• Saeed Tavazoie, QCB Undergraduate Program Director, Molecular Biology and Lewis-Sigler Institute
• Leonid Kruglyak, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Lewis-Sigler Institute
• Mark Rose, Molecular Biology
• Kenneth Steiglitz, Computer Science
• Peter Meyers, Physics
• Michael Hecht, Chemistry

The program in Quantitative and Computational Biology is offered by the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, and its affiliated departments throughout Princeton University. It is designed for students with a strong interest in multi-disciplinary and systems-level approaches to understanding molecular, cellular, and organismal behavior. The curriculum introduces the students to experimental and analytic techniques for acquisition of large-scale quantitative observations, and the interpretation of such data in the context of appropriate models. Strong emphasis is placed on using global genome-wide measurements (e.g. microarray gene expression, sequence, phenotype) to understand physiological and evolutionary processes.

Examples of ongoing research include: organizational principles of metabolic networks, quantitative modeling of cell-biological processes, mapping the genetic basis of complex bacterial behavior, comparative genomics analysis of regulatory networks, the genetic basis of quantitative phenotypic variation, and genomic plasticity and mechanisms of phenotypic adaptation.

At the core of the curriculum is the Project Lab, a double course, taken during the fall of junior year, where students participate in the design, execution, and analysis of experiments. The required courses provide a strong background in modern methodologies in data analysis, interpretation, and modeling. Courses are chosen with the help of advisors in Molecular Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, and other related departments. A certificate in Quantitative and Computational Biology is awarded to students who successfully complete the program requirements.

Students are admitted to the program after they have chosen a concentration and consulted with the Program Committee in May of their sophomore year. The Program Committee will also assist students in selecting a laboratory for their junior independent and thesis work. Admission requires the completion of prerequisites listed below. The course of study is structured upon department concentration, plus junior and senior independent work in genomics or quantitative and computational biology. Electives are chosen in consultation with the advisor.

Information about the graduate program in Quantitative and Computational Biology, which is distinct from this undergraduate program, can be found here.

There are two possible tracks for entry into the Quantitative and Computational Biology certificate program:

1. For those students who have completed the integrated science curriculum ISC/CHM/COS/MOL/PHY 231-4 as a freshman and ISC/CHM/COS/MOL/PHY 235/6 during their sophomore year.
2. For those students who have not taken the integrated science series, the following courses are the minimum that must be completed before the end of their sophomore year:
   • COS 126 or higher
   • MOL 342
   • PHY 103/4 or higher
   • CHM 201/2 or higher
   • One year of math as a Princeton undergraduate

An application form is required by May 31 of sophomore year. Admission decisions are made by June 30. Important information to include in the application:

• Prerequisite courses
• Plans for courses in junior and senior year
• Plans for independent work

1. QCB 301 Project Lab, taken in the fall of junior year.
2. COS/MOL 551/455 Computational Molecular Biology & Genomics
3. Senior thesis with a strong component of quantitative and computational analysis

Molecular Biology majors will be required to take 8 departmentals

• MOL 350: Laboratory in Molecular Biology-taken in spring of sophomore year
• MOL 348: Cell & Developmental Biology
• COS/MOL 551/455: Introduction to Genomics & Computational Molecular Biology
• QCB 301/2-Project Lab (would count as 2 departmentals)
• 3 other science or math courses (Students are strongly encouraged to take APC/MOL 360: Biological Dynamics or EEB 355: Introduction to Biostatistics.)
• Molecular Biology majors will do a quantitative or computationally-oriented junior paper in the spring of their junior year.
• Seniors will choose a thesis project under the broad umbrella of quantitative or computational biology and with a faculty member and project approved by the QCB Program Committee.
• For students who enter the program without taking the integrated courses, it is expected that many will also take organic chemistry (CHM301/2 or CHM303/4), as well as biochemistry (MOL345). These will also fulfill the MOL departmental requirement.

A minimum of a B average in program courses, and junior and senior independent work are required for successful completion of the program. Program courses cannot be taken Pass/D/Fail.

Students who pursue a Certificate in QCB may not receive a Certificate in Biophysics.

Physics majors may take half of a semester of MOL 350- Laboratory in Molecular Biology and half a semester of PHY 311/312-Experimental Physics in the spring of their junior year. One Junior Paper and the senior thesis should be QCB related. The normal sequence of required courses in Physics can be shifted to accommodate the QCB junior Project Lab.

Computer Science majors are required to take 8 CS departmentals. The junior paper and senior thesis must be QCB related. Students interested in the QCB certificate should speak with Prof. Ken Steiglitz (AB track) or Prof. Brian Kernighan (BSE track) as early as possible to plan their course of study.

Chemistry majors are required to take four 300, 400 or 500 level courses in chemistry (at least one term each of organic, physical, inorganic and experimental chemistry) plus four science cognates at the 300, 400 or 500 level. MOL 350: Laboratory in Molecular Biology can be substituted for CHM 371/2: Experimental Chemistry. One Junior Paper and the senior thesis should be QCB related.

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology majors are required to take eight EEB departmentals at least five of which must normally be upper-level EEB or MOL courses. One Junior Paper and the senior thesis should be QCB related.

Students interested in a BSE degree should contact Associate Dean Peter Bogucki in SEAS for general information and EE majors should contact Prof. Bradley Dickinson.

Junior and senior independent work should be arranged with the help of the Program Director and Committee, and supervised by the faculty in the various home departments. The senior thesis should make significant use of computational or quantitative methods.