Ottawa-Carleton Joint Program

Bioinformatics is an emerging and increasingly important scientific discipline dedicated to the pursuit of fundamental questions about the structure, function and evolution of biological entities through the design and application of computational approaches. Fundamental research in these areas is expected to increase our understanding of human health and disease which translates into innovation in industry (i.e. drug discovery). Bioinformaticians today must be able to appreciate significant research in other fields and therefore require an understanding of the basic principles of other disciplines. To meet this challenge Carleton University and the University of Ottawa offer a collaborative program leading to a master of science degree in the primary program with specialization in Bioinformatics or, in the case of computer science, a master of computer science degree with specialization in Bioinformatics.

The program operates within the general framework of the regulations and procedures for Joint Graduate Programs and the general regulations of the graduate faculty at each of the two universities. The general regulations of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS) of the University of Ottawa are posted on the FGPS website.

Participating Programs

• The graduate programs of the departments of Biology at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.

• The graduate programs of the School of Information Technology at the University of Ottawa and of the Department of Computer Science at Carleton University.

• The graduate programs of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Ottawa and of the School of Mathematics and Statistics at Carleton University.

• The Cellular and Molecular Medicine graduate program of the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa.

• The Biochemistry (BCH) graduate program and the Microbiology & Immunology (MIC) graduate program of the Department of Biochemistry, Immunology and Microbiology at the University of Ottawa.

The professors included in the list below are members of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. This means that they are authorized to supervise or co-supervise theses.

ARIS-BROSOU, Stéphane, Cross-appointment
Computational molecular evolution; population genetics

BAETZ, Kristin, Full Professor
Functional genomics

BICKEL, David, Cross-appointment
Statistical bioinformatics: gene expression data analysis; molecular network reconstruction; model validation methodology; Bayesian and empirical Bayes inference; machine learning algorithms; and Monte Carlo simulation

DROUIN, Guy, Full Professor
Evolution of multi gene families; concerted evolution of 5S ribosomal RNA genes; characteristics and effects of gene conversion between multi gene family members

FIGEYS, Daniel, Full Professor
Proteomics technology and applications in systems biology

IOSHIKHES, Ilya, Associate Professor
Transcriptional regulation of gene expression; nucleosome positioning as essential element of gene regulation, micro-RNA regulation.

KAERN, Mads, Assistant Professor
Gene regulation and systems biology

LEVY, Jason, Assistant Professor
Systems biology, cell dynamics, representation theory, automorphic forms

PESTOV, Vladimir, Full Professor
Topological transformation groups; geometry of large dimensions

SANKOFF, David, Full Professor
Mathematical genomics

STINTZI, Alain, Associate Professor
Microbial genomics, campylobacter jejuni; iron acquisition and metabolism; and stress responses

TURCOTTE, Marcel, Associate Professor
Bioinformatics; algorithms design; applications of machine learning

XIA, Xuhua, Associate Professor
Molecular evolution and bioinformatics

Candidates must indicate in their admission form that they wish to be accepted in the collaborative program.

All applicants must be able to understand speak and write either English or French proficiently. Applicants whose first language is neither English nor French must provide proof of proficiency in one or the other. The list of acceptable tests is indicated in the 'Admission' section of the general regulations of the FGPS.

In accordance with the University of Ottawa regulation, assignments, examinations, research papers and theses can be produced in either English or French.

Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Be admitted in one of the programs participating in the collaborative program.
• Provide at least one letter of recommendation from a professor who is willing and available to act as thesis supervisor.
• Be sponsored into the collaborative program by a faculty member, normally the thesis supervisor, who must be appointed, cross-appointed or stand as an adjunct at one or more of the participating units.

NOTE: The choice of supervisor will determine the primary campus location of the student. It will also determine which university awards the degree.

• 3 compulsory credits in bioinformatics (BNF5106/ BIO5106).
• Enrollment in the seminar course in bioinformatics (BNF6100), which involves a written report, the presentation of a seminar, and regular attendance at departmental seminars.
• Presentation and defence of a research thesis on a topic in bioinformatics based on original research carried out under the supervision of a faculty member participating in the bioinformatics collaborative program.

• Biochemistry, biology, computer science, and mathematics & statistics allow the Bioinformatics course to count towards degree requirements; the Bioinformatics Seminar is to be taken in addition to the regular seminar course of the primary program.
• Cellular and molecular medicine allows the bioninformatics course and the bioinformatics seminar to count towards degree requirements.
• Microbiology and immunology requires that students take the bioinformatics course and the bioinformatics seminar in addition to the primary program requirements.

Minimum Standards