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Program

DDB Trainees will be engaged in "in-vivo" research practice via lab explorations and individually designed research explorations in their first year of the training grant, along with three experiential courses designed to equip students with the fundamental skillsets necessary to process, analyze, and treat large datasets characteristic of modern quantitative bioscience. Throughout their PhD progress, DDB Trainees will participate in a variety of mentoring and professional development activities.

 Requirements

Students are expected to commit to and participate in all program components, including the research program, coursework, and programmatic training activities, and their involvement should continue through the duration of their PhD program.

 Contact

 ddb-info@bioengineering.ucsb.edu

 Application Form

Deadline: December 15, 2023

Required Materials: Supplemental Form as part of Biological Engineering PhD Application

 How to Apply

Eligibility

This program is open to pre-doctoral students matriculated in BioE or participating departments and programs at UC Santa Barbara and who will be starting the first or second year of their PhD program. To be eligible for funding via DDB NSF NRT Traineeship, applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents.

Application

Prospective trainees complete an application, which will be evaluated by the Program Director and Steering Committee members, for fit to program focus and goals. Top candidates will be invited for in-person interviews, to evaluate student commitment to program components, interest in interdisciplinary research and collaboration, and overall interest and passion to be leaders and innovators in data driven biological research.

 Timeline

UCSB's Data Driven Biology graduate program is a five-year training program that dovetails with departmental requirements. A rough timeline of activities is presented here:

Year One
  • Orientation
  • Lab explorations in Fall Quarter
  • Research rotations in Winter / Spring quarters
  • Create Individual Development Plan (IDP)
  • Coursework
  • Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training
  • Professional development series
  • Monthly Progress and Experiences in Emerging Research Seminars (PEERS)
  • Finalized Lab Placement (Spring / Summer quarter)
Year Two
  • Form thesis committee
  • Review IDP
  • Research
  • Coursework
  • Grant writing training
  • Professional development series
  • Monthly Progress and Experiences in Emerging Research Seminars (PEERS)
  • Submit to conference
  • Qualifying exam
Year Three
  • Review IDP
  • Research
  • Teaching
  • Career awareness
  • Present at conference
  • Professional development series
  • Monthly Progress and Experiences in Emerging Research Seminars (PEERS)
Year Four
  • Review IDP
  • Research
  • Communication training
  • Career pathways
  • Present at conference
  • Professional development series
  • Monthly Progress and Experiences in Emerging Research Seminars (PEERS)
Year Five
  • Review IDP
  • Research
  • RCR refresher course
  • Career planning
  • Professional development series
  • Monthly Progress and Experiences in Emerging Research Seminars (PEERS)
  • Thesis defense