Dr. Dannie Durand

Associate Professor

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Biography

Dannie Durand is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Columbia University. His research focuses on computational analysis of molecular sequence data, a crucial aspect of solving significant biological problems of the 21st century. Durand investigates how genes interact to produce living cells and how gene malfunction can lead to disease. His work aims to understand the evolution of multicellular organisms from simple unicellular ancestors and the role of gene duplication in acquiring new gene functions. His studies suggest that massive gene duplications in early vertebrate evolution were essential for the innovations that define vertebrates, including skeletal structures and the central nervous system. Durand has published numerous articles in reputable journals, contributing to the fields of computational biology and genetics, and continues to advance the understanding of gene evolution and function.

Research Interests

Experience

Associate Professor

— Present

Carnegie Mellon University • Pittsburgh, PA

Teaching and conducting research in the Department of Biological Sciences.

Requirements for Carnegie Mellon University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
GRE General
Verbal
Required:158
Quantitative
Required:149
Analytical Writing
Required:4
Overall
Required:4
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field Research experience/publications
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • GRE scores (optional but reported in profile)
  • English Proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo)
Specialization Notes

Admission is extremely competitive with no strict GPA cut-offs; holistic review is used.