Requirements and Sample Sequence  Advising Prospective students

How can data be leveraged to identify, treat, and manage health and disease? How are large biological datasets transforming research and industry? How can scientists enable efficient and accurate management of massive amounts of technical and biological data? 

Data science is the art of extracting knowledge and finding meaningful information from a sea of data. The field of data science is ushering in a new era of modern medicine, where algorithms, artificial intelligence, machine learning, high-throughput genomics, and other data-driven technologies are revolutionizing healthcare, biotechnology, and many other industries.

The MCB + Data Science major at Illinois is an interdisciplinary program offered by the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology in collaboration with the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, Department of Mathematics, Department of Statistics, and the School of Information Sciences.

As an MCB + DS student, you will explore topics including molecular biology, molecular genetics, microbiology, cellular biology, biochemistry, physiology, and structural biology through innovative courses, laboratory classes, and research and discovery experiences. You will also learn to harness large datasets across healthcare systems, the pharmaceutical industry, government agencies, and data-intensive biological research areas.

 
DNA and numbers

A wealth of resources and opportunities

  • Conduct research in a faculty lab.
  • Study abroad while earning credit in advanced courses in your major. Research and physician shadowing are also possible abroad.
  • Develop leadership skills by joining one of many student organizations of interest to your major.
  • Build relationships with alumni and peers through our mentoring programs.
  • Pursue an internship in biological, pharmaceutical, government, or healthcare industries.
Scientists look at computer with image of protein structure

A bright future

Employment of data scientists is projected to grow rapidly in the coming decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Possible careers for MCB + DS graduates span bioinformatics in genome sequencing centers, pharmaceuticals, healthcare industries (medical diagnostics, precision medicine, predictive medicine, health insurance, disease trends), ecological data analysts studying biodiversity and patterns of biological data, network biologist (systems biology), and so much more.