Graduate Opportunities in Bioinformatics

1
Graduate Opportunities in Bioinformatics

• By Tristan Butterfield
• Alternative Career Presentation
• Senior Seminar, 25.10.2005

2
Biowhat?

• Bioinformatics is a sub-field of the Biological
  Sciences
• Bioinformatics is highly interdisciplinary and
  draws upon the following areas of study to solve
  biological problems
• Applied Mathematics
• Statistics
• Computer Science
• Also referred to as Computational Biology

3

• The Emergence Of Bioinformatics
• With the discovery of DNA came a desire among
  biologists to understand how genetic structure
  affects the biological traits of organisms
• Sequencing is not sufficient (95 of human genome
  is junk DNA)
• Genes must be identified and correlated with the
  functions of their corresponding proteins
• Biological phenomena must then be linked to
  protein identity, structure, and genomic origin

4

• The Human Genome Project (HGP)
• 15-year project started in 1986 to sequence the
  human genome and identify all relevant genes
• The human genome consists of 3 billion base pairs
  and roughly 25,000 genes (gene identification is
  still under progress)
• Obviously, the amount of data produced by the HGP
  is immense!
• As a result, powerful new data management and
  analysis methods were developed
• These methods were precursors to current research
  in bioinformatics

5

• Recent progress in several sub-fields of biology
  is resulting in a boom in database size and
  complexity
• Consequently, there is a great need in many areas
  of biology for efficient database management and
  new computer-based analytical techniques
• In practice, bioinformaticians manage and analyze
  large biological databases using a combination of
  their knowledge of computer science, statistics,
  and biology

6
Current Problems in Bioinformatics

• Sequence alignment
• Gene finding
• Genome assembly
• Protein structure alignment
• Prediction of Gene expression
• Protein-protein interactions
• Modeling of evolution

DNA Microarray 57,000 Sites

• Example Problem Gene Expression

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Graduate Studies

• Because bioinformatics requires knowledge of
  biology, statistics, and computer science, many
  graduate students must fill in the holes in their
  education during the first 1-2 years of grad
  school
• There are no departments of bioinformatics
• Research in bioinformatics typically takes place
  within the context of a group dedicated to
  molecular biology, genetics, or biochemistry
• Degree programs in bioinformatics are plentiful,
  but because we, as physics majors, are lacking
  academic preparation for graduate work in this
  area, the first step to becoming involved is to
  contact the bioinformatics group here at ND

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Bioinformaticians _at_ ND

• Frank H. Collins (Professor of Biology)
• Research focuses on the genetics of arthropod
  (mosquitoes) vectors of human pathogens
• Robert Bruggner, Graduate Student for Collins
• ND Undergraduate, Computer Science
• Had no prior Biology education
• Enrolled in the molecular biology curriculum
• Current research
• 1. Write programs for gene prediction
• 2. Create computer system to manage online
  biological data library
• Contact Collins, 313 Galvin Bruggner,
  325 Galvin

9
Graduate Study Elsewhere

• Molecular Biology Rankings
• Harvard
• Stanford
• MIT
• Berkeley
• Johns Hopkins

• Princeton, UC San Fransisco
• Cal Tech
• Yale
• Texas SW, Medcenter-Dallas, Wisconsin, Washington
  University

• Full List of Programs http//ils.unc.edu/bmh/bio
  info/Bioinformatics_Programs_Brief_12-14-04.htm
• Useful Site Provided by UCSC http//www.soe.ucsc.
  edu/programs/bioinformatics/graduate/faq.html

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Career Opportunities

• Opportunities not just limited to academia and
  teaching the biotech boom created a huge demand
  for computer science professionals with an
  understanding of biological systems
• Potential employers include both large
  corporations and small bio-boutiques
• Online Employment Resources
• International Society for Computational Biology,
  job listings biotech find bioplanet
  BioSpace Career Center jobsearchtech bio.com
  career center Hire bio Canadian
  bioinformatics jobs

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Conclusions

• Bioinformatics is a multi-disciplinary, highly
  collaborative field of study which relies on
  knowledge of biology, statistics, applied
  mathematics, and computer science
• There are many degree programs but, as students
  with a background in physics, we should expect
  degree completion to take a bit longer than usual
• Job opportunities are more than plentiful for
  qualified applicants (extremely good salary)

12
References

• Private Communication. Sharon Graw, Asst.
  Research Professor, Eleanor Roosevelt Institute
  and University of Denver, 23.10.2005.
• Private Communication. Robert Bruggner, Graduate
  Student, University of Notre Dame, 24.10.2005.
• ltwww.wikipedia.orggt
• lthttp//www.soe.ucsc.edu/programs/bioinformatics/g
  raduate/gt