Attend Bioinformatics Courses Geared at Mature Students
After attending bioinformatics courses, professionals have many options
in the field. For example, they may become Bioinformatics Analysts who
contribute to genomic sequencing projects and scientific analysis of the
data generated by those projects using a variety of bioinformatics
techniques and software applications. Their responsibilities may include
generating, annotating, and analyzing genomic data and preparing the
data for further research or publication. On the other hand, they may
also become bioinformatics software developers, bioinformatics research
technicians, application developers, software developers, database
developers who work in academic, government and industrial labs.
Bioinformatics professionals can also be utilized in the pharmaceutical,
agricultural and environmental industries and in all areas of
biotechnology. Recently, there has been a demand for professionals who
have completed bioinformatics courses.
Where exactly can one
train for these options? Centennial College’s Bioinformatics for
Software Professionals offers a year’s worth of bioinformatics courses
that are intensive, hands-on and problem-based, and result in a
post-degree bioinformatics certificate. This is beneficial as
Bioinformatics merges biology with information technology and computers.
As such, it uses the creation and advancement of databases, algorithms,
computational and statistical techniques and theory to solve formal and
practical problems arising from the management and analysis of
biological data. Much of the study level of the bioinformatics courses
in this program’s curriculum is beyond the bachelor’s degree.
Faculty
members who lead the bioinformatics courses in the program are
knowledgeable and approachable with diverse business experience and
academic credentials. They encourage a mature learning environment that
includes course homework, an individual research thesis and a co-op
component (which sees students working in the field during their last
semester), providing students with the unique skill set and training
that are in high demand in the field.
Specific bioinformatics
courses within the program include: Statistics and Data Analysis For
Bioinformatics (introductory course in bioinformatics data analysis
designed to provide a breadth of topical coverage. The main categories
of topics include statistical, stochastic and multi-dimensional
analysis); Bioinformatics Algorithms (students examine the major
algorithms used in bioinformatics and describe their underlying
principles. Through case-study analysis, students evaluate the practical
applications and limitations of current bioinformatics algorithms.
Students also demonstrate the role of optimization techniques and
dynamic programming techniques in bioinformatics); Database Design and
Biological Data Management (students design, utilize, and integrate
biological databases to facilitate novel approaches for biological data
management, retrieval and analysis. Students evaluate major database
implementation issues and demonstrate software project management
skills); and many others.
Past students who have completed all
of the bioinformatics courses at Centennial College have been hired by:
OICR, Ontario health network, Ontario hospitals and the provincial
government.
To attend Centennial College’s bioinformatics
courses, applicants must have completed an advanced diploma or
university degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or related
discipline. In addition, they must be prepared to offer proof of English
proficiency, a transcript as well as a resume.