Bioinformatics Scientist

To become a Bioinformatics Scientist, there are many skills that you must possess such as being able to analyze data as well as having excellent computational skills. You must also be good at communicating both verbally as well as through written communication.

You must also have a good foundation in statistical laboratory testing methods and should be willing to work overtime to get all the work finished. Moreover, the interested individual should also have organizational skills and should be able to organize and interpret data. Their work also allows for no margin of error so they must be meticulous while working.

Bioinformatics Scientists are the people who identify the causes of plant, animal and human development and disease. They create the methods for incorporating their knowledge about genes so that other scientists can interpret and analyze the data.

Bioinformatics Scientists are also those people who design and apply databases that are used for analyzing large amounts of data. They research huge molecular datasets for the purpose of clinical research and collaborate with clinical and laboratory researchers to analyze problems, suggest solutions and put together strategies.

Bioinformatics Scientists also develop new software’s applications or improve on current applications to meet the needs of their research projects. Along with this, bioinformatics scientists also develop or create their own web based bioinformatics tools.
Moreover, Bioinformatics Scientists help with publishing the data that is found from research and use presentations to show their findings at conferences, seminars, scientific journals, lectures, meetings etc. They also instruct others in how to select and use bioinformatics tools.

Apart from these duties, bioinformatics scientists also coordinate with different departments such as Marketing, Operations and Business Development to coordinate product development or improvement.
Bioinformatics Scientists are also required to be up to date on all the new software’s, instruments and biochemistries by attending conferences and reading published literatures on these topics.

To become a bioinformatics scientist, the minimum degree that has to be obtained is a Masters degree in Bioinformatics, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Computational Biology, Computer Sciences or any other related field.

PhD degrees are also preferred for candidates to possess when considering who to hire for the job. Another advantage to have is 3-5 years of experience working in a laboratory or doing research work at a university or hospital.

The salary of a Bioinformatics Scientists ranges from between $40,000 and $108,000, with an annual median salary of $74,000 in the United States, providing that the individual has a minimum experience of 2-3 years in a relevant field. In terms of hourly wages, a bioinformatics scientist is paid $32 approximately.

In India, the salary for bioinformatics scientists is half of that in the United States. The salary usually ranges depending on the size of the business which is employing the individual as well as the country/state where the business is situated.

Bioinformatics Scientists usually work for private organizations, universities or the government conducting research and other tasks. They usually work regular hours however many spend long hours on the job completing their work. They may also be required to work on weekends or on evenings when a deadline is approaching or to solve problems.

Bioinformatics Scientists usually work through laptops or other electronic communication devices so that even if they are in a remote location, they are able to communicate with other researchers. Usually bioinformatics scientists are found in biotechnology firms, pharmaceutical companies, and medical diagnostic equipment companies.

The work is challenging and profitable and bioinformatics scientists enjoy what they do because there is variety in the work. They are required to work either at their desks or inside the laboratory. Travelling is also involved in this job.

The thrill of making something that would go down in history is considered one of the biggest perks of this field. Being able to change and make your own databases and researches is an enormous perk of the job. Along with this, the salary is quite large, making the work worthwhile.

The bioinformatics scientist also gets to travel to different countries or cities for his/her work, thus making it an attractive career to consider. There is a lot of self satisfaction that is gained from this career.

One of the biggest downsides is that very long hours are spent on the job which allow very little time for friends or family. Along with that, it takes many years before one can advance to a higher level in this field.

Bioinformatics Scientists must also gain many qualifications and training before they will be hired by an organization.

There is a lot of competition in this field because it is one of the fastest expanding sectors of the biotechnology sector today. There are hundreds of companies over the world hiring from the pool of candidates coming from the many universities and colleges that offer training for this field.

Because universities are constantly educating individuals about this field, there are many people that are competing for the same jobs. This has even caused salaries to decline in India and people being ready to work for a smaller amount of money.

India is the main bioinformatics hub of the world with cities like Bangalore, Dehli, Chennai, Pune and Hyderabad all strong in this field. Other areas of the world such as Washington D.C in the USA are also good places to find work.