CSB 2023 Class

Welcome to the MIT Computational and Systems Biology PhD Program (CSB)

The Ph.D. program seeks to train a new breed of quantitative biologists who can take advantage of technologies at the leading edge of science and engineering to tackle fundamental and applied problems in biology. Our students acquire: (i) a background in modern molecular/cell biology; (ii) a foundation in quantitative/engineering disciplines to enable them to create new technologies as well as apply existing methods; and (iii) exposure to subjects emphasizing the application of quantitative approaches to biological problems.  Our program and courses emphasize the logic of scientific discovery rather than mastering a specific set of skills or facts.  The program includes teaching experience during one semester of the second year.  It prepares students with the tools needed to succeed in a variety of academic and non-academic careers.

The program is highly selective with typical class sizes 8 to 10 students. About half of our graduate students are women, about one-quarter are international students, and about 10% are under-represented minorities.

Students complete most coursework during the first year, while exploring research opportunities through 1- or 2-month research rotations.  A faculty academic advisor assigned in the first year provides guidance and advice. Students choose a research advisor in spring or early summer of year 1 and develop a Ph.D. research project in with their advisor and input from a thesis committee chosen by the student.

Average time to graduation is 5½ years. 

The Program in CSB is committed to increasing opportunities for under-represented minority graduate students and students who have experienced financial hardship or disability.

Latest News:

  • Scientists use computational modeling to guide a difficult chemical synthesis

    Using this new approach, researchers could develop drug compounds with unique
    pharmaceutical properties.

    Using this new approach, researchers could develop drug compounds with unique pharmaceutical properties. Researchers from MIT and the University of Michigan have discovered a new way to drive chemical reactions that could generate a wide variety of compounds with desirable pharmaceutical properties. These compounds, known as azetidines, are characterized by four-membered rings that include nitrogen. […]

    Read More: Scientists use computational modeling to guide a difficult chemical synthesis

Student Perspectives

Sabrina Spencer

“I fell into clover with MIT’s CSB program.”

2009

Join Us Fall 2024!

Apply for Fall 2025 starting October 1, 2024.
Deadline to apply is December 1, 2024.

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Faculty Spotlight


  • Creating Materials with Machine Learning Rafael Gómez-Bombarelli is an associate professor of materials science and engineering, and, as the title would indicate, he designs new materials. He just doesn’t do it with physical experiments. It’s all computational, as he and his team work at the…

    Read more: Rafael Gómez-Bombarelli