QB core courses
The four QB core courses (click course name to view most recent syllabus) are:- QBIO 110a: Numerical Modeling of Biological Systems
- QBIO 120b: Quantitative Biology Instrumentation Laboratory
- BCHM 102a:Quantitative Approaches to Biochemical Systems
- PHYS 105a: Biological Physics
Two of the core courses are primarily focused on experiment (QBIO 120 and BCHM 102) and two on theory/computation (QBIO 110 and PHYS 105). Thus, the requirement that students take at least three of the four ensures that every student receives instruction in both modalities, but that students are able to adjust somewhat the relative emphasis on theory/computation vs. experiment to suit their particular interests.
All four courses are specifically designed to be accessible to both biological and physical sciences Ph.D. students. Students who come into the courses may have very different academic backgrounds; consequently, each course is structured to accomodate these differences and, when necessary, to provide additional help to students who need to be brought up to speed on key scientific or mathematical concepts. Students who have questions about whether they are qualified to take a given course should consult the course instructor.
All four QB core courses enroll primarily Ph.D. students; however, the courses are open to appropriately qualified advanced undergraduates.
The Quantitative Biology section of the Brandeis catalog gives further information on the core courses. It also cross-lists other courses which do not count toward the core QB requirement but which may be of interest to QB students.