The Duke CBB program is one of the first Ph.D. programs dedicated to computational biology in the country. Ph.D. students in the CBB program receive a broad foundation in quantitative theory and methods, focused training in a specific biological domain, and immersion in a diverse range of research approaches.
CBB students work with an Advisory Committee of distinguished faculty with diverse expertise and their own research advisors to design a customized curriculum of coursework adapted to their particular backgrounds and research interests. During the first year, a sequence of three core courses ensures students obtain core competence in the field before choosing a research advisor. In addition, students complete three or four research rotations to gain experience in both biological and computational labs. Formal coursework is supplemented by training in responsible conduct of research and reproducible data analysis, teaching experiences, and a broad range of professional development opportunities.
The program also conducts the Computational Biology Seminar that runs through the academic year and is open to the community. This weekly seminar series includes topics in computational biology presented by invited external speakers, Duke faculty, and CBB doctoral and certificate graduate students.
A weekly journal club led by students focuses on current topics in computational biology, either from recent or seminal publications or from research interests being pursued by CBB students. The journal club welcomes any student interested in learning more about computational biology.
Each fall, the CBB student committee organizes a student retreat at a scenic and relaxing venue in North Carolina. The retreat provides the opportunity to learn about each other’s research and deepen a sense of community within the program.