Program Overview

Human Genetics PhD Program

The PhD in Human Genetics prepares future leaders in human genetics and genomics. This rapidly evolving field of research incorporates multiple areas of modern experimental biology and computational biology. In their research, Human Genetics PhD Program students tackle Mendelian diseases and genetically complex traits of key relevance to human health.

Program Overview

Our Graduate Program hosts the Genetics and Genomics Home Area of the Graduate Programs in Bioscience (GPB). We are also associated with the UCLA-Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). Prospective Human Genetics PhD Program students may apply through the GPB or MSTP admission mechanisms.

Degree Offerings

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Master of Science (MS) on PhD track

Curriculum

A wide variety of courses are offered to equip future independent researchers with fundamental knowledge about state-of-the-art methods for generating experimental data on a genome-wide scale and computational and statistical approaches to draw from the data sound conclusions of biological and medical significance. In addition, courses on medical and ethical issues provide students with a societal perspective on human genetics.

Time to Degree

The average time to degree in our PhD in Genetics and Genomics Program is approximately five years. Many of our PhD in Genetics and Genomics alumni have published parts of their dissertation work in top scientific journals and become successful scientists in academy or industry.

Admissions

The program offers admissions through the GPB or MSTP admission mechanisms.

Research Areas

The investigators at the Genetics and Genomics Home Area at UCLA are developing networks, systems, and other multilayer approaches combining large data sets and high-throughput information at genomic, transcriptomics, methylomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and phenome level to address the complex architecture and multiple properties leading to human disease. The overall research emphasis of the Genetics and Genomics Home Area at UCLA is on identification and characterization of genes, pathways, and molecular mechanisms converting human health to a disease, utilizing new and state-of-the-art computational, bioinformatics, and molecular genetic and genomics approaches in an integrative way.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

In our research efforts, we highly value interdisciplinary knowledge and institutional, national, and international collaboration as the core of our success. Translation to novel medical preventative tools and targeted treatments is the key research goal of the studies in the Human Genetics PhD Program. We anticipate that these translational and multilayer genomics approaches will soon lay a foundation for personalized medicine that allows interpretation of biological high-throughput data at multiple levels throughout an individual’s life in order to tailor preventative measurements and treatments based on his/her genetic, behavioral, and environmental makeup.