Miranda Darby's Interview
View MD Tech Council brief interview with Miranda Darby, Ph.D., Hood Bioinformatics Program Director.
About this Program
The bioinformatics certificate program meets the growing demand for life science professionals who are fluent in this cross-cutting discipline.
Program Overview
Increasingly, bioinformatics is the engine by which researchers process, analyze and interpret the vast quantities of data generated every day across labs in Maryland, nationally and globally. The program equips students to:
- Manage and configure bioinformatics data sets
- Manipulate and format bioinformatics for downstream analysis
- Select and apply appropriate tools related to genomics, structural biology and proteomics
- Conduct statistical analyses for bioinformatics problems
- Demonstrate skills for effective communication in the field
Students benefit from the qualifications of Hood’s excellent faculty and the experience of adjunct professors from the region’s top R&D and biotech firms and federal and private laboratories. Classes are small, encouraging individual attention and collaboration. Courses are taught in the evening to accommodate the working professional.
Research Engine
Increasingly, bioinformatics is the engine by which researchers process, analyze and interpret the vast quantities of data generated every day in labs in the region, across the nation and around the globe. Hood’s program equips students to manage and configure bioinformatics data sets; manipulate and format bioinformatics for downstream analysis; and select and apply tools related to genomics, structural biology and proteomics. Students learn to conduct statistical analyses for bioinformatics problems and demonstrate skills for effective communication in the field.
Expert Faculty
Students in the 15-credit program benefit from the qualifications of Hood’s excellent faculty and the experience of adjunct professors from the region’s top R&D and biotech firms and federal and private laboratories.
Small Evening Classes
Classes are small, encouraging individual attention and collaboration. Courses are taught in the evening to accommodate the working professional.
* Please note that graduate certificate programs are now eligible for loans.
Degrees Offered
- Certificate
Related Graduate Programs
Are you ready to go further?
For students applying to the bioinformatics certificate program, please submit the following to the Graduate School:
- One copy of official transcripts from each institution of higher education attended; and
- A statement of intent of at most 250 words that describes background experience and future goals.
This program is designed particularly for students who have a background in biotechnology, biomedical science or the life sciences, either through formal study or professional experience. The program director will advise the student of any prerequisite requirements. A minimum 2.75 undergraduate GPA is required for admission to the Graduate School.
Entrance requirements
This program is designed for students who have a background in biotechnology, biomedical science or the life sciences. Application requirements include one or the following: acceptance into the Biomedical Sciences program at Hood College; a completed Master’s degree (MA or MSc) in a biology-related field; or a completed undergraduate degree in a related field (BA or BSc) with a GPA of 2.75 or higher. Undergraduate coursework must include: microbiology, organic chemistry, pre-calculus, upper level genetics (equivalent to Hood’s BIOL 316) and cell biology (equivalent to Hood’s BIOL 339).
Application
Complete and submit the graduate school application. Request one copy of official transcripts from each institution of higher education attended and submit an essay that describes your future goals and relevant work experience. All documents should be sent directly to the graduate school.
Grade point average
A minimum 2.75 undergraduate GPA is required for admission to the graduate school.
Students can complete the Bioinformatics Certificate program coursework in approximately two to three years depending on the pace of coursework that they choose. By following these two steps, students can plan on completing the program requirements at a pace that meets their professional needs.
Step One
Look up the Bioinformatics program requirements, course descriptions and Graduate School policies and procedures in the College Catalog.
Step Two
Students should consult their adviser and the course schedule each semester to determine how they will fulfill the program requirements; the program director contact information is located at the bottom of the Bioinformatics homepage and students' academic advisers are indicated on their letters of admission. These faculty members can assist in planning a program of study that is based on a student's professional and career goals. All students must consult with their adviser before signing up for any final research project.
At the Graduate School at Hood College, students have the opportunity to work closely with faculty who can assist in the pursuit of academic and professional goals. Students are encouraged to get to know their faculty advisers and course professors to make the most of their graduate school experience.
Required Courses
| BIFX 550 | Nucleic Acid Sequence Analysis/Protein Modeling | 3 |
| BIFX 551 | Programming for Bioinformatics | 3 |
| BIFX 552 | Bioinformatics Applications I | 3 |
| BIFX 553 | Bioinformatics Applications II | 3 |
| BIFX 572 | Computational Genomics and Proteomics | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 |
Program Contact
Program Director
Phone
301-696-3650
Email
Assistant Director of Graduate Admission
Phone
Office: 301-696-3604 Cell/WhatsApp: 240-651-4015
Email
Miranda Darby
- Assistant Professor of Bioinformatics
- Program Director, Master's in Bioinformatics and Bioinformatics Certificate
Aijuan Dong
- Associate Professor of Computer Science
Xinlian Liu
- Associate Professor of Computer Science
- Program Director, Master's in Computer Science
Graduate Faculty Focus | Jennifer Schroeder
Jennifer Schroeder, Adjunct Professor of Bioinformatics Faculty
Graduate School
Graduate Student
"What I like most about Hood is how personal the education experience is here – classes are small, students get the attention they need from their professors, and the professors take educating students very seriously."
- Academics
- Natural Sciences
- Math & Computer Sciences
Graduate Alumna Focus | Alexandra Faulkner
Alexandra Faulkner Alumni
Graduate School
Graduate Student
Alexandra Faulkner earned a M.S. in Bioinformatics at Hood College in 2020. She recently started a position at Leidos as a Compliance Analyst in the Contracts and Acquisitions Directorate.
- Academics
- Natural Sciences
- Math & Computer Sciences
Graduate Alumna Focus | Destinee Morrow
Destinee Morrow, Bioinformatics, M.S.'20 Alumni
Graduate School
Graduate Student
Hood graduate student, Destinee Morrow, received a Master's in Bioinformatics in May 2020. She recently worked on a collaborative research project between the Berkeley National Lab and the Veterans Affairs.
- Academics
- Natural Sciences
- Math & Computer Sciences