Frequently Asked Questions
Is the CMB program a separate Ph.D. program?
No. The CMB program is a certificate program open to all Ph.D. students in any of the participating departments / programs.
How do I join the program?
Once you have joined a Ph.D. program in one of the participating departments, simply send an email to program assistant Brian Giebel (bgiebel [ a t ] uw.edu) indicating your interest and which courses you've taken to fulfill prerequisites.
Can I only join the CMB program when I first begin graduate study?
Students at all levels of graduate study are welcome to join the CMB program.
When does the certificate get added to my transcript?
Once you have completed program requirements, send an email to Brian Giebel so that he may get the certificate added to your transcript.
I am a prospective student. Which PhD program should I apply to?
This is a hard question to answer in general, because the answer depends upon each student’s background and research interests. In general, you should look at the list of faculty associated with CMB and try to find the department whose research most interests you. Keep in mind that many faculty have appointments in multiple departments, so you might want to cross-reference the CMB listing with faculty lists associated with each department. Another important point is that there is no harm in applying to more than one PhD program. If you think you would be comfortable in one of several programs, you can apply to each of them.
What is the difference between CMB and the Data Science options?
The Data Science options, described here, are available in a variety of UW PhD programs, some of which overlap with the programs in CMB. From a purely administrative point of view, an option differs from a certificate in the sense that an option is an add-on to a degree, whereas a certificate is awarded separately from the degree. This means that if you complete an option, your transcript will say that you have a PhD in some particular field, with a data science option. To be awarded an option, you must complete the PhD. This is not the case for a certificate, which is awarded separately. In terms of requirements and research focus, CMB and the data science options also differ (see the respective requirements pages for details). In particular, the data science options are not necessarily focused on biological data.
I am interested in CMB activities, but I am not eligible for the CMB certificate. Can I still participate?
Yes, we welcome participation from all members of the UW and greater Seattle area research community at the COMBI seminar and the CMB journal club.
I am a current student interested in CMB, but my department is not listed. What should I do?
You should contact a faculty member in your department who does research in the area of computational molecular biology. They can contact Brian Giebel (bgiebel [ a t ] uw.edu) to see about the possibility of extending CMB to students in your department.
I am a faculty member at the UW who does research in the area of computational molecular biology. How do I participate in CMB?
Please email Brian Giebel (bgiebel [ a t ] uw.edu) to indicate your interest, and we can work to get you included.