bioinformatics/compbio at UCSD or Carnegie Mellon?

[cone]

Trying to make this decision, I was pretty set on CMU (loved the area, it's different from where I'm at in California, solid student culture, etc), but am now reconsidering because of UCSD's bioinformatics area concentration under the CS department. I am a Molecular Bio major with Computer Science minor.

Anyone know anything about these programs? This is the MS in Compbio under the bio dept at CMU and the MS in CS program at UCSD. I know UCSD has really good bioe and biomedical in addition to a bioinformatics group with some pretty strong people, but am unsure about being in the CS dept while I'm interested in bio, and taking the 4 core CS classes. It is also near a lot of good industry which I'd like to get into after the degree.

CMU seems to be more computational and focused on theory instead of application. They have a more flexible program (2 core classes then electives for everything else). I am worried about getting lost in the mathy/statistics part of compbio and losing sight of the biological problems I am trying to solve. Additionally, CMU doesn't have a good bio program, and this degree is under the bio dept.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Ericknegi]

Trying to make this decision, I was pretty set on CMU (loved the area, it's different from where I'm at in California, solid student culture, etc), but am now reconsidering because of UCSD's bioinformatics area concentration under the CS department. I am a Molecular Bio major with Computer Science minor.

Anyone know anything about these programs? This is the MS in Compbio under the bio dept at CMU and the MS in CS program at UCSD. I know UCSD has really good bioe and biomedical in addition to a bioinformatics group with some pretty strong people, but am unsure about being in the CS dept while I'm interested in bio, and taking the 4 core CS classes. It is also near a lot of good industry which I'd like to get into after the degree.

CMU seems to be more computational and focused on theory instead of application. They have a more flexible program (2 core classes then electives for everything else). I am worried about getting lost in the mathy/statistics part of compbio and losing sight of the biological problems I am trying to solve. Additionally, CMU doesn't have a good bio program, and this degree is under the bio dept.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I kinda understand what you are talking about. I did research of Compbio in my undergrad (just application) and when i was looking at the programs I figured that the field is still being built. Knowing how to develop programs, create math models and theory will help in skill set and application because a lot of professors I have talked to are always developing new programs for their projects because the existing techniques are unavailable and the all around skills look better on the industry application.

Also, Is the MS terminal for you( since you want to get into industry) or are you looking to get a Ph.d after?

[beanbagchairs]

I would go to UCSD for the following reaons:

(1) They have tons of good research.

(2) You can get into their bioinformatics lab through CS. Their bioinformatics/bioengineering/systems biology is indeed impressive. Hopefully, your professor does not need to be those that comes from computer science. There are a lot of good computational biologists in other departments.

(3) I am not familiar with the MS level of comp bio in CMU. However, I am familiar with their PhD program in computational biology, which is housed in their computer science department. That being said, I get the feeling that their courses/research (in the PhD level) are geared towards applying/developing machine learning techniques in the biological domain problem. Therefore, your concern of "losing sight of the biological problems you are trying to solve" is a valid one. I think that's why their PhD level is jointly offered with Pitt; Pitt's medical program is stronger. So, you can get the best of both worlds .

(4) I think UCSD is a great place to do high-tech biology.

As for your concern about UCSD CS, I don think you have much options since you DID apply to their CS department. If you dont want their education, why did you apply? Just curious, why didnt you apply through the bioinformatics & systems biology department?

Overall, I dont think you can go wrong with any of these admits. Congrats on the admits. Good luck choosing!

Edited April 14, 2011 by beanbagchairs

[cone]

I kinda understand what you are talking about. I did research of Compbio in my undergrad (just application) and when i was looking at the programs I figured that the field is still being built. Knowing how to develop programs, create math models and theory will help in skill set and application because a lot of professors I have talked to are always developing new programs for their projects because the existing techniques are unavailable and the all around skills look better on the industry application.

Also, Is the MS terminal for you( since you want to get into industry) or are you looking to get a Ph.d after?

I think I want to go into industry and not pursue the PhD but I would still like to get some research/thesis experience just to confirm that. I might go into something I really enjoy and realize that I do want to do a PhD after all.

[cone]

I would go to UCSD for the following reaons:

(1) They have tons of good research.

(2) You can get into their bioinformatics lab through CS. Their bioinformatics/bioengineering/systems biology is indeed impressive. Hopefully, your professor does not need to be those that comes from computer science. There are a lot of good computational biologists in other departments.

(3) I am not familiar with the MS level of comp bio in CMU. However, I am familiar with their PhD program in computational biology, which is housed in their computer science department. That being said, I get the feeling that their courses/research (in the PhD level) are geared towards applying/developing machine learning techniques in the biological domain problem. Therefore, your concern of "losing sight of the biological problems you are trying to solve" is a valid one. I think that's why their PhD level is jointly offered with Pitt; Pitt's medical program is stronger. So, you can get the best of both worlds .

(4) I think UCSD is a great place to do high-tech biology.

As for your concern about UCSD CS, I don think you have much options since you DID apply to their CS department. If you dont want their education, why did you apply? Just curious, why didnt you apply through the bioinformatics & systems biology department?

Overall, I dont think you can go wrong with any of these admits. Congrats on the admits. Good luck choosing!

Thanks for the detailed help! It's interesting that even though SD has the bioinformatics under the CS department too it seems that CMU's compbio under the bio dept would be getting more into the nitty gritty cs stuff. I think I didn't apply to UCSD bioinformatics systems department because it didn't offer a Masters option.

Also, the program at CMU is more bare bones and flexible - there are only two core classes and the rest are all electives. However, in the SD CS department I would still have to take 3 core CS classes that probably don't have a strong bioinformatics application (Operating Systems and Computer Architecture)

[beanbagchairs]

It looked to me that you want to go to CMU. Just follow your heart, you'll thrive there.

[Diego M]

I've actually chosen the bioengineering PhD at UCSD and am VERY excited that I get to specialize in bioinformatics as well. I've spoken to the grad coordinator for both majors and am working on it right now. It seems great!!