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Bioinformatics

What is bioinformatics?
Bioinformatics – also known as computational biology – is a cross-disciplinary field that marries computer science, mathematics, and biology. A milestone was reached in 2003 when the 13-year Human Genome Project, an international scientific research project, was completed. It is now possible to sequence an entire human genome in less than a week, and genomic medicine is quickly becoming part of standard medical care. In the past decade, the genomes of 123 eukaryotic species (rice, maze, mouse, chicken, etc.) and more than 958 bacterial species were sequenced. The flood of biological information generated by these projects spawned a new field of biology: bioinformatics.

Is bioinformatics right for you?
Bioinformatics is an excellent field of study if you enjoy investigative challenges and work well independently. Bioinformatics scientists work in government, academic, and commercial settings, in fields such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer information science, biology, and medical informatics. Bioinformatics scientists conduct research using bioinformatics theory and methods, analyze genomic data, and develop application specific software. Some other things bioinformatics scientists do:

  • Design databases and develop algorithms for processing and analyzing genomic or other biological information
  • Consult with researchers to analyze problems, recommend technology-based solutions, or determine computational strategies
  • Communicate research results through conference presentations, scientific publications, or project reports

Career outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer and information research scientists earn a median pay of $136,620 per year.

Offered: On campus

Be inspired . . . earn your bioinformatics degree

One of a kind
Our bioinformatics and computational biology program is the only undergraduate program of its kind in a five-state area. Our primary goal is to prepare students for careers as bioinformatics scientists. Graduates will also be well prepared for advanced studies in computational science, biology, and computational biology.
Learn with us
The bioinformatics major includes coursework in chemistry, biology, bioinformatics, computer science, and mathematics. Students who complete a biology major can earn a bioinformatics minor by taking required mathematics, computer science, and bioinformatics courses.
Employment outlook
The demand for bioinformatics specialists is high and predicted to grow at a rate of 14% to 19%. Creation, curation, and management of biological information databases represents the largest segment of the market, while the analytical software segment posts the fastest gains.
Experienced faculty
Our faculty is on the cutting edge of genomics and bioinformatics research. Their areas of expertise and research include:
  • Phylogenetic analysis, design and production of DNA microarrays
  • Genomic analysis of bacteria and bacterial populations (metagenomics)
  • Development and application of distributed computing platforms to bioinformatics problems

Accreditation
Minot State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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