Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

www.bioinfo.umontreal.ca

Formation en bio-informatique

à l’ Université de Montréal

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Outline

Bioinformatics Definition Activities at UdeM Shortage of skilled personnel Training programs at UdeM Fellowships at UdeM

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Bioinformatics - definition

Data acquisition Data storage & retrieval Data analysis Development of tools Design of algorithms & methods

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Bioinformatics activities at UdeM

History - Founders Robert Cedergren (Biochemistry) & David Sankoff (Mathematics, Computer Science): seminal paper on 5.8S rRNA (1976) in Nature

10 major research groups in departments Biochemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Pediatry, Physics

Collaborations within Quebec, Canada and world-wide

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Bioinformatics activities at UdeM

Research areas Comparative genome analysis Phylogenetic inference Structure modeling & prediction Databases Modeling of molecular evolution Algorithms & computational

methods

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Bioinformatics activities at UdeM

Some research groups and expertiseS.Chteinberg: RNA 2-D structure prediction;

RNA-RNA interactionsG.Burger: Comparative genome analysis &

software development; integrated databasesN.El-Mabrouk: Algorithmics of genome

rearrangements; structure predictionS.Hamel: Algorithmics of trees and 2-D structuresBF.Lang: Integrated databases; structure/function

of sequence motifsF.Major: RNA 3-D structure modelingS.Mischnick: Protein-protein interactionN.Mousseau: Algorithmics of protein foldingH.Philippe: Modeling of molecular evolution and

tree robustness

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Shortage of skilled bioinformaticians

SectorAcademic, private and public (R&D) sectorsSkills Data production process control Database design, implementation, curation Data analysis pipelines using existing tools Development of tools Design of algorithms & methodsSought educationBSc<MSc≤PhD

“Biologists are confronted by a tidal wave of information. Unfortunately, few of them know how to swim.”

- Economist Magazine, 26 June, 1999

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Bioinformatics training programs at UdeM

ConceptionDepartments of Biochemistry & Computer ScienceAimsSolid training in both Computer & Life SciencesCritical thinkingInitiative, creativityTeam player

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Bioinformatics training programs at UdeM

Notable features Trans-disciplinary courses Theoretical and hands-on training Problem-driven learning Scientific communication Autonomous research

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Bioinformatics training at UdeM

Academic degree programsBachelor program (3 y)Master’s program (2 y)PhD program (3-4 y)

Post-doctoral training

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Bioinformatics training at UdeM

Number of students (Fall 2003) Bachelor program: 49 Master’s program: 23 PhD program: 9 Post-docs: 12

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Bioinformatics B.Sc. program at UdeM

Common Block Biology, biochemistry, chemistry,computer science, mathematics,

bioinformatics, ethics

Option Life ScienceStructural biology, ecology,

neuroscience..

Option Computer ScienceMathematics, simulation, engineering, db systems..

Other DisciplinesLaw, management, sociology..

Autonomous Research3-month internship

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Bioinformatics B.Sc. program at UdeM

Conditions of admissionCollege Mathematics,

Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or equivalent

Basic French language

Places

30 per year

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Bioinformatics M.Sc. program at UdeMPreparative Studies

Individualized plan

Common BlockAlgorithmics & applications in

bioinformatics

SpecializationBioinformatics, computer & life

science; mathematics

Research WorkshopsScientific approaches,

communication

Internships2 x 6-month in public or

private sector

Autonomous ResearchAcademic project

& thesis

DurationPreparative courses

0-2 trimesterRegular courses

2 trimesterResearch/internship

~1 year

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Bioinformatics M.Sc. program at UdeM

Conditions of admission B.Sc. in either

Computer Science Life Sciences Mathematics or similar

Supervisor Basic French language

Number of places~30

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Bioinformatics Ph.D. program at UdeM

Preparative Studies Individualized plan

Research Workshops,Conferences

Autonomous Research

Academic project & thesis

DurationPreparative courses

0-1 trimesterRegular courses

Concomitant (6 credits)Research~2-4 years

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Bioinformatics Ph.D. program at UdeM

Conditions of admission M.Sc. in

Bioinformatics, or Equivalent bi-disciplinary training

Supervisor

Number of places~30

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Bioinformatics fellowships at UdeM

biT – program of excellence Funded by CIHR $1,8 Mio over 6 years Full financing of

Master’s & PhD studies Post-doctoral training Including preparative studies

Eligibility & Selection criteria Enrolled at UdeM Excellence in academic

and/or professional performance

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Bioinformatics ‘mobility’ programs

Study exchange programs with most French universitiesAcademic internship exchange programs esp. with Université de Poitiers & d’AurillacPrivate sector internship agreementsCo-supervision of graduate students with researchers outside UdeM

Bioinformatics education at the Université de Montréal

Programmes d’ étude en bio-informatique à l’ Université de Montréal

Responsable: Gertraud Burger

www.bioinfo.umontreal.ca