Dr. Ian Holmes

Professor

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Biography

Ian Holmes is a Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He specializes in Computational Biology, drawing on techniques such as machine learning, statistical linguistics, and phylogenetics to interpret and analyze genomic data. His research includes applications of context-free grammars for understanding DNA and RNA structures, the use of phylogenetic methods for genome annotation, and the detection of recombination breakpoints. Holmes' work also involves developing machine learning algorithms for bioinformatics models and reconstructing evolutionary histories through analyzing insertion, deletion, and transposition events in genomes. He has contributed to metagenomics with statistical algorithms for species distribution analysis and created dynamic-HTML web applications for collaborative genomic data analysis. Holmes received his Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of Cambridge in 1998 and has held several academic positions, including lecturer at the University of Oxford and associate with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, working on the Drosophila Genome Project.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor

2020-01-01 — Present

University of California, Berkeley • Berkeley, CA

Leading research in Computational Biology and teaching at the university.

Associate Professor

2010-01-01 — 2020-01-01

University of California, Berkeley • Berkeley, CA

Conducted research and taught courses in Computational Biology.

Assistant Professor

2004-01-01 — 2010-01-01

University of California, Berkeley • Berkeley, CA

Engaged in teaching and research in Bioengineering.

Lecturer

2002-01-01 — 2004-01-01

University of Oxford • Oxford, UK

Taught Bioinformatics courses to students.

Researcher

2002-01-01 — 2002-12-31

European Molecular Biology Laboratory • Hinxton, UK

Involved in the ENSEMBL Human Genome Annotation Project.

Associate

1999-01-01 — 2002-01-01

Howard Hughes Medical Institute • Berkeley, CA

Worked on the Berkeley Drosophila Genome Project.

Requirements for University of California, Berkeley

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
GRE Subject
Overall Score
Required:500
Overall
Required:500
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent Preparation comparable to undergraduate major at Berkeley in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics 2 full years lower-division work (Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Multivariable Calculus) 8 one-semester upper-division courses (Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Linear Algebra)
Application Checklist
  • Graduate Application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Personal History Statement
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Unofficial Transcripts
  • C.V./Resume
  • Course and Textbook List
Specialization Notes

The Mathematics Subject GRE is required for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. General GRE is optional.