Undergraduates
The Genomics Institute at UC Santa Cruz provides a rich and immersive learning environment for students who are 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.
Research Opportunities for Undergraduates
RMI
Students who participate in the UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute Research Mentoring Internship (RMI) program can expect to gain a realistic picture of academic research careers based on actual experience in these roles. RMI exposes undergraduate students to the nature and rigors of a research environment under the close supervision of faculty mentoring.
TUBI
The UC Santa Cruz Treehouse Undergraduate Bioinformatics Immersion (TUBI) is a pediatric genomics research group for undergraduate students, run out of the Vaske lab as part of the Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative. TUBI researchers work on bioinformatics projects related to finding novel drug targets for pediatric cancer patients
Science and Justice
The Science & Justice Research Center at UC Santa Cruz offers a wide range of courses across UCSC’s many disciplines with faculty whose research questions the relationships between science, society and justice. UCSC allows strong academic performing students to supplement their experience by working directly with a faculty member under Individual Studies and Majors.
Study Genomics at UC Santa Cruz
Pick a major
Common majors for students interested in genomics include:
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology B.S.
- Bioengineering B.S.
- Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics B.S.
- Biology B.A. & B.S.
- Computer Engineering B.S.
- Computer Science B.S.
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology B.S.
- Human Biology B.S.
- Molecular, Cell, & Developmental Biology B.S.
- Neuroscience & Behavior B.S.
Take a course
There are a number of courses that you can take that are specific to genomics science, most of which you can locate by searching the course listings for Biomolecular Engineering. Genomics-related courses outside of BME include Genomics and Society (SOCY 121G), Principles of Human Genetics (BIOL 118), and Translational pediatric genomics (BIOL 280V)
We also offer a bioinformatics summer shortcourse for new students!
Join a group:
There are a number of clubs and student groups on campus that discuss topics and projects related to genomics, and can help you network!
- Bioinformatics Club – Biweekly meetings involving coding, advice, and community.
- Santa Cruz RNA Club– Meets throughout the academic year for presentations by researchers from UCSC and other universities and companies.
- Stem Cell Club– A journal club open to anyone who is interested in discussing current research in stem cell science.
- 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.
- Undergraduate Neuroscience Club – a community of students interested in sharing neuroscience opportunities at UC Santa Cruz.
Get Involved in research:
Look for openings in the labs of Genomics Institute affiliated faculty, or apply to one of the programs at the top of this page!
Browser Educational Models for Undergraduates
The UCSC Genome Browser is our most widely used genomics tool. Tens of thousands of researchers access it each year to view all 23 chromosomes of the human genome, down to its individual nucleotides. It also provides access to the genomes of more than one hundred other organisms.
Our education module is designed to assist teachers and students in understanding selected topics in Molecular Biology, Genetics, Medicine, Population Biology and Evolution.
Using the Genome Browser as a display device, the new module is organized as short stories written by undergraduates for undergraduates.
Resources for:
Current Students
UCSC’s Resource directory provides a comprehensive list of resources for current students, including crisis support, academic help, health and wellbeing resources, a list of student groups, and more.
Baskin Engineering’s Undergraduate Advising team can assist students looking for help with engineering major requirements or selecting genomics-related courses.
Prospective Students
The Genomics Institute is currently housed under the Jack Baskin School of Engineering, which facilitates the undergraduate and graduate curricula for bioinformatics and biomolecular engineering. Prospective applicants should visit UC Santa Cruz Admissions for information concerning the application process and academic resources to help them meet the entrance requirements.