Summer Springboard
Applied Bioinformatics
ON THE CAMPUS OF UC SANTA BARBARA
INTERDISCIPLINARY DATA ANALYSIS SKILLS ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, AGRICULTURE AND BEYOND.
THIS IS A TWO-WEEK PROGRAM WHERE YOU’LL FOCUS ON ONE COURSE FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION.
Applied Bioinformatics
- Discover the importance of genetic research as it pertains to various
aspects of our daily lives. - Gain hands-on experience analyzing biological data.
- Develop skills in data visualization and scientific communication to clearly present analytical findings.
- Access, process, and interpret genetic and environmental datasets to investigate ecological and evolutionary questions.
- Learn to utilize cutting edge bioinformatics tools and R programming.
- Explore real-world applications of bioinformatics across ecology, conservation, healthcare, and biotechnology.
Summer Springboard
Applied Bioinformatics
About This Course
Bioinformatics is a fascinating interdisciplinary field that combines biology, computer science, and statistics to explore the mysteries of life and, potentially, revolutionize healthcare and agriculture. From genomes to ecosystems, big data is transforming how we study life. As the ability to generate large-scale biological datasets expands, so does our need for researchers who can turn information into insight.
With applications spanning biotechnology, healthcare, agriculture, environmental management and data science, bioinformatics stands at the forefront of interdisciplinary research. Through authentic research experiences, students will build critical-thinking skills, interpret complex data and examine broad questions in ecology and evolution.
TOPICS YOU'LL EXPLORE
Hands-on Learning
Applied Bioinformatics provides a hands-on introduction to computational biology and data analysis from a molecular ecological perspective. Students will learn how to access
and analyze real-world genetic datasets using modern bioinformatic tools and learn to code in R.
Career Exploration
Students will discover how bioinformatics connects biology, technology, and data science to solve real-world problems in ecology, conservation, healthcare and biotechnology. By studying how genetic data informs species conservation, medical research, and sustainable resource management, students will gain insight into exciting careers such as conservation geneticist, bioinformatics analyst, biomedical researcher, and biotechnology specialist. Potential excursions, including visits to the DNA Lab at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, an abalone aquaculture farm, and the Plant Genomics Lab at the Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens, will offer hands-on experiences that highlight how bioinformatics drives innovation and discovery across diverse scientific fields.
RESOURCES
Course Infosheet
Click here to view or download the printable infosheet for this course.
Program Catalog
Click here to request our catalog to learn more about our summer programs and courses.
Campus Page
Click here to view the website page for this campus and learn more.
“The program was everything I thought it would be. It’s an experience that will make you feel connected to other people and to the course itself. It makes you become more comfortable with who you are and the things that you’re passionate about. I really enjoyed everything about it.”
– Imani J. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Applied Bioinformatics
Meet Your Instructor
Hayley Goss is a marine molecular ecologist and Ph.D. candidate at UC Santa Barbara. Through her research and teaching, she emphasizes bridging molecular biology and applied conservation through accessible, data-driven approaches.Her research uses genetic data and bioinformatic analysis to examine how environmental variables and human-made structures influence population structure across ecosystems. She has conducted extensive population genetic analyses across the Santa Barbara Channel. Her work integrates large-scale molecular data with ecological and oceanographic context to help inform marine conservation and management.
HAYLEY GOSS
“It was a great opportunity for me to further explore a potential career path for me while also having a ton of fun. I believe wholeheartedly that this experience transformed me for the better.”
– Skye W. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Applied Bioinformatics
Dates & Tuition
| 2026 Dates |
|---|
| Session 1: July 19, 2026 – July 31, 2026 |
Click here to enroll in this course using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition |
|---|
| Residential Tuition: $5,698 |
| Commuter Tuition: $3,298 |
Apply by November 30 to lock in the lowest prices of the year. Tuition increases on December 1.
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
|---|
| City: Santa Barbara |
| State: California |
| Campus: UC Santa Barbara |
Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly, UW Foster and NYSID which are run in partnership with SSB). Universities and their affiliated departments and partners do not control and are not responsible or liable in any manner for any part of the Summer Springboard program.