Biophysics, Cheminformatics, Bioinformatics?

College Majors Science Majors
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I’m an undergraduate Comp Sci major looking at available options for graduate programs and careers with an interdisciplinary twist. Also, I’m trying to filter for choices with a good job outlook and a nice salary.</p>

<p>I love computer science, and I like fields of study that approach other subjects with a computational bent. When I saw that my school (noted more for its biology than its CS by margins) has a Biotechnology major, with a Bioinformatics emphasis as a choice, I became excited since I was already going to take first level Bio and Chem next quarter. This sounds like a nice field to look into.</p>

<p>My confusion comes when looking at careers involving Bioinformatics. Is it a specific career path in itself? Or, is it just a skill/tool learned by people in Biophysics, Biochemistry, and Medical Research?</p>

<p>What does it mean when the Occupational Outlook Handbook says:</p>

<p>"[Biophysicists] perform research in fields such as neuroscience or bioinformatics (the use of computers to process biological information, usually at the molecular level). "</p>

<p>[Biological</a> Scientists](<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos047.htm]Biological”>http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos047.htm)</p>

<p>Also, is there a difference between Biotechnicians and people who work in the fields listed in my subject header? This site causes me to think they are linked somehow:</p>

<p>[What</a> is Bioinformatics: Bioinformatics Definitions, biophysics, Cheminformatics, Computational Biology, Genomics, Medical informatics, Medinformatics, Pharmacogenetics, Pharmacogenomics, Proteomics, Structual Bioinformatics](<a href=“http://www.colorbasepair.com/what_is_bioinformatics.html]What”>>What is Bioinformatics: Bioinformatics Definitions, biophysics, Cheminformatics, Computational Biology, Genomics, Medical informatics, Medinformatics, Pharmacogenetics, Pharmacogenomics, Proteomics, Structual Bioinformatics)</p>

<p>If I majored in Biotechnology with a Bioinformatics emphasis, what difference in masters and post-doctoral education would distinguish me between the (from what I’ve seen on certain sites) low-paying Biotechs and the six-figure Biophysicists?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>One quick point before I launch into a diatribe, you are confusing biological technician and biotechnology. Biotechnician isn’t a word.</p>

<p>If you are screening out career tracks based on salary and job outlook, you might want to consider other areas of computer science. Bioinformatics is a skillset that lots of different types of scientists use. Some people specialize in it at the expense of being an expert in a specific subject matter. At this point in time, virtually every graduate student has to have some training in bioinformatics. </p>

<p>After undergrad, you can jump right into a technician position if you like. The salary on these positions are low but the training opportunity is terrific. There are individuals who remain life long techs, but this isn’t that common. After a couple years as a tech, or right out of undergrad, people start Phd programs.</p>

<p>There are graduate programs specifically for bioinformatics training. These programs see incredible competition for spots, well above and beyond departments like genomics or genetics. The programs will often farm out their grad students to labs in other departments that have projects that may be helped along by someone with lots of computer experience.</p>

<p>Post doc positions are pretty analogous to those of all biological scientists. The pay is dictated by NIH (38K per year to start) with a 7 year time limit on how long you can remain a postdoc. </p>

<p>Bioinformatics specialists find jobs at companies and universities the same way that all scientists do. The 6 figure salaries you mentioned are reserved for late stage career or leadership in any of the sectors.</p>

<p>Bioinformatics is certainly a skillset that is as useful as any other in biochemistry, molecular biology and so on, but it is unique in that the graduate programs face stiffer competition because any old hack who is sick of working in IT can apply.</p>

3

<p>That clears up most of my confusion. Thank you for the quick and informative reply.</p>

<p>In my defense, I got the word “Biotechnician” from the below website, which probably has nothing to do with what I was searching for. The mention of “computer skills” tricked me into thinking there was a correlation.</p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href=“http://www.biohealthmatics.com/careers/PID00246.aspx]Biotechnician[/url”&gt;http://www.biohealthmatics.com/careers/PID00246.aspx]Biotechnician[/url</a>]</p>

<p>I believe you’re right when you say there are more profitable areas in CS, but I also think Biotechnology (with a Bioinformatics emphasis) would make a nice double major with what I’m doing now. I’m already taking some of its required classes anyway.</p>

<p>Actually, I have another question about an area of CS work I’ve been thinking about for a while now. That is, the whole AI, Cognitive Science, and NLP side of everything. I’ve been very intrigued by the brain ever since I read GEB. </p>

<p>I guess what I want to ask is, I know that there are graduate programs devoted to all three of those fields, but what kind of careers could I expect after getting out of them? As you might be able to guess, I’m trying to balance interest with practicality (or, monetary benefit if you prefer ^^; ).</p>

4

<p>I am an undergraduate Computer Science and now i am looking for post graduate
My confusion comes when looking at careers involving Bioinformatics.Bioinformatics has a great scope and it is study related to both computer and science Is it a specific career path in itself? Or, is it just a tool or skill learned by people in Biophysics, Biochemistry, and Medical Research?please anyone help to choose my bright carrier.</p>

<p>[Welcome</a> to the GeneByte](<a href=“http://www.genebyte.firm.in/]Welcome”>http://www.genebyte.firm.in/)</p>