What is Bioinformatics?
Modern biology and medicine are generating huge amounts of data about life’s processes at the molecular level that cannot be processed without the help of Bioinformatics. The synergy between Bioinformatics and biomedical data is key for generating new clinical and biological knowledge about living systems and developing effective strategies to enhance human health and fight diseases. Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that develops analytic methodologies and pipelines for analyzing and interpreting modern large-scale biological data using knowledge and techniques from computer science, statistics, mathematics, and biology. Bioinformaticians research, develop, and apply computational tools and approaches for analyzing, and thus expanding, the use of biological, medical, behavioral, and health data. Read more >>
We use a multidisciplinary approach to make the complex data of life sciences more understandable and useful. Not only are we creating workers for highly desirable businesses, but we are also contributing to both basic science and clinical applications. The next generation of bioinformatics pioneers is here, mining and interpreting biological data for a host of applications – medical, environmental, plant sciences, animal sciences, and more!
Our program offers two graduate degrees: the MS in Bioinformatics and the Ph.D. in Bioinformatics. Our program also supports an undergraduate minor in Bioinformatics.
Students completing the MS in Bioinformatics are expected to possess the following abilities at a proficient level or above at the time of graduation.
- An ability to develop substantial expertise in their chosen research area through course work, lab rotations, seminars, and independent study to prepare them to take on real-world problems.
- An ability to specify the problem, justify it within its environmental context and demonstrate the value of the solution to the problem to the project’s sponsor.
- An ability to apply sound methods/tools to devise solutions to the project problem.
- An ability to describe and use the methods/tools needed to effectively analyze/interpret data.
- An ability to professionally present their MS Capstone Project or Thesis to their fellow students, faculty, and project sponsors in both oral and written format.
Students completing the Ph.D. in Bioinformatics are expected to possess the following abilities at a proficient level or above at the time of graduation.
- An ability to develop substantial expertise in their chosen research area through seminar course work, and independent study to prepare them to make an original contribution.
- An ability to clearly state a research problem, justify it within the context of the literature and demonstrate the value of the solution in advancing knowledge within that area.
- An ability to develop and apply sound research methods and tools to devise solutions to the research problem.
- An ability to develop, describe and use the methods and tools needed to effectively analyze and interpret data.
- An ability to professionally present their research to a variety of audiences through professional meetings, conferences, seminars, and/or journals.