Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering (Non-Thesis)

Quantitative biosciences and engineering (QBE) is an interdisciplinary field focused on using mathematics, computation, engineering and advanced quantitative methods to analyze and solve complex biological problems. This approach enables deeper understanding, prediction and manipulation of biological systems—from molecules to ecosystems—through data-driven, cross-disciplinary techniques.​

Quantitative biosciences and engineering merges training in biology with rigorous skills in mathematics, computational science, physics, chemistry and engineering. The aim is to prepare scientists and engineers who can tackle real-world biological questions using quantitative models, big data analysis and computational tools. Students gain hands-on research experience, often in collaboration with faculty from diverse scientific backgrounds and are prepared for innovation at the intersection of these disciplines.​

Recent advances shaping QBE include high-throughput DNA sequencing, single-cell genomics, computational modeling of biological networks, systems biology, synthetic biology, machine learning applied to biological data and genome editing technologies, like CRISPR. Modern QBE also leverages powerful statistical, data science and visualization tools to model complex biological systems, while advances in bioengineering are leading to new biomaterials, tissues and sustainable bioproducts.​

Career Options with a QBE Degree

Graduates with a degree in quantitative biosciences and engineering pursue diverse roles such as:

• Bioinformatics or data scientist
• Biostatistician
• Biomedical or clinical engineer
• Imaging scientist
• Research scientist (in pharmaceuticals, agricultural biotech or environmental biosciences)
• Quantitative biologist
• Positions in medical, public health or clinical research
• Many also pursue graduate or professional degrees in medicine, biomedical research or engineering.​

Industries that commonly employ QBE graduates include:

• Biotechnology and pharmaceuticals
• Medical device and diagnostics companies
• Healthcare and hospital systems
• Environmental and sustainability sectors
• Academic and government research labs
• Data science or analytics firms with a health/life sciences focus
• Food and agriculture technology, as well as startups focused on bio-based products.​

Current research in QBE is rapidly expanding into areas such as:

• Synthetic and systems biology—designing novel genetic circuits and reprogramming cellular systems
• Computational modeling of diseases, complex biological systems and epidemiology
• Environmental biosciences, including bioremediation and bioenergy
• Development of new diagnostic and therapeutic technologies (e.g., precision medicine, wearable biosensors)
• Machine learning for big biological data, including image and omics data analysis
• Modeling biological networks and evolutionary processes.​

This multidisciplinary field continues to evolve rapidly and offers exciting opportunities for research, innovation and impactful careers that bridge biology, engineering and computation.