The program provides two core courses, a variety of quantitative electives, an optional applied internship with a non-academic organization, and extensive professional development training in computation, communication, and cultural awareness and inclusion. Trainees will also share physical space for cohort-building and an annual retreat, orientation, and community activities.
The traineeship provides two core courses, a variety of quantitative electives, an applied internship with a non-academic organization, and extensive professional development training in computation, communication, and cultural awareness and inclusion. Trainees will also share physical space for cohort-building and an annual retreat, orientation, and community activities.
Program Time Frame and Requirements
Requirements:
BilDS is a two to three-year training program for UVM Ph.D. students that builds upon the existing strengths of more than eight academic units on campus.
- A minimum of 15 credits, including:
- Foundations in Quantitative Reasoning (BIOL 6210)
- Data Science I (CS/CSYS/STAT 5870)
- BilDS seminar (BIOL 6215), fall and spring semester of the first year
- Quantitative elective courses (see list below)
- Attendance at the first-year annual retreat
- Recommended - An applied internship with a non-academic institution
Support and Eligibility
Since BilDS trainees are all UVM Ph.D. students, they are supported by participating faculty from their respective academic units through research and teaching assistantships. Trainees are also encouraged to apply for Gund PhD Research Assistantships and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships (GRFs). The program has limited support for unpaid internships and encourages seeking out paid internships with our community partners.
BilDS Traineeship Roadmap (Example)
Admissions Information
We are seeking trainees passionate about developing tools for pressing environmental and global health problems.
This graduate training program introduces:
- A strong understanding of core concepts in evolution, ecology, and epidemiology
- Exposure to contemporary, real-world topics where modeling and predicting system disturbances are crucial
- Skill development for hypothesis and experimental design, and interdisciplinary teamwork and communications training
BilDS leadership and the University of Vermont are especially interested in students who can contribute to the inclusion, diversity, and excellence of the academic environment both professionally and personally.
Students from diverse educational backgrounds (e.g., biology, mathematics, and computer science, agricultural, environmental, and health sciences, STEM education) and work-life experiences (e.g. community college, extracurricular, volunteerism), women, LGBTQ, and first-generation college, veterans, and individuals with disabilities, and underrepresented racial, ethnic, gender, socio-economic and cultural groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
For questions, email Lola.Chen@uvm.edu, Program Coordinator.