Career in Bioinformation

Introduction

Bioinformatics integrates the Information Technology (IT) with Biological science especially Biotechnology (BT). This field is also referred as computational biology. The computers are used to gather, store, analyze and integrate biological and genetic information which can then be applied to gene-based drug discovery and development. The bioinformatics is applied in various fields like human health, environment, agriculture, biotechnology, energy, biomedical research and development. Bioinformatics plays a key role in various areas viz. functional genomics, structural genomics and proteomics. It is a key component in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector.

Scope

The scope of bioinformatics is in the areas like database design and maintenance, sequence assembly, proteomics, clinical pharmacology, sequence analysis, informatics developer and bio-analytics. Bioinformatics is full of opportunities. This sector has opened new career avenues however; the biggest opportunity is available in drug discovery sector. There is a huge demand for trained Bioinformaticians in USA, Europe, Australia, South-East Asia and India. However, availability of well-trained human resource in Bioinformatics is inadequate. Today, bioinformatics is a rapidly growing field all over the world. Therefore one can start a career in Bioinformatics and find employment opportunities in biotechnology, biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences, industries, hospitals and research institutions. 

Remuneration

The salary range depends on the experience, capabilities, level of expertise and performance. The in the field of bioinformatics the salaries could be anywhere from Rs 10,000 to 1.5 lakh per month.

Eligibility

A career in Bioinformatics is suitable for the graduates or post-graduates in genetics, chemistry, molecular biology, botany, zoology, microbiology, veterinary science, pharmacy, mathematics and physics. It is also suitable for IT professionals, engineers and medicos.

Employabilty Skills

  • Ability to make smart decisions.
  • Creativity
  • Ability to work hard and readiness to work for long hours.
  • Design skills
  • Ability to focus and concentrate
  • Logical thinking
  • Computer skills.
  • Flexibility and willingness to learn new things, technologies and ease adaption of new methodologies of work.
  • High intellectual capability.
  • Good problem-solving ability.
  • Mathematical precision.
  • Ability to unite scientific discoveries with commercial applications to solve the problems.
  • Ability to handle huge data base
  • Sound knowledge of biological processes and molecular biology.

Career test

If you record “Yes” for maximum questions then it indicates that you have potential for perusing career in the field of Bioinformatics.

  • Do I like to study living organisms?
  • Do I have interest in chemistry?
  • Do I have ability to work independently?
  •  Do I have analysing and interpreting skills?
  • Do I draw some positive conclusions and reasons out of it?
  • Do I read latest scientific news, books and research magazines?
  •  Do I have a creative mind and deep thinking?
  • Do I study for 10-12 hours per day as normal routine?
  • Am I ready to learn and adopt new techniques?
  • Do I have high intellectual capability?
  • Do I have ability to focus and concentrate?
  • Do I have Logical thinking?
  • Do I have mathematical precision?
  •  Do I have good computer skills?
  • Do I have ability to handle enormous amount of data?
  • Do I have design skills?
  • Do I have ability to carry out statistical analysis?
  •  Do I have problem solving ability?
  • Do I have ability to unite scientific discoveries with commercial applications to solve the problems?

Career opportunities

  • Pharmaceutical companies.
  • Research institutes
  • Colleges and Universities.
  • Biotechnological institues
  • Biotech industries.

Job options

  • Bio-analytics.
  • Database designer.
  • Informatics developer.
  • Marketing Executive for marketing of informatics services.
  • Integrated research application service provider.
  • Providers of data base services, discovery software and integrated research applications.
  • Software developers.- Micro array analysis, database software, sequence analysis, visualization software, array management and testing in silico.
  • Assistant Professor/Associate Professor/Professor- Colleges and Universities.
  • Scientist, research associate, research assistant and technician in government setup and private research laboratories.

  Self-employment: A lot of investment for starting the self-employment in the field of bioinformatics.

  • Data entry firm service, database service provider firm and software developer firm.
  • Consultancy firm for Bioinformatics. 
  • Biotechnology-Bioinformatics patent filing firm.  

Employers

  • Bangalore based companies: Bigtec, CytoGenomics, Genotypic, Jalaja Technologyis, Infosys, IBM India, Strand Genomics and many more.
  • Hyderabad based companies: BioMed Informatics, GVK Biosciences, Caliber Technologies, Bijam Biosciences, BioMakro, Helix Genomics, Molecular Connections, TCS, Ocimum Biosolutions  and many more.
  • Pune based companies: Persistent Systems Pvt Ltd. 
  • Gurgaon based companies: Premas Biotech Pvt Ltd., Jubilant Biosys, Ocimumbio, Accelrys, IBM India, BioMed Informatics and many more.

Courses

Courses after 12th std

  • B Sc (Biotechnology and Bioinformatics) Eligibility: 10+2 or its equivalent. Centre: SRM University, Chennai. Further details: www.srmuniv.ac.in
  • B.Sc (Bioinformatics) Eligibility: 10+2 or its equivalent. Centre: North Orissa University. 
  • B.Tech (Bioinformatics) Centres: Amity Institute of Biotechnology. Further details:www.amity.edu  

Courses after Graduation

  • M.Sc (Bioinformatics) Eligibility: Bachelor's degree in Science Duration: 2 years Total no. of seats: 30 Admission: Entrance Test. http://bioinfo.ernet.in Bioinformatics Centre, University of Pune, Pune. .
  • M.Sc (Bioinformatics) Eligibility: B.Sc. Duration : 2 years. Centre: Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi. www.jmi.nic.in
  • M.Sc (Bio-informatics & BioPhysics) Eligibility: B.Sc : 2 years Address: Calcutta University, Kolkata www.caluniv.ac.in
  • M Sc (Biotechnology and Bioinformatics) Eligibility: B Sc. (in any Life science discipline), B Pharm and Medicine. Centre address: SRM University, Chennai www.srmuniv.ac.in
  • Postgraduate course in Bioinformatics. Centre: Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bangalore. Bangalore www.ibab.ac.in
  • M.Tech in Bioinformatics Eligibility: Candidates having B.E/ B.Tech/ M.Sc/ B.Pharm. or Degree in any Engineering & Science discipline followed by a GATE score in respective disciplines Duration: 4 semesters Admission: GATE qualified.Centre: Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad  http://bi.iiita.ac.in
  • Certificate course in Bioinformatics:Duration: 3 Months / (220 contact hours) Eligibility: B.Sc./M.Sc. in Biological Science. http://www.rishibiotech.com
  • Advanced Certificate course in Bioinformatics: Duration: 6 Months/ (440 Contact hours) Eligibility: B.Sc./M.Sc. (all Disciplines of Life Sciences) or B.E./B.Tech. (Chemical/Biotech/Computer Science) or M.C.A or B.Pharma/M.Pharma. Further details: http://www.rishibiotech.com
  • Diploma in Bioinformatics Duration: One Year/ (660 contact hours) Eligibility: Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Science, Medical Science, Pharmacy, Agriculture, Further details: http://www.rishibiotech.com

 Courses after Post-graduation

  •  Advanced Diploma in Bioinformatics Eligibility: M.Sc. in any branch of Biological Sciences Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai School of Biotechnology, Madurai, Tamil nadu. www.mkuniversity.org
  • Advanced Post Graduate Diploma in Bioinformatics Eligibility: M.Sc. in any branch of Biological Sciences or MBBS with first class. Duration: 1 year Admission: All India Entrance Test and Interview. Centre: Pondicherry University, Pondicherry Bioinformatics Centre www.bicpu.edu.in

Some other courses- Certificate courses/Diploma/Advance Diploma in Bioinformatics

  • Advance diploma in bioinformatics, Pune university, Pune. Further details: www.bioinfo.ernet.in
  • Certificate program-Masters level Program, Ocimum BioSolutions India. Further details: www.ocimumbiosolutions.com
  • Advanced Post graduate Diploma Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamilnadu. 
  • Post-Graduate Advanced Diploma in Bioinformatics, University of Hyderabad. 
  • Advanced Post Graduate Diploma in Bioinformatics Pondicherry University Further details:
  • Postgraduate diploma in bioinformatics offered jointly by IGIB & informatics 
  • M.Tech Bioinformatics Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) at Allahabad.
  • M.Sc. Bioinformatics Periyar University. 
  • M.Tech. Bioinformatics University of Hyderabad 
  • M.Sc. Bioinformatics University of Madras

  Ph.D. (Bioinformatics) is available in following institutes:

  Distance courses/correspondence courses in bioinformatics

  •   M.Sc. Bioinformatics Eligibility: MSc / BSc in Life Science  Centre: Sikkim Manipal University.  

 

Important Institutes

Caution:

  • There are many biotechnological institutes are mushrooming. Many of them are intended to earn money.
  • Parents should select those institutes which have well academic and placement record.
  • They should check the affiliation of the institute.
  • Try to get more information from the past students of that institute.
  • Should get the syllabus.
  • They should see the laboratory facilities.
  • They should be aware of fake and money extracting institutes. 

Examinations

  • Advance Diploma in Bioinformatics: Further details: http://bioinfo.ernet.in
  • M.Sc (Bioinformatics) at Jamila Millia Islamia University, New Delhi For further details: www.jmi.nic.in
  • Advance Diploma in Bioinformatics at Madurai Kamaraj University, School of Biotechnology. www.mkuniversity.org
  • Advance Diploma in Bioinformatics, Calcutta University, Kolkata. Further details: www.caluniv.ac.in
  • Advance Postgraduate Diploma in Pondicherry University, Pondicherry Further details: www.pondiuni.org 
  • M.Tech. in Information Technology (Bioinformatics) at Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad (Deemed University) Allahabad. Further details: www.iiita.ac.in
  • M.Tech in Bioinformatics at University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad Further details: www.uohyd.ernet.in

Abroad opportunities

Important links for Scholarships, fellowships and jobs in Bioinformatics