Bioinformatics? (computer science, degree, school, program)

[KarlaT2]

Just curious if anyone here knew anything about this degree? I've been going back and forth between Biology and Environmental science, but recently saw this degree and thought it looked interesting since I also like genetics and computer science. There don't seem to be many that offer it here in California/Oregon area. Do you guys think it's a good field? For an older non-traditional student?

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by KarlaT2

Just curious if anyone here knew anything about this degree? I've been going back and forth between Biology and Environmental science, but recently saw this degree and thought it looked interesting since I also like genetics and computer science. There don't seem to be many that offer it here in California/Oregon area. Do you guys think it's a good field? For an older non-traditional student?

I am considering this as a possible choice of study in grad school and personally I believe that bioinformatics is an excellent field to work in and will become more in-demand in the future. The downside, if you want to think along such lines, is that most bioinformatic programs are at the grad school level and require higher levels of math - through linear algebra at most - as well as proficiency in C++ and usually Perl.

I don't think that there are any programs in Oregon, but there are plenty in California. A program may not be labeled as bioinformatics, so be on the look-out for program titles such as: Computational Biology, Genomics, Informational Biology, and the like. If you can't find a specific program, but still have desire to work in this field, you can also gain entry by studying mathematics (with a heavy dose of statistics), information resource, and of course, programming languages.

Whether it is a good choice for non-traditional students or not all depends on the individual. Just be prepared to take some pretty hard-core classes.

[KarlaT2]

Originally Posted by K-Luv

I am considering this as a possible choice of study in grad school and personally I believe that bioinformatics is an excellent field to work in and will become more in-demand in the future. The downside, if you want to think along such lines, is that most bioinformatic programs are at the grad school level and require higher levels of math - through linear algebra at most - as well as proficiency in C++ and usually Perl.

I don't think that there are any programs in Oregon, but there are plenty in California. A program may not be labeled as bioinformatics, so be on the look-out for program titles such as: Computational Biology, Genomics, Informational Biology, and the like. If you can't find a specific program, but still have desire to work in this field, you can also gain entry by studying mathematics (with a heavy dose of statistics), information resource, and of course, programming languages.

Whether it is a good choice for non-traditional students or not all depends on the individual. Just be prepared to take some pretty hard-core classes.

Thanks very much for the info. It does sound very interesting, but very challenging as well. I'm thinking of taking a C++ programming class just to see how I like that. I have the same problem I had when I was younger. Too many interesting majors, and hard to narrow it down to one. This one sounded good since it combined a couple of my interests.
Where are you thinking of going? I saw UC Santa Cruz here in CA had a program for that. UC Davis has genetics, though not sure if that would be along same line.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by KarlaT2

Thanks very much for the info. It does sound very interesting, but very challenging as well. I'm thinking of taking a C++ programming class just to see how I like that. I have the same problem I had when I was younger. Too many interesting majors, and hard to narrow it down to one. This one sounded good since it combined a couple of my interests.
Where are you thinking of going? I saw UC Santa Cruz here in CA had a program for that. UC Davis has genetics, though not sure if that would be along same line.

I was raised in Sacramento, and I am not willing to go back to that neck of the woods. Maybe in a few years...Anyways, I looked at UCSC, UCB, and UCD. I would like UCD, but I would not like living in Davis, even though friends and family still live in Sacramento. I also do not want to live in the East Bay nor have to deal with commuting to UCB. UCSC is in my ideal location, but I dunno, my current plan is to stay on the East Coast and if I do, then I am going to apply to Harvard, UNH, MIT, BU, BC, possibly Brown, and possibly others. Like you, I have many interests, but I ultimately want to work with some aspect of oceanography.