Bioinformatics @ UCSF: Multidisciplinary graduate study in biological composition, structure, function and evolution at the molecular and systems levels

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About the Program

• Training Program:
  • Program Overview
  • Core Curriculum
  • Electives
  • Seminars & Journal Club
  • Academic Progression & Procedures
• People:
  • Students
  • Faculty
  • Alumni

• Current Events
• Admission Information
• Links
• Contact

NEWS: UCSF wins HHMI Award for its Integrative Program in Complex Biological Systems

Academic Progression & Procedures

• Selecting a Research Advisor
• BBC Journal Club Requirements
• Second Year Seminar
• Qualifiying Exam
• Advancement to Candidacy & Thesis Progression

Advancement to Candidacy

After completion of all formal requirements (courses, written and oral qualifying exams, and selection of a thesis title and committee), a student files an application for advancement to candidacy through the BMI Program Coordinator. Students should Advance to Candidacy wihtin 6 months of passing their Qualifying Exam. If there are any incomplete grades, a student may not advance to candidacy. Following Graduate Division approval, a student is officially advanced to candidacy. Students must be registered for a minimum of three quarters after advancement to candidacy before the Ph.D. degree may be awarded.

Selection of a Thesis Committee

The research advisor serves as chair of the three-person thesis committee. The other two members are typically chosen from the qualifying exam committee, but this is not required. The person who will chair the student’s dissertation committee may not chair the qualifying examination committee. Committee members must be Academic Senate members, or approved by formal petition to the Graduate Division. If it becomes necessary, the committee can be reconstituted and the original thesis title changed (with the research advisor’s approval) by submitting a petition form to the Graduate Division.

Thesis Progress Report

Students meet with their thesis committee each year after advancement to candidacy to discuss their progress. The intent of the meeting is to foster non-inquisitional interaction between the student and the committee members. Thesis progress guidelines are:

1. During a student's third year the thesis committee is required to meet with the student to discuss his/her progress. The committee prepares a written statement (thesis progress report), with a detailed plan of what will constitute the thesis and a timeline of how the thesis research will be conducted and when it will be completed.
2. Continuation beyond year six requires that a more detailed justification by the thesis committee be submitted to the Executive Committee. Contiunuation in the program beyond year six is subject to approval by the Executive Committee

Please note when completing the thesis progress report:

• A leave of absence of up to three quarters from the program does not count towards the total number of years in the program.
• Students may at any time initiate an adjudication process by contacting the graduate program administrator or the program director.
• If needed, a special committee or arbitration committee can be formed to mediate any conflicts between student and research advisor and/or thesis committee.

Graduation Criteria

Students are expected to graduate within 6 years of entering the program. In addition to completion of required course work, filing a thesis and giving their thesis talk, all students are expected to have published at least one first author paper to satisfy program requirements for graduation.

Submitting the Thesis

After committee approval, the thesis is then submitted to the Graduate Division. The required forms and guidelines for the thesis are available online or from the Graduate Division office (Parnassus Campus, Millberry Union 200 West). Copies of the title page and the abstract of the thesis are to be given to the program administrator.

Thesis Seminar

In lieu of presenting a thesis defense, Bioinformatics students will instead give a Thesis Seminar that is open to all students, faculty and staff. It is the responsibility of the student to coordinate this seminar with the program administrator as the final step before receiving the Ph.D.