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News Release

Office of News and Information
Johns Hopkins University
3003 N. Charles Street, Suite 100
Baltimore, Maryland 21218-3843
Phone: (410) 516-7160 | Fax (410) 516-5251

October 2, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kristina Obom
Program Coordinator
(301) 294-7159


Johns Hopkins to Offer
Part-Time Master's in Bioinformatics

New Program Responds to Growing Demand for
Multi-Disciplinary Degree

Johns Hopkins University's part-time programs next spring will begin offering a master's degree sequence in the popular new field of bioinformatics. Bioinformatics is a cross between the science of mapping proteins, cloning genes and sequencing DNA, and the science of storing, accessing and mapping such information.

The new Johns Hopkins advanced degree program, aimed at working adults, will be presented through a collaboration between the university's Whiting School of Engineering's Part-Time Programs in Engineering and Applied Science and the Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences' Advanced Academic Programs. Courses will be aimed at preparing students for work in one of the biotech industry's fastest growing business sectors

The master's degree program in bioinformatics, to be offered at the university's Montgomery County Campus in Rockville, will be one of only two such programs in the state of Maryland. The joint graduate degree is designed to provide students with theoretical and applied training in database systems, human genetics, gene sequencing, web application development, clinical trial designs and more.

"Maryland has the third-largest biotech industry in the country, which means that a part-time master's program in bioinformatics is as necessary for the state's professional development as it is for its economic development," said Kristina Obom, coordinator for the program. She added that in addition to in-class instruction, many courses will be available online, and some will be offered as electives at other Johns Hopkins campuses.

From his perspective as a managing director and partner of a local high-tech/biotech venture fund, Part-Time Engineering adjunct faculty member Ed Addison sees Johns Hopkins' commitment to this growing specialty as a way to facilitate the marriage of two very different disciplines. "Once scientists understand how to use computational technology in research and development, and information technology professionals understand how their skills can facilitate the management of scientific information, there will be no limitations to what science can do in the areas of research and development," he said.

For more information on the bioinformatics master's degree program, contact Kristina Obom at (301) 294-7159 or visit the Web site at www.bioinformatics.jhu.edu.

The Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering's Part-Time Programs in Engineering and Applied Science offer masters degrees in 13 distinct disciplines, as well as undergraduate programs in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and engineering science. There are currently more than 2,200 students enrolled in PTE programs at seven education centers throughout the Baltimore/Washington area, including Southern Maryland. For more information on PTE programs and functions, contact Executive Director Sarah Steinberg at 301-294-7070, visit the Web site at www.jhu.edu/pte, or e-mail pte@jhu.edu.

The Johns Hopkins University Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences' Advanced Academic Programs offer 10 professional master's degrees, undergraduate fellowships and non-credit programming, such as English as a Second Language, to help students hone their skills, expand their knowledge base and gain a competitive advantage in the workplace. Over 1,400 Advanced Academic Programs students learn from industry leaders, Hopkins experts and government officials as they take courses in Baltimore, Maryland; Rockville, Maryland; Washington, D.C.; and online. For more information on the programs offered by Advanced Academic Programs, call 1-800-847-3330, visit www.jhu.edu/advanced, or email advanced@jhu.edu.


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