Empowering diverse young minds to apply computation to solve research-inspired questions in modern biology.

Non-credit

Residential

Commuter

Accepts International Students

Financial Aid

Final project

Computational Biology
Empowering diverse young minds to apply computation to solve research-inspired questions in modern biology.
Program Overview
The Pre-College Program in Computational Biology immerses students in cutting-edge laboratory techniques and the computational methods that bring biological data to life.

Computer science has transformed biology and medicine, and the next generation of life scientists must be fluent in both generating data in the lab and interpreting it with powerful computational tools. Our program gives high school students a rare chance to explore this interdisciplinary frontier in a university setting.

Students tackle real research-inspired problems, from studying microbes in Pittsburgh’s local ecosystems to investigating the impact of COVID-19. After collecting samples in the field, they will isolate bacterial DNA, fragment it into millions of sequences, and analyze these sequences using the same approaches used by computational biologists worldwide.

Each day highlights the synergy between experimentation and computation. Half the day is spent in a hackathon, with students working in teams to code solutions to computational questions inspired by biology. The other half takes place in the lab, where students generate the very datasets they’ll later interpret with their own code.

Carnegie Mellon University, a global leader in automated science, gives students the chance to work with robotic laboratory equipment. Using tools like the Opentrons OT-2 liquid handling robot and custom automation platforms, our students will see firsthand how machine learning and artificial intelligence are reshaping how science is done.

To prepare for the program, admitted students will complete foundational coding lessons from Programming for Lovers, an open education project developed by Professor Phillip Compeau. These preparatory materials ensure that every student arrives ready to dive into computational biology, regardless of prior programming experience.

Programming Preparatory Materials
Preparatory materials will be provided to admitted students in advance of the program to provide fundamental programming skills.

IMPORTANT: Admitted students will be required to complete some assignments taken from this project before starting the program.

Single Session

Jun 20 - Jul 18

4 weeks

Residential

10000 USD

Single Session

Jun 20 - Jul 18

4 weeks

Commuter

7480 USD

The cost includes:

• Tuition for college-level classes taught by accomplished Carnegie Mellon University faculty.
• Housing on a vibrant and welcoming college campus. Residential students only.
• Dining Services that offer diverse eating options that emphasize health, wellness, and delicious food! Dining options include (but not limited to) vegan, vegetarian, kosher, and Halal.
• University fees for the use of the campus health center, fitness center, library, Student Success Center, and so much more!
• Transportation Pass to attend an organized program or extra-curricular events.

Additional Fees:

• Application Fee - $50
• Enrollment Deposit - $800

Application Fee and Enrollment Deposit are non-refundable.

Financial Aid

Scholarships

Full scholarships covering tuition, housing, and dining are available to students demonstrating financial need. You can elect to be considered for a scholarship within the online application.

Please note: International students are not eligible for scholarship consideration.

Scholarship Eligibility

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Be available to attend the entirety of the program
• Demonstrate financial need
  

Financial Need

Students in any of the below categories are considered to demonstrate financial need:

• Students who have received or are eligible to receive an ACT or SAT testing fee waiver.
• Students who are enrolled in or eligible to participate in the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch Program (FRPL).
• Students whose family income falls within or near the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
• Students who are enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g. TRIO programs such as Upward Bound).
• Students whose family receives public assistance.
• Students who live in federally subsidized public housing, a foster home, or are homeless.
• Students who are a ward of the state or an orphan.
• Students who can provide a supporting statement from a school official, college access counselor, financial aid officer, or community leader.

Documentation of financial need is required to be considered for scholarship opportunities in all available programs.

Documentation required includes tax documents or a completed NACAC Application Fee Waiver signed by your high school guidance department.