College Program in Computational Biology
    • Courses Offered
      • Undergraduate Courses Offered
      • Graduate Courses Offered
      • Course Profiles
        • 02-201/601 Programming for Scientists
        • 02-250 Introduction to Computational Biology
        • 02-261 Quantitative Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory
        • 02-402/702 Computational Biology Seminar
        • 02-425/725 Computational Methods for Proteogenomics and Metabolomics
        • 02-450/750 Automation of Biological Research: Robotics and Machine Learning
        • 02-500 Undergraduate Research in Computational Biology
        • 02-510/710 Computational Genomics
        • 02-602 Professional Issues in Computational Biology
        • 02-604 Fundamentals of Bioinformatics
        • 02-613 Algorithms and Advanced Data Structures
        • 02-700 M.S. Research
        • 02-701 CPCB Course / Current Topics in Computational Biology
        • 02-715 Advanced Topics in Computational Genomics
        • 02-760 Laboratory Methods for Computational Biologists
        • 02-801 Computational Biology Internship
        • 02-900 Ph.D. Thesis Research
  • Research
    • Software
    • Faculty Research Pages
    • Computational Biology Technical Reports
    • White Papers
  • People
    • Faculty
      • Voting Faculty
      • Affiliated Faculty
      • Visiting Faculty
      • Adjunct Faculty
    • Staff
      • Department Staff
      • Research Staff
    • Fellows and Special Faculty
      • The Lane Fellows Program
      • Current Lane Fellows
      • Past Lane Fellows
      • Postdoctoral Fellows
      • Past Postdoctoral Fellows
      • Special Faculty
    • Alumni
      • Ph.D. Graduates
      • Alumni Profiles
  • Join Us!
    • Life in Pittsburgh
      • Neighborhoods Near Carnegie Mellon University
      • Things to Do in Pittsburgh
    • Positions Available
    • Apply to Ph.D. Program
    • Apply to MSAS
    • Apply to MSCB
    • Apply to Undergraduate Program
    • Apply to be a Lane Fellow

Why major in Computational Biology?

computational_biology_undergrads_cmu

Computational Biology provides students with a unique set of skills. It combines the rigor and algorithmic focus of traditional computer science with the data analysis, machine learning, and modeling skills required to understand a complex natural system. It teaches students to think computationally and to frame complex analysis questions in the language of computation. It also provides a deep understanding of biology so that students emerge as experts in biomedical problems. This prepares them to directly contribute in one of the many stimulating jobs in biotechnology/pharmaceutical industries and startups. It prepares them to deal with large, complex, imperfect data sets, a skill that is needed not just in biology but in a wide host of fields, from high-powered finance to data science.

For students considering Ph.D. programs in computational or systems biology, majoring in Computational Biology reduces the need for extensive coursework in the early years of a Ph.D. program, allowing them to tackle interesting research questions right away. Likewise, for students considering healthcare professions, majoring in computational biology provides extensive interdisciplinary training relevant to genomic medicine and personalized/precision medicine that will prepare them well for the changing landscape of healthcare practice (the curriculum has a great deal of overlap with typical pre-medical requirements). Better than single subject majors in computer science or biology, a degree in computational biology combines rigor in computer science with critical foundations in the natural sciences to provide the ideal solution for students who intend to pursue careers in biomedical research or healthcare.

To learn more about receiving a B.S. in Computational Biology from Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science, please consult the degree’s information page.  To learn more about our department’s unique vision for education and research, please consult the “About Us” page.  And if you’re a high school student and are interested in getting your hands dirty with a three-week guided experience in computational biology, check out our three-week pre-college program!

Genome Reconstruction: A Puzzle with a Billion Pieces

To learn more about the types of biological problem that is solved every day in labs around the world, we thought that we would give you an example.  See below for a series of videos recorded by Phillip Compeau, Assistant Dept. Head for Education, explaining how the biological problem of genome sequencing depends on using high-powered computation to assemble one of the biggest puzzles that humans have ever solved.

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  • Computational Biology Department
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • 5000 Forbes Ave GHC 7725, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
  • (412) 268-4671
  • help@cbd.cmu.edu
  • www.cbd.cmu.edu
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  • RT  @murphy2537 : My slides from yesterday’s session on Machine Learning for the Automation of Scientific Discovery across Disciplines at #AA…
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  • This is the January cover of PLoS Computational Biology. It illustrates the significant pairwise relationships in influenza virus infected cells that were learned following the research of Dr. Bob Murphy, Xiongtao Ruan, and Dr. Seema Lakdawala from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Read more on our website:
http://www.cbd.cmu.edu/paper-on-influenza-virion-assembly-grabs-cover-of-plos-computational-biology/
  • Happy Holidays from the Computational Biology Department! Here are some shots from our holiday party on Wednesday:
  • Reminder: The early application deadline for the MSAS (Masters of Science in Automated Science) is this Friday, November 30th at NOON EST!
  • It's #givingCMUday! Please visit the web site https://t.co/6nySgIlcez and consider making a donation to the CMU Computational Biology Department!
  • Getting into the holiday spirit! Thanks to all of our students for coming to our annual MSCB Thanksgiving event!
  • #BSCB at Fright Night 💀👻🎃
  • Two #BSCB accolades to announce in one day - hilighting Winston Grenier for making Dean’s List last spring. Here he is celebrating at the SCS Dean’s List Party this evening. Way to go Winston! 👏👏👏 #cmusocial
  • Congrats to BSCB senior Wendy Yang on her election to Phi Beta Kappa honor society! 🎉🏆 read more on our website - link in bio
  • First day of student orientation week 🍂📚✏️ Welcome to the largest ever incoming class of @CMUPittCompBio students! #backtoschool #cmusocial

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