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From Coursework to Real, Publishable-Quality Research

For undergraduates with intro biology and intro stats. Build genuine fluency in statistics, programming, and network science, then execute a mentored research project using real data in the area you choose.

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CITI certified

before summer research

2 formats

summer or year-long

6 areas

to specialize in

Two Ways to Do This

Choose Your Pace

Both paths end the same way — a reproducible research notebook, a written report, and a symposium presentation. They differ in how the preparation is paced.

Summer Intensive

10–12 Weeks, Full-Time

Best for a dedicated summer without other major commitments

A full-time summer program covering statistics, programming, graph theory, and network medicine applications, culminating in a mentored research project using real public data — ideal for a study-away term or a summer between years.

Time / Week

25–30 hrs

Format

Full-time

  • Statistics, coding, and graph theory in weeks 1–8
  • Mentored research project in weeks 9–12
  • Accelerated, standalone research experience


Year-Long

2 Semesters + Summer

Best if you want to build toward a specific research area over the year

Quantitative foundations (Fall) and network medicine methods in your chosen research area (Spring) are taken as standard-load async coursework — comparable to a 3-credit course each semester — followed by a full mentored summer research project.

Time / Week

4–5 hrs

Format

Fully async

  • Research ethics certification and pre-registration completed before summer
  • Mentor and research question locked in by spring
  • Summer is execution only, not ramp-up

Not sure which fits? Students with one truly open summer tend to pick Summer Intensive. Students juggling a normal course load who want deeper specialization tend to pick Year-Long.

Year-Long Path

How the Year Flows

One shared foundation course, then a research-area course, then live summer research.

Fall

Quant & Computational Foundations

Stats · Python/R · Git

Spring

Your Research Area

One of six pathways

Summer

Live Research

Mentored, online

Courses

What You'll Take

Fall

UG-F: Quantitative & Computational Foundations

Applied statistics, multiple-testing correction, Python/R fluency, Git/GitHub, and core molecular biology through a systems lens.

Spring

UG-S: Network Medicine Methods & Research Design

Graph theory, multi-omics integration, CITI ethics training, and a deep dive into your chosen research area.

Questions about which format fits your schedule? Talk to a program advisor.