QCB
HISTORY
For the past four decades, USC has been a leader in the critical field of computational biology
In 1982, USC hired Michael S. Waterman who later launched the first Ph.D. program in computational biology in the world with the opening of the Computational Molecular Biology (CMB) group within the Department of Mathematics.
The group was renamed Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (CBB) group in 2000 and merged with the existing Molecular Biology (MB) section forming the Molecular and Computational Biology (MCB) section of the Department of Biological Sciences (BISC).
1982
One of the first Ph.D. programs in computational biology in the world is launched by USC with the opening of the Computational Molecular Biology (CMB) group within the Department of Mathematics.
2000
The CMB group is renamed Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (CBB) and subsequently merged with Molecular Biology (MB) to form the Molecular and Computational Biology (MCB) section.
2005
The MCB Section received a new building, Ray R. Irani Hall, to enhance the CBB group's interaction with experimental biologists.
In 2017, the CBB group launched a 21st century undergraduate major in Quantitative Biology (QBIO) and was reorganized the next year as the Quantitative and Computational Biology (QCB) section of the Department of Biological Sciences.
The QCB section was expanded in 2021 into an independent academic Department within the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. An external review in 2020 concluded that QCB is on track to be a world class department and the future of life science research at USC.
2017
USC launched an undergraduate major in Quantitative Biology (QBIO), complemented by a Progressive Master’s Program in Quantitative and Computational Biology (QCB).
2021
The Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences welcomes the newly formed Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology in 2021 offering degrees in both its undergraduate and graduate programs.
2018
The Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (CBB) group was reorganized as Quantitative and Computational Biology (QCB) section of the Department of Biological Sciences.