DCMB PhD | MS Dual Degree Program
The Bioinformatics PhD | MS Dual Degree Program is designed for UM PhD or Master’s students who wish to pursue a dual Master’s degree in Bioinformatics.
For More Information
How to Apply
PhD students who wish to pursue a dual Master’s degree in Bioinformatics must apply by July 15 directly to the Bioinformatics Program through the Rackham Graduate School. List the upcoming Fall term as your proposed term of enrollment.
Students who are interested in obtaining a Bioinformatics Master’s degree, while pursuing a PhD are strongly encouraged to consult with Master's Program Director, Dr. Alla Karnovsky before applying for the program.
Interested students should consult with Dr. Alla Karnovsky before enrolling in classes, as applicants with limited computer programming may be required to take preparatory courses in their first year. Grades obtained in these first-year bioinformatics courses will be considered during the evaluation of applicants for suitability for the MS Program.
For PhD students, please note that in addition to the course requirements students must have bioinformatics-related content in their final dissertation. They are also required to have at least one DCMB faculty (primary or joint) on their dissertation committee, who will approve of the bioinformatics-related portion of the dissertation. Dual degree PhD/MS students will have their MS degree conferred in their final term, at the same time as their PhD degree.
If a PhD student applies after July 15 of their first year, a written justification of why the student waited before applying is required. Applications from candidate-level PhD students are discouraged, as the ability to take additional classes is limited for candidates.
Application Materials
All application materials are due by the deadline and should be submitted electronically when possible. Please note that applications submitted early will not be reviewed prior to the deadline.
The Bioinformatics Program requires a minimum GPA of 3.2.Submit your dual admission application via the Rackham website: https://rackham.umich.edu/admissions/current-and-former-rackham-students/#dual-admission
The application fee is $10.
All required materials to be submitted via the website above include:The Rackham Pre-approval Form, signed by your home department. Note: This form must only be submitted online with your application for Rackham Admissions.
Statement of Purpose
The Statement of Purpose should be a concise, well-written statement about your academic and research background, your career goals, and specific to the Bioinformatics Program.Current C.V.
UM transcripts (unofficial are ok)
If beyond your first year of graduate study, a written justification of why the application is delayed. Applicants who have already achieved candidacy are discouraged.
The only materials to be submitted directly to the [email protected] mailbox:
Letters of recommendation (1 required)*
A letter from your advisor(s) is required. It can be brief (1 – 2 paragraphs), yet it should attest to your abilities and why pursuing a BIOINF MS degree would be appropriate for your studies.If any questions, please contact the department at [email protected].
Program Requirements
For Master’s students, please confirm course requirements with an MS Guidance Advisor. Separately, students are encouraged to communicate with a Rackham Graduate School member of the Office of Academic Records and Dissertations (OARD) to ensure adherence to their rules (e.g., course credits and double counting limits). Rackham policies may be found here.
For PhD students, please note that, in addition to course requirements, students must have bioinformatics-related content in their final dissertation. They are also required to have at least one DCMB faculty (primary or joint) on their dissertation committee, who will approve of the bioinformatics-related portion of the dissertation. The committee member should send an email indicating that bioinformatics is sufficiently represented in the dissertation to [email protected]. Dual degree PhD/MS students will have their MS degree conferred in their final term, at the same time as their PhD degree.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
As an interdisciplinary field, Bioinformatics attracts graduate students from mathematics, statistics, physics, computer science, biomedical engineering, chemistry, biochemistry and biology. Most incoming students have both a major in one and a minor in another discipline. In recent years students have entered with undergraduate training in bioinformatics or computational biology.
A limited number of GSI positions in the Bioinformatics Program are available each year. Master’s students may pursue opportunities in any program. Further information may be found on this webpage.
This webpage focuses on prospective students. If you're currently enrolled in the DCMB PhD or a Master's program, all essential information including detailed policies, procedural guidance, handbooks, administrative forms, and program resources is housed on our dedicated DCMB internal website (SharePoint). This is your primary resource for everything related to your time in the program, such as advising information, dissertation instructions, funding, and graduation requirements.
Please visit the DCMB SharePoint site for immediate access. If you can't find what you need there, please contact your Bioinformatics Graduate Advisor or staff.
