University of Pittsburgh | School of Arts and Sciences | Department of Biological Sciences

 
 
BIOINFORMATICS CAREERS

General Information
• Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that incorporates computer science and biology to
research, develop, and apply computational tools and approaches to manage and process large sets
of biological data.
• The Bioinformatics career focuses on creating software tools to store, manage, interpret, and analyze
data at the genome, proteome, transcriptome, and metabalome levels. Primary investigations consist
of integrating information from DNA and protein sequences and protein structure and function.
• Bioinformatics jobs exist in biomedical, molecular medicine, energy development, biotechnology,
environmental restoration, homeland security, forensic investigations, agricultural, and animal science
fields.
• Most bioinformatics jobs require a Bachelor’s degree. Post-grad programs, University level teaching &
research, and administrative positions require a graduate degree.

The following list provides a brief sample of responsibilities, employers, jobs, and industries for individuals with
a degree in this major. This is by no means an exhaustive listing, but is simply designed to give initial insight
into a particular career field that would employ the skills and knowledge gained through this major.

Areas Employers
Environmental/Government • BLM • Private
• Sequence genomes of bacteria useful in energy production, • DOE Contractors
environmental cleanup, industrial processing, and toxic waste • EPA • National Parks
reduction. • NOAA • State Wildlife
• Examination of genomes dependent on carbon sources to address • USDA Agencies
climate change concerns. • USFS • Army Corp of
• Sequence genomes of plants and animals to produce stronger, • USFWS Engineers
resistant crops and healthier livestock. • USGS
• Transfer genes into plants to improve nutritional quality.
Industrial • DOD
• Study the genetic material of microbes and isolate the genes that give • DOE
them their unique abilities to survive under extreme conditions. • NIH, NCI
• Genetic sequencing of Bio-produced amino acids as an alternate • Military Services
protein source. • Food & Drug Administration
• Examination of physiology and genetic make-up of bacteria critical to • U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
manufacturing diary products, alcohol, and fermented foods. • Food & Beverage Suppliers
• Identifying genetic markers for detecting pathogenic strains to prevent
infections.
• Utilize genomic data to engineer bioweapons and develop response
plans.
Information Technology • DOD
• Develop software programs to detect homologous sequences. • NIH
• Compare protein sequences among protein databases to determine • Computer Science Depts.
biochemical function of specific proteins. • Research facilities
• Global distribution of software tools to the scientific research
community.

 
Biological Sciences Advising | A258 Langley | 412-624-4273 | [email protected] | www  /www.biology.pitt.edu/
 
 University of Pittsburgh | School of Arts and Sciences | Department of Biological Sciences
 
 

• Identification of evolutionary processes, mutations, hydropathy

regions, and compositional biases.

Medical/Pharmaceutical • NIH
• Genome examination of heredity disease response to environmental • Clinics, Hospitals
or medicinal influences to prescribe effective drug therapy. • Research Universities
• Use computational tools to identify and validate new drug targets. • Pharmaceutical Companies
• Develop diagnostic tests to measure an individual’s susceptibility to • Department of Health and Human
various diseases. Services
• Manage laboratory information, improve medical records systems
and document clinical trial records for regulatory agencies.
Research Labs • CDC
• Design computer algorithms to help analyze and understand DNA & • NHGRI
other complex molecules. • Hospitals
• Research and determine chemical action of substances, such as • Health Dept.
drugs, serums, hormones, and food on tissues and vital processes. • Private Companies
• Genetic sequencing of eukaryota, bacteria, and archaea to determine • Research Universities & Institutions
an evolutionary structural, functional, and comparative analysis of
genes and genomes from various organisms.
Teaching • Community Colleges
• Lecture about the systems and advances in bioinformatics. • Computer Science Depts.
• Conduct bioinformatics research, write grants and publications, and • Universities, Public Health Schools
teach/train students.
 

Job Titles Industries  

Agriculturist   Academia  
Bioinformatics  analyst,  engineer,  programmer   Agriculture  
Biologist  (Env.,  fisheries,  plant,  marine)   Biotechnology    
Biomedical  researcher   Commercial  medical  labs  
Biophysicist,  biotechnologist   Consulting  
Biostatistician   Environmental,  Food  engineering    
Clinical  lab  tech   Government  
Computational  biologist   Healthcare    
Epidemiologist   Hospitals  
Geneticist,  Gen.  Engineer   Independent  research  foundations  
Medical  illustrator,  technologist     Medical  Research  Lab    
Physician   Manufacturing    
Professor   Military    
Research  specialist,  tech   Pharmaceutical    
Software  programmer,  development  specialist   Private  companies  
Technician   Regulatory  agencies  
Technical  writer   Research  &  Development  
References:    
http://www.ebi.ac.uk/2can/bioinformatics/bioinf_what_1.html  
http://www.ebi.ac.uk/luscombe/docs/mim-­‐review.pdf  
http://bioinformaticstools.webs.com/definitions.htm  
 

 
Biological Sciences Advising | A258 Langley | 412-624-4273 | [email protected] | www  /www.biology.pitt.edu/