Get to know the program
The University of Florida Genetics Institute is a multi-college, multi-faceted research center. What sets apart our institute and graduate program is our philosophy: good geneticists are interdisciplinary geneticists, incorporating many different genetic sub-fields into their work. The UFGI is a research center that promotes collaborative research and includes more than 220 faculty members, representing nine colleges and 51 academic departments. Founded in 2007, the program provides interdisciplinary doctorate training with an emphasis on computational approaches. Students can train in any UFGI member’s laboratory, regardless of their college or departmental affiliation.
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Why choose our program?
Interdisciplinary research
UFGI faculty represent nine colleges and 51 departments. They conduct an extensive range of genetics research, in fields such as gene therapy, plant genomics, neurogenetics, pharmacogenomics, evolution & development, bioinformatics, and the list goes on. Students are able to interact with these faculty during events, as well as collaborations and mentorship committees.
Mentors in various colleges
The UFGI has over 220 faculty members for you to choose from when selecting a mentor. And, should you meet another researcher on campus who is not a member with whom you would like to work, they can easily become a UFGI faculty member.
Emphasis on career development
As part of the program, students attend a seminar course on Fridays. This course focuses on enhancing students’ professional skills beyond lab work. Students will give presentations on their research, receive feedback from other students, and have opportunities to ask other students about their work. Program alumni and visiting faculty will also give talks.
Additionally, during National DNA Day in April, G&G students have the opportunity to visit local high schools to discuss their research, present the importance of genetics in a broad scope, and share their passion for research. These outreach events make a difference to budding scientists and many of our program’s students appreciate the opportunity to connect with local students.
Frequent talks & workshops
During the fall and spring semesters, UFGI sponsors a weekly Seminar Series. These talks bring Genetics and Genomic researchers to the UFGI from around UF and the country, encouraging scientific collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches to research. In addition to attending these frequent talks from scientists who are leading their fields, students may ask questions of visiting researchers during informal luncheons to gain a deeper appreciation for their research and scientific journey.
The UFGI also hosts two conferences a year. The Phenotypic Prediction Workshop (brainchild of G&G alum Marcio Resende), and the Florida Genetics Symposium, which draws hundreds of researchers from around the world. This is a great opportunity for G&G students to network, meet their peers, and experience new scientific fields in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.
