PhD in Bioinformatics & Systems Biology

Why Study Bioinformatics & Systems Biology at UNMC?

UNMC’s Bioinformatics & Systems Biology doctoral program trains innovators in cutting-edge computational approaches that have become essential tools for advancing research and innovating medical care. Bioinformatics is inherently suited to collaboration, and Bioinformatics & Systems Biology brings together scientists from across departments and between several Nebraska universities. UNMC is also home to the Center for Biomedical Informatics Research and Innovation, which facilitates collaboration, sharing resources, and networking on a national and international scale.

Bioinformatics & Systems Biology students focus on a range of topics, including understanding cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms in basic science, in development, and in disease pathogenesis. Ongoing focus areas include non-coding mutation detection in neurological diseases, aberrant transcript splicing in the cause and severity of various cancer types, gene expression and causality of therapy resistance, protein modifications contributing to heart disease, RNA and DNA modifications that contribute to cancer progression and severity, 3D DNA organization in developmental diseases, single-cell gene expression heterogeneity in anemia, and more.

The demand for bioinformatics work is high, and the Bioinformatics & Systems Biology program was created to meet these needs, offering research opportunities and classes that cultivate a challenging, collaborative, and enthusiastic training environment.

Program Highlights

The Bioinformatics & Systems Biology program is unique in its training and collaborative potential. Bioinformatics & Systems Biology students have the opportunity to merge wet-lab experimentation with in-depth data analysis or may perform purely computational research as needed. We partner with others across the University of Nebraska system, to develop training curriculum and mentorship opportunities that keep pace with the wide-ranging and rapidly advancing bioinformatic research.

Careers & Outcomes

Upon degree completion, students from the Bioinformatics & Systems Biology doctoral program will be well positioned for a variety of career paths in the rapidly growing field of bioinformatics. The program trains students to be leaders in research and innovation. Training in bioinformatics leads to careers as Scientists in academia and the commercial sector as Bioinformatics Researchers, Data Analysts, and Computational Scientists.