The marriage between Computation and Biology

Alumni and current students discuss the opportunities of the joint Master in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (CBB) offered by ETH and UZH.

How can we use computational methods and processes for solving biological problems? This was one of the frequently asked questions on the CBB Get Together afternoon on October 7th, 2011. The coordinators of the joint-degree Master program had invited all current and former CBB students as well as Bachelor students of various disciplines to establish a fruitful event for networking and information exchange.

Around 40 participants used the chance to listen to presentations of alumni and current students. Hannes Röst, one of the pioneers who first graduated from the CBB Master, talked about his experiences and future career plans. After receiving his Bachelor degree in biology he decided for the new Master because he was interested in the field of systems biology. In his Master thesis he therefore used computational tools for analyzing enzyme activity data. Today, he works on his PhD at ETH’s Institute of Molecular Systems Biology. “Next to biology, I have always been interested in Computer Science, that is why the CBB Master was the perfect choice for me,” he explained. “Actually, biology is dependent on computer science. Since the amount of data in biology rapidly grows, computation is essential for its evaluation.” Like Hannes Röst about half of the CBB alumni have stayed in academia while others have started successful industry careers, e.g. in the pharmaceutical or biotechnological sector.

The joint Master program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics has been offered by ETH and the University of Zurich since 2007 and attracts students from a wide range of disciplines, such as computer science, biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics and engineering. Depending on the disciplines the students come from, they have to take a few preparatory courses to acquire additional basic knowledge needed for the Master course. Since autumn semester 2011 the Master closes with a joint degree from both universities.

As all of the CBB courses are taught in English, the student body is very international. Currently, about 80 percent of the students come from abroad. Next to that, the participants’ different academic backgrounds foster the program’s interdisciplinary culture. With so many opportunities many students need help in order to find out their specific field of interest. That is why the CBB coordinators have set up a mentoring system. In the first semester of the program participants choose a professor as a mentor to guide them in selecting courses that fit their individual interests and career goals.

The mentoring system was only one of the topics discussed during the CBB Get Together. Furthermore, CBB alumni, current and prospective students used the event to get to know each other and expand their network in a casual and cordial atmosphere.

More information on the Master program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics can be found on: www.cbb.ethz.ch

Author: Helena Hassheider