A student in a lab coat conducts an experiment while his faculty mentor looks on

The Biological Data Science (BilDS) Program for Doctoral Students is a training program that integrates with existing Ph.D. programs across the UVM campus in biology, plant biology, plant and soil sciences, mathematics, computer science, engineering, natural resources, and cellular, molecular and biomedical sciences.

The program provides two core courses, a variety of quantitative electives, an optional applied internship with a non-academic organization, and extensive professional development training in computation, communication, and cultural awareness and inclusion. Trainees will also share physical space for cohort-building and an annual retreat, orientation and community activities.

The traineeship provides two core courses, a variety of quantitative electives, an applied internship with a non-academic organization, and extensive professional development training in computation, communication, and cultural awareness and inclusion. Trainees will also share physical space for cohort-building and an annual retreat, orientation and community activities.

Program Time Frame and Requirements

BilDS is a two to three year training program for UVM PhD students that builds upon the existing strengths of more than eight academic units on campus.

Requirements:

  • A minimum of 15 credits, including:
    • Foundations in Quantitative Reasoning (BIOL 6210)
    • Data Science I (CS/CSYS/STAT 5870)
    • BilDS seminar (BIOL 6215), fall and spring semester of the first year
    • Quantitative elective courses (see list below)
    • Attendance at the first year annual retreat

Support and Eligibility

Since BilDS Trainees are all UVM PhD students, they are supported by participating faculty from their respective academic units through research and teaching assistantships. Trainees are also encouraged to apply for Gund PhD Research Assistantships and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships (GRFs). The program has limited support for unpaid internships, and encourages seeking out paid internships with our community partners.

BilDS Traineeship Roadmap (Example)

Course Requirements

List of Quantitative & Evolutionary Electives



Admissions Information

We are seeking trainees passionate about developing tools for pressing environmental and global health problems.

Apply Now

This graduate training program introduces:

  • A strong understanding of core concepts in evolution, ecology, and epidemiology
  • Exposure to contemporary, real-world topics where modeling and predicting system disturbances are crucial
  • Skill development for hypothesis and experimental design, and interdisciplinary teamwork and communications training

BilDS Leadership and the University of Vermont are especially interested in students who can contribute to the inclusion, diversity, and excellence of the academic environment both professionally and personally.

Students from diverse educational backgrounds (e.g., biology, mathematics, and computer science, agricultural, environmental, and health sciences, STEM education) and work-life experiences (e.g. community college, extracurricular, volunteerism), women, LGBTQ, and first-generation college, veterans, and individuals with disabilities, and underrepresented racial, ethnic, gender, socio-economic and cultural groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

For questions, please email Lola.Chen@uvm.edu,  Program Coordinator.