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15-2099.01 - Bioinformatics Technicians


Apply principles and methods of bioinformatics to assist scientists in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer information science, biology and medical informatics. Apply bioinformatics tools to visualize, analyze, manipulate or interpret molecular data. May build and maintain databases for processing and analyzing genomic or other biological information.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
1,800
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
1,900
Estimate
Change in Employment
100.0
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+5.7%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Develop or maintain applications that process biologically based data into searchable databases for purposes of analysis, calculation, or presentation.
  • Enter or retrieve information from structural databases, protein sequence motif databases, mutation databases, genomic databases or gene expression databases.
  • Analyze or manipulate bioinformatics data using software packages, statistical applications, or data mining techniques.
  • Confer with researchers, clinicians, or information technology staff to determine data needs and programming requirements and to provide assistance with database-related research activities.
  • Create data management or error-checking procedures and user manuals.
  • Document all database changes, modifications, or problems.
  • Extend existing software programs, web-based interactive tools, or database queries as sequence management and analysis needs evolve.
  • Maintain awareness of new and emerging computational methods and technologies.
  • Participate in the preparation of reports or scientific publications.
  • Write computer programs or scripts to be used in querying databases.
  • Conduct quality analyses of data inputs and resulting analyses or predictions.
Supplemental
  • Monitor database performance and perform any necessary maintenance, upgrades, or repairs.
  • Design or implement web-based tools for querying large-scale biological databases.
  • Develop or apply data mining and machine learning algorithms.
  • Test new or updated software or tools and provide feedback to developers.
  • Train bioinformatics staff or researchers in the use of databases.
  • Confer with database users about project timelines and changes.
  • Package bioinformatics data for submission to public repositories.
  • Perform routine system administrative functions, such as troubleshooting, back-ups, or upgrades.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 95%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Mathematics
  • 90%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 English Language
  • 80%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Biology
  • 76%
    Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
 Design
  • 58%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 57%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Chemistry
  • 55%
    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
 Education and Training
  • 54%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Administration and Management
  • 54%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Clerical
  • 54%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 52%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Medicine and Dentistry
  • 51%
    Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Computers
  • Computer clusters
  • Computer workstation setups
  • Desktop computers
  • Network file servers
  • Web servers
 Nucleic acid extraction and purification and quantitation kits and components
  • High throughput screening HTS systems
 Spectroscopic equipment
  • Nuclear magnetic resonance NMR spectrometers
 Clinical and diagnostic analyzers and accessories and supplies
  • Semiconductor-based sequencers
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Content management software
  • Apache Subversion
  • GitHOT
 Development software
  • Atlassian BambooHOT
  • C
  • C++HOT
  • Hypertext markup language HTMLHOT
  • Jenkins CI
  • Oracle JavaHOT
  • Practical extraction and reporting language PerlHOT
  • PythonHOT
  • RHOT
  • RubyHOT
 Networking software
  • Avaya Identity Engines
 Industry specific software
  • Basic Local Alignment Search Tool BLAST
  • Bioconductor
  • Bowtie
  • Burrows-Wheeler Aligner BWA
  • ClustalW
  • Cufflinks
  • Data visualization software
  • Genome Analysis ToolKit GATK
  • GENSCAN
  • IBM SPSS StatisticsHOT
  • PHYLIP
  • SASHOT
  • The MathWorks MATLABHOT
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific Ion Reporter
  • TopHat
 Data management and query software
  • Customer relationship management CRM software
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Microsoft SQL ServerHOT
  • MySQLHOT
  • Oracle softwareHOT
  • Structured query language SQLHOT
 Finance accounting and enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareHOT
  • SAP softwareHOT
 Information exchange software
  • ESRI ArcGIS
  • Geographic information system GIS softwareHOT
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Operating environment software
  • LinuxHOT
  • Microsoft WindowsHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft VisioHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Word processing software
 Business function specific software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Microsoft SharePointHOT
 Network management software
  • Voice over internet protocol VoiP system softwareHOT
 Network applications software
  • Web browser software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
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J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
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Mountain Gateway Community College
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Northern Virginia Community College
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Virginia Peninsula Community College
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Wytheville Community College
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