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Career Details

19-1029.01 - Bioinformatics Scientists


Conduct research using bioinformatics theory and methods in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer information science, biology and medical informatics. May design databases and develop algorithms for processing and analyzing genomic information, or other biological information.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
36,400
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
36,200
Estimate
Change in Employment
-200.0
Estimate
Change in Employment %
-0.4%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Keep abreast of new biochemistries, instrumentation, or software by reading scientific literature and attending professional conferences.
  • Provide statistical and computational tools for biologically based activities, such as genetic analysis, measurement of gene expression, or gene function determination.
  • Direct the work of technicians and information technology staff applying bioinformatics tools or applications in areas such as proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, or clinical bioinformatics.
  • Develop new software applications or customize existing applications to meet specific scientific project needs.
  • Develop data models and databases.
  • Create or modify web-based bioinformatics tools.
  • Design and apply bioinformatics algorithms including unsupervised and supervised machine learning, dynamic programming, or graphic algorithms.
  • Create novel computational approaches and analytical tools as required by research goals.
  • Compile data for use in activities, such as gene expression profiling, genome annotation, or structural bioinformatics.
  • Communicate research results through conference presentations, scientific publications, or project reports.
  • Manipulate publicly accessible, commercial, or proprietary genomic, proteomic, or post-genomic databases.
  • Consult with researchers to analyze problems, recommend technology-based solutions, or determine computational strategies.
  • Analyze large molecular datasets, such as raw microarray data, genomic sequence data, or proteomics data, for clinical or basic research purposes.
Supplemental
  • Recommend new systems and processes to improve operations.
  • Confer with departments, such as marketing, business development, or operations, to coordinate product development or improvement.
  • Collaborate with software developers in the development and modification of commercial bioinformatics software.
  • Test new and updated bioinformatics tools and software.
  • Prepare summary statistics of information regarding human genomes.
  • Instruct others in the selection and use of bioinformatics tools.
  • Improve user interfaces to bioinformatics software and databases.
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.
 Biology
  • 97%
    Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 92%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Mathematics
  • 87%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 English Language
  • 84%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Chemistry
  • 71%
    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
  • 66%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Clerical
  • 62%
    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.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 58%
    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.
 Communications and Media
  • 53%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 52%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Physics
  • 52%
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
 Administration and Management
  • 50%
    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.
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.
 Computer data input devices
  • Computer data input scanners
 Computer printers
  • Computer laser printers
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
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.
 Industry specific software
  • Accelrys Pipeline Pilot
  • Bioconductor
  • Biomatters Geneious
  • BioPerl
  • BLAT
  • Bowtie
  • BWA
  • Celera Assembler
  • ClustalW
  • Cufflinks
  • Cytel StatXact
  • Data visualization software
  • dbSNP
  • DNA sequencing software
  • ENSEMBL
  • GenBank
  • Genedata Expressionist
  • GenePattern
  • Genome Analysis Toolkit GATK
  • IBM SPSS StatisticsHOT
  • Illumina Laboratory Information Management System LIMS
  • Life Technologies SOLiD
  • Life Technologies Vector NTI
  • NCBI RefSeq
  • Primer3
  • Public genomic databases
  • RNA sequencing software
  • Roche 454 Life Sciences GS Data Analysis
  • SASHOT
  • StataCorp Stata
  • The MathWorks MATLABHOT
  • Tibco S-PLUS
  • TopHat
  • Velvet
 Data management and query software
  • Amazon Web Services AWS softwareHOT
  • Apache Accumulo
  • Apache HadoopHOT
  • Apache Webserver
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Microsoft SQL ServerHOT
  • MySQLHOT
  • NoSQLHOT
  • Oracle PL/SQLHOT
  • Oracle softwareHOT
  • PostgreSQLHOT
  • Relational database management softwareHOT
  • Salesforce softwareHOT
  • Structured query language SQLHOT
  • TableauHOT
  • Teradata software
  • TIBCO Spotfire S+
 Development software
  • Apache GroovyHOT
  • C
  • C++HOT
  • DjangoHOT
  • Extensible markup language XMLHOT
  • Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
  • Hypertext markup language HTMLHOT
  • JavaScriptHOT
  • JavaScript Object Notation JSONHOT
  • jQueryHOT
  • Microsoft Active Server Pages ASPHOT
  • Microsoft AzureHOT
  • Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRS
  • Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBAHOT
  • Microsoft Visual C#
  • Object oriented development environment software
  • Oracle JavaHOT
  • Oracle JavaServer Pages JSPHOT
  • PHP: Hypertext PreprocessorHOT
  • Practical extraction and reporting language PerlHOT
  • PythonHOT
  • RHOT
  • RubyHOT
  • ScalaHOT
  • Software development tools
  • User interface design software
 Operating environment software
  • BashHOT
  • LinuxHOT
  • Microsoft operating system
  • Shell scriptHOT
  • UNIXHOT
 Network applications software
  • GitHubHOT
  • Web browser software
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Word processing software
 Business function specific software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Microsoft SharePointHOT
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.
 Core
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
PROGRAMS
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Mountain Gateway Community College
Northern Virginia Community College
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Wytheville Community College