Bioinformatics Careers

Bioinformatics Career Overview

Accounting degrees can lead to a variety of different careers, and two of the most common are accountants and auditors. Accountants and auditors make sure that businesses are run efficiently, and they do so by providing businesses with important financial information as well as by keeping very accurate records.

On a day-to-day basis, accounting usually includes bookkeeping, such as the tracking of expenses and revenue, payroll, and paying bills. Accountants are also responsible for:

• Preparing balance sheets
• Profit and loss statements
• Financial reports
• Analyzing trends, costs, revenues, and financial commitments

Accounting professionals are highly valuable members of business teams because they understand the company's financial position better than anyone else in the company. Accounting professionals who become auditors closely look at the financial data and procedures to make sure that a company is in compliance with all government guidelines and tax laws.

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Bioinformatics Training & Education

All bioinformatics careers require extensive education. A bachelor's degree is not enough for many of these careers. In most cases, at least a master's degree is required to become involved in bioinformatics research. Only a handful of schools in the country offer BS, MS and PhD degrees in bioinformatics; most offer just one or two of the three.

The type of degree required varies depending on the specialty chosen. For example, biostatisticians will most benefit from a degree in biostatistics or statistics. In all cases, people who have a master's or PhD will have the competitive advantage, even if such a degree is not strictly required in their chosen field.

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Bioinformatics Career & Salary Outlook

Research scientists, including microbiologists and scientific curators, can earn between $40,000 and $100,000 per year depending on their education and level of experience. Biostatistician salaries range from $70,000 to $110,000, depending on their entry-level education. Molecular modelers and bioinformatics software developers can earn between $60,000 and $100,000.

The outlook for careers in bioinformatics is good, as the increasing trend in science is taking a multidisciplinary approach to solving biological problems. All of these career fields should see faster than average growth over the next five to seven years. However, competition for such jobs is expected to be high, and the best opportunities will be for candidates with post-graduate degrees.

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Career Fields/Specializations

Research Scientist Career

Bioinformatics research scientists work in laboratories where they may use both biological and computational techniques to answer scientific questions. They work in such areas as:

• Gene sequencing
• Database use
• Computer software tools
• Organizing and interpreting information
• Designing or discovering new drugs
• Studying the relationship between gene expression and human diseases

Bioinformatics research scientists should have excellent problem solving and analytical skills, and be familiar with the types of computer software that are commonly used in the field. They should be patient and dedicated, be able to work with a high degree of accuracy, and be willing to work on highly focused projects that may last several years. They should also be detail-oriented and able to see the big picture at the same time.

Biostatistician Career

Biostatisticians are statistics experts who use their skills in a wide range of biological disciplines. They may be involved in such areas as:

• Epidemiology (the study of disease incidence and patterns)
• Population genetics
• Gene sequence analysis
• The development and analysis of clinical medical trials

Biostatisticians must have excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with a focus on working with numbers and statistics to examine biological issues. They should also have a strong background working with computers to organize and interpret information. Biostatisticians often collaborate with other scientists on larger projects, and should be able to work well both independently and as part of a larger team. Biostatisticians should be able to focus on the details of a project while keeping the big picture in mind.

Scientific Curator

The role of the scientific curator is to identify, classify, and organize information about biological samples that are used in scientific research. They keep written reports and documentation about the types of biological and chemical samples that are used during a project, both to ensure that accurate records are kept and to ensure consistency in the project in terms of the materials and methods used.

Scientific curators often work in medical laboratories and biotechnological research facilities, and most often work directly with research scientists as part of a large team of people. They should have good organizational, written, and verbal communication skills; be able to work consistently with a high degree of accuracy; and have a strong background in using computers to store and organize information.

Microbiologist Career

Microbiologists study microscopic organisms, often with a focus on those that cause disease. They may specialize in different types of organisms, such as bacteria or viruses, or those that cause disease in humans, or are used for biotechnological applications.

In bioinformatics, the microbiologist focuses on studying the molecular level of these organisms, often to research how they cause disease in humans. This may involve activities such as growing bacteria in a laboratory, then extracting protein molecules from the bacteria to study them more closely. They may use a variety of different biological and computational processes and tools in their work.

Bioinformatic microbiologists should have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, be able to work with a high degree of accuracy, understand bioinformatics computer programs, and work well both independently and in a team. Microbiologists should be able to focus on the details of a project without losing sight of the big picture that directs their work.

Molecular Modeler Career

Molecular modeling is a branch of science in which scientists use theoretical models and computer software to mimic the behavior of molecules in order to determine how they interact in the natural world. Molecular modeling is a particularly important part of drug design, as scientists seek to understand how drugs work in the body, and how new drugs can be more effective.

Molecular modelers study the different parts of a single molecule, such as a synthetic drug or a human protein, to determine how it will interact in a given situation. Molecular modelers should have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, and be comfortable working with computers for the majority of their time. They should be able to work very accurately, and work well both independently and in a collaborative team.

Bioinformatics Software Developer

One branch of bioinformatics is the use of techniques that involve manipulating data via computers to solve complex biological problems. Bioinformatics software developers create the programs that are used to gather and organize scientific information. For example, they may create the computer programs that molecular modelers use in their work.

Bioinformatics software developers must integrate two types of knowledge: scientific knowledge (such as chemistry and biochemistry) and computer/technology knowledge. By integrating these two kinds of knowledge, they can create software tools that measure, store, retrieve, and organize data in specific ways.

Bioinformatics software developers must have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, and be familiar with several different computer languages as well as an array of software development tools. They should be able to work both independently and as part of a larger team.

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