UCLA’s Computational Genomics Summer Institute Celebrates 10 Years of Building Research Community
Summer program blends scientific rigor with social connection to advance collaboration in data-driven biology
By Leticia Ortiz | Computational Medicine, UCLA
Now in its 10th year, the Computational Genomics Summer Institute (CGSI) at UCLA has become a global destination for emerging leaders in genomics and data science. Designed to foster both deep academic engagement and lasting professional relationships, CGSI combines a rigorous academic program with ample time for networking, mentorship, and collaboration—an approach that continues to shape the next generation of interdisciplinary researchers.
Hosted by the Department of Computational Medicine, CGSI brings together graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty from around the world for a uniquely structured experience. The institute features one-week Short Courses consisting of intensive lectures and tutorials with approximately 100 participants, followed by a more intimate Long Program that offers extended collaborative time and hands-on research exploration with 30–40 students and faculty. A hallmark of CGSI is that all participating faculty stay for at least one full week, engaging directly with students both in and out of the lecture hall. These deep, sustained interactions break away from the typical “fly-in, fly-out” conference model, encouraging long-term connections and idea exchange.
“We designed CGSI to be immersive—not just intellectually, but socially,” said Dr. Eleazar Eskin, professor of computational medicine and co-founder of the program. “It’s the informal moments that often lead to the most meaningful collaborations.”
Indeed, what sets CGSI apart is its intentional social infrastructure. The program’s schedule builds in time for long lunch breaks, afternoon downtime, and organized events like hikes, group dinners, and beach volleyball. These informal gatherings aren’t just for relaxation—they’re central to CGSI’s collaborative spirit. “I learned just as much during casual walks and meals as I did in the classroom,” said one recent participant. “Those conversations often turned into research ideas.” Faculty members say this relaxed environment helps flatten traditional academic hierarchies, allowing junior researchers to feel more comfortable sharing ideas. “You get to know students not just as learners, but as future colleagues,” noted one returning faculty mentor.
Since its inception in 2016, CGSI has helped generate dozens of collaborations and publications, many of which began as casual conversations during the program. It has welcomed hundreds of trainees from diverse disciplinary and cultural backgrounds, building a community of researchers who remain connected long after the summer ends. In doing so, CGSI continues to foster an interdisciplinary and inclusive genomics ecosystem, reaching well beyond the UCLA campus.
In addition to its in-person impact, CGSI maintains an open-access archive of past lectures and tutorials on its website and YouTube Channel. With over 275 recorded presentations totaling more than 180 hours of content, the collection serves as a valuable resource for researchers and educators worldwide—further extending the program’s reach and influence.
CGSI’s collaborative, cross-disciplinary ethos also resonates with university-wide initiatives, such as DataX, UCLA’s new interdisciplinary hub for data-intensive research and innovation. While the two programs operate independently, they share a common goal: to bring together scholars from diverse backgrounds to tackle complex scientific challenges through data and collaboration.
As data science continues to redefine the future of genomics and biomedical discovery, CGSI stands as a model for how academic programming can be both rigorous and deeply human. The program reminds us that scientific progress doesn’t happen in isolation—it thrives in community.
“You come for the science,” said one CGSI alum, “but what you leave with is a community.”