Digital Biology Learning Community (DBLC)

The DBLC was established in 2005 to promote interaction of students and faculty in the computational and life sciences.  We meet twice per month (usually in the Grisham Room) of the Mitchell Memorial Library for an informal exchange of ideas and pizza.  Presentations by students, faculty members, and guest speakers focus on the intersection of computing/engineering with biology. The DBLC is supported by a grant from the Office of the Provost.

Computational Biology Certificate Program

Undergraduate and graduate students at MSU can now earn a certificate in Computational Biology.  Completion of the certificate program will be indicated on the student’s transcript.  This program requires that the student complete a total of five courses that have been approved by the Computational Biology Advisory Board.   

• All students must complete CSE 4623/CSE 6623 Computational Biology (Dr. Bridges previous special topics course in bioinformatics can be substituted).
• Students in the life sciences must also complete CSE 4613/66133 Bio-computing (Dr. Bridges special topics in Programming for Life Scientists can be substituted). 
• Students in computer science, computer engineering, and biological engineering must complete BCH 4113/BCH 6113 Essentials of Molecular Genetics (this course will be taught in an intersession or 5 week summer term of 2007). 
• Students must complete at least three additional relevant courses (for a minimum of nine hours) chosen from computational or life sciences fields.  The courses in the list below are all acceptable.  In addition, many relevant courses are often taught as special topics courses in a variety of departments.  A student must obtain approval for all special topics courses before enrolling. 

Life sciences courses:

BCH 4414/6414 Protein Methods

BCH 4713/6713 Molecular Biology

BCH 4804/6804 Molecular Biology Methods

BCH 4990/6990 Special Topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (when appropriate)

BCH 8243 Molecular Biology of Plants

BCH/PSS 8623 Genomes and Genomics

BCH 8633 Enzymes

BCH 8643 Molecular Genetics

BCH 8990 Special Topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

BIO 4133/6133 Human Genetics

BIO 4990/6990 Special Topics

BIO 4113/6113 Evolutionary Biology

BIO 4442/6442 Bacterial Genetics Lab

BIO 4443/6443 Bacterial Genetics

BIO 8990 Special Topics in Biology (when appropriate)

Plus other courses from Entomology and Plant Pathology, Forestry, Plant and Soil Sciences, Poultry Sciences, Veterinary Medicine

Computational courses:

CSE 4253/6253 Designing Parallel Algorithms

CSE 4283/6283 Principles of Computer Graphics

CSE 4504/6504 Database Management Systems

CSE 4633/6633 Artificial Intelligence

CSE 4833/6833 Introduction to Analysis of Algorithms

CSE 4990/6990 Special Topics in Computer Science

CSE 8163 Parallel and Distributed Scientific Computing

CSE 8413 Visualization

CSE 8543 Advanced Topics in Database Design

CSE 8663 Neural Computing

CSE 8673 Machine Learning

CSE 8833 Algorithms

CSE 8843 Complexity of Sequential and Parallel Algorithms

CSE 8990 Special Topics in Computer Science (when appropriate)

Example Special Topics Courses:

The following courses are examples of special topics courses taught recently that would be appropriate.

PSS 8990  Topics in Genomics (Dan Peterson)

ADS 8990 Current Topics in Animal Cell and Molecular Biology (Erdogan Memili)

CSE 8990 Algorithms for Bioinformatics (Eric Hansen)

Illustrative Programs of Study:

Illustrative program of study for a student in the life sciences:

CSE 4613/66133 Bio-computing

CSE 4623/CSE 6623 Computational Biology. 

BCH 8643 Molecular Genetics

BIO 4133/6133 Human Genetics

BCH 4804/6804 Molecular Biology Methods

Illustrative program of study for a student in computer science:

BCH 4113/BCH 6113 Essentials of Molecular Genetics

CSE 4623/CSE 6623 Computational Biology 

CSE 4253/6253 Designing Parallel Algorithms

CSE 4283/6283 Principles of Computer Graphics

CSE 4504/6504 Database Management Systems

First Computational Biology Certificates awarded in December 2006

Six MSU students were the first to earn the newly approved Computational Biology Certificate.  Students awarded the certificate are the following: