For Undergraduates

General Advising Resources

Dean Mary Nijhout is a great advisor for any student, especially those interested in persuing graduate studies.

GO to the Career Center. There are also multiple career fairs each year--make sure you attend each one. Even if you're not looking for a job/internship, it is a great learning experience. You can get advice on a resume, learn about companies, and get some quality face time with possible employers, all in one place. They can also take a look at your CV.

Subscribe to mailing lists. You may get annoyed with the inundation of emails, but you can always remove yourself from a list afterwards. I used to run the CS majors list, and there are a lot of opportunities being sent your way. I wish I had found the systems biology group list earlier. If anything, even if you don't attend the things being advertised, at least you know what is going on and can keep yourselves (and friends) informed on events that may be of interest.

GO to talks! There are so many talks that are being posted on the departmental boards. Take the opportunity to go listen, even if you're only drawn by the interesting title and the free food. You may learn something interesting, or see how concepts you have learned in class are actually being applied.

Research Opportunities

Email professors. Go to the websites (biology, computer science, etc) and look at faculty that have your research interests. Professors won't get angry if you email them requesting to learn a little more about what they do, and if they would be interested in taking on an undergraduate.

Look into summer programs such as Howard Hughes, IGSP, C-SURF, Deans' Fellowships, or external (even "exotic") programs. These are more competitive, but there is a good chance that you may have the opportunity to do research in the summer with a professor--a way for you to start doing research if you're not sure how to go about starting. DON'T let this be your "one ticket," however. Remember that asking questions and figuring out the best fit for you will do more good than just simply applying to programs willy-nilly.

Resources for Interdisciplinary Students at Duke in BioComputation

Alternative Degrees

Interdepartmental Major(IDM) A major that bridges two different departments, for students interested in focusing on working between two disciplines. The student works with both departments to create a new major.

Program II A major that bridges any variety of disciplines, with a main core focus that is determined by the student and the Program II committee.

Duke Biology

Resources for Students in Biology

Requirements for the Biology Major Ask your peers and search the web for information. Duke University has some of the best biology instructors available, if you look carefully.

Faculty that I had the fortune of knowing during my time at Duke

Dr. Fred Nijhout (my PI in undergraduate, an amazing Entomologist with diverse interests)

Dr. Steven Vogel (a great mentor and a pioneer in the field of Biomechanics)

Dr. Paul Magwene (one of my advisors who works in Computational Biology and Systems Biology)

Dr. Daniele Armaleo (an amazing professor, who showed me the importance of practice in learning)

Dr. Philip Benfey (the professor who ingrained in my brain the full description for the acronym MALDI-TOF)

Duke Computer Science

Resources for Students in Computer Science

Requirements for the Computer Science Major. Depending on how much you like math or are going to use it in the future, you have the choice to opt for a number of courses that will put you on the path towards the math minor.

Faculty that I had the fortune of knowing during my time at Duke

Dr. Susan Rodger, a wonderful mentor and one of the very best people to talk with about how to plan for graduate school.

Dr Owen Astrachan, an animated and funny lecturer, and a great guy for advice.

Dr. Alexander Hartemink, a brilliant professor who sparked my interest in computational systems biology.

Dr. Jeffrey Forbes, my advisor since freshman year, and an excellent mentor who always ended up making me feel better after I left his office.

Dr. Bruce Donald. If you're interested in biochemistry and computer science, this man is amazing.

Kamesh Munagala. Specializes in algorithms, and is helpful to students who come with questions.