Graduate Students
The Genomics Institute at UC Santa Cruz provides a rich and immersive learning environment for students pursuing genomic studies. Our researchers are among the most highly cited in the world, and our location near Silicon Valley allows for strong collaborations with Bay Area biotech for a rigorous and hands-on learning experience.
Study Genomics at UC Santa Cruz
The UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute is an organized research unit (ORU) that has affiliated faculty throughout campus whose graduate students work on a variety of genomics- related projects. To become a part of the Genomics Institute, prospective students must first apply to a UC Santa Cruz graduate program and then select a Genomics Institute affiliated faculty member as their main advisor.
Although we have affiliate labs throughout campus, the two main programs that contribute graduate students to the Genomics Institute are BME and PBSE :
Graduate Programs in Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics
The Department of Biomolecular Engineering (BME) offers a wide range of exciting research programs that combine the rigorous computational analysis of bioinformatics with sophisticated laboratory methods of biomolecular engineering. Faculty in the department have received several major grants including grants from the National Institutes of Health for AIDS vaccine research, for nanopore technology for DNA analysis, and for a Cancer Genome Data Analysis Center. Funding from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has allowed expansion of a training program in stem cell research for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.
Graduate Training Program In Biomedical Sciences & Engineering (PBSE)
PBSE reflects the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of biomedical research at UC Santa Cruz. First-year students can do research rotations with over sixty faculty members, who come primarily from the Departments of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, Biomolecular Engineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology. Students apply directly to the PBSE, selecting from four interdisciplinary training tracks. Each training track offers a complete set of core courses, electives, seminars and journal clubs that provide rigorous training in each of the four broad areas.
For resources and information regarding graduate programs in bioinformatics and bioengineering, visit the Biomolecular Engineering Department. For admissions criteria for PBSE, please visit the PBSE application procedures page. For all other programs, please visit UC Santa Cruz’s graduate admissions website.
Other genomics-related graduate programs:
Resources for Current Students
Funding and Fellowship Opportunities
The following programs offer training, funding, or both to students who have been admitted to a UC Santa Cruz graduate program. Please see the individual opportunities for eligibility requirements.
Graduate Training Program in Genome Sciences
This new training program, funded by an NIH T32 training grant, will take advantage of UC Santa Cruz’s internationally recognized leadership in computational and wet-lab genomic technology development. It will combine rigorous training in the disciplines that are fundamental to Genome Science, including computer science, molecular biology and genetics, and statistics, with hands-on technical training for students who contribute to many of the most ambitious and important genome projects in the world.
To be eligible, trainees must be in their first year, have selected a lab, and be doing research primarily focused on genome sciences. This is a new opportunity and applications have not yet opened. Potential applicants should discuss their interest with their PI and await the competition announcement for more information.
The CIRM-funded UCSC Training Program in Systems Biology of Stem Cells funds training for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to engage in research projects with faculty mentors and a variety of other learning opportunities. The program draws on UCSC’s strengths in basic biological research, such as RNA biology, chromatin biology, early development, and computational genomics. Program scholars will gain a solid understanding of the biology of stem cells, the skills to use stem cells in their own research, and the ability to devise and integrate results from computational analyses. The program will underscore the value of stem cell research in developing therapies and cures for human disease.
The graduate-level Science & Justice Training Program trains science and engineering students alongside social science and humanities students to identify and respond to moments where research requires attentiveness to questions of policy, ethics, and justice. Interested students must first complete the Science & Justice seminar, cross-listed in multiple departments, after which they are invited to apply to the training program to receive continuing mentorship from SJRC affiliated faculty as fellows in a certificate program.
Mentorship Opportunities
Secret Society of Mentors
The goal of the Secret Society of Mentors is to create a space for mentors to come in, explore challenges and share strategies for effective mentoring. We hope to foster discussions that will help identify ways in which we can support our mentees better.
To achieve this, we are dedicated to equipping our mentors with the necessary resources through a comprehensive toolkit.
WHY JOIN THE SSM?
● Network with other mentors!
● Improve your mentoring skills!
● Become more confident as a mentor!
● Be the mentor you always wished you had!
Contact Zia Isola for more information.
Groups and Organizations:
There are a number of journal clubs and student groups on campus that discuss topics and projects related to genomics, and can help you network!
- Santa Cruz RNA Club– Meets throughout the academic year for presentations by researchers from UCSC and other universities and companies.
- Stem Cell Club– A discussion group open to anyone who is interested in discussing current research in stem cell science and presenting their work.
- Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE)– an organization run by graduate students, but which welcomes the participation of undergraduate students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
- Science and Justice Research Center -The Science and Justice Working Group brings together UC Santa Cruz faculty and graduate students from the arts, humanities, social sciences, engineering, and physical and biological sciences-to promote interdisciplinary conversations and exchange on a range of topics — including genomics and its impact on society.
- PBSE Graduate Student Council – The Graduate Student Council is a scientific community dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive research training environment for ALL graduate students in the Program of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering at UCSC.
Advising:
Current graduate students in the Baskin School of Engineering should contact Graduate Advising for assistance with course selection, program enrollment, and other concerns. PBSE students should contact the PBSE administrator in charge of their specific track. All other graduate students should contact the graduate advisor/coordinator in their home department.
Other Resources:
Cost, housing, and family resources