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bioinformatics candidates are in demand.
24 Feb 2015

Bioinformatics-Making Sense of Big Data

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  • Bioinformatics – Making Sense of Big Data
  • Knowledge begets knowledge and demands that people cultivate specialized skill sets that allow them to access new frontiers. This is particularly true in the realm of genetic sequencing and protein folding. When Rosalind Franklin produced the first strikingly clear image of DNA in 1952, no one could have predicted that merely 51 years later we would have succeeded in mapping the entire human genome. Now, what can we do with the more than 20,000 sequences of base pairs that were discovered? Who can organize them into a database and make sense of it? How can scientists and doctors efficiently compare patient results to that database? What about mining huge amounts of patient data to find patterns and unlock the secret to particular diseases? We turn to the growing field of bioinformatics.
  • What is bioinformatics and how much is it worth?
  • The global bioinformatics market, valued at $2.9 billion in 2012 is expected to expand almost 21% CAGR over the course of 5 years to reach $7.5 billion by 2017 [1]. This growth is not solely due to the completion of the Human Genome Project as faster computer processing speeds and greater storage capacities have allowed us to gather unprecedented amounts of data across all disciplines. However, those with the greatest demand for interpretation are genomics, proteomics, and drug discovery institutions. It is also useful in the criminal justice system as DNA samples are cataloged and searched in databases. Bioinformatics scientists apply computer programing to biological problems. They write the databases and the software to analyze the data. As the amount of information increases there is a greater demand for innovative ways to interpret it.
  • A quick search of Indeed.com with the term “bioinformatics” returns around 1800 jobs in the United States. The annual salary ranges from $40,000 to $130,000, with about 320 jobs offering between $50,000 and $70,000, around 550 between $70,000-$90,000, and 630 above $90,000. Most of the offers are for Bioinformatics Scientists who have earned either a PhD or MS with equivalent experience. A Bachelor’s degree is also sufficient in many cases typically with titles containing analyst or engineer. A major requirement is having excellent computer programming skills in a handful of programming languages. In addition, a solid understanding of molecular biology and genetics is expected.
  • Who is filling these jobs?
  • In 2006 there were 91 universities in the United States that offered a degree in bioinformatics. Only 22 of these offered a BS degree and the rest were MS or PhD degrees [2]. The International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) maintains a list of degree programs around the world for bioinformatics and computational biology. Out of the colleges and universities that have notified the society of their program, 120 are currently located in the USA. Of these institutions, 19 offer BS degrees while the rest offer masters and doctoral education [3]. The most advanced courses in these programs encourage students to manage biological data by writing computer programs, asking critical scientific questions, and interpreting data to make new discoveries.
  • In 2014 Georgia Tech graduated 5 PhD and 4 MS students, while the University of California at Santa Cruz graduated 6 PhD and 2 MS students. Over the past 3 years, these two schools combined produced 69 graduates holding a MS degree or higher. Most of the MS graduates pursued a PhD at another institution. The graduates with doctorate degrees began careers at hospitals, research institutions, genomics startups, Google, and other companies built around biotechnology, software development, and drug discovery [2]. Due to the exploratory and developmental nature of the field, it is beneficial to complete a PhD level education.
  • When Bioinformatics Scientists work in hospitals, do they talk to clinicians to explain patient results?
  • Bioinformatics scientists typically don’t work directly with clinicians or patients. They tend to stay on the research and data management side of the equation. However, this doesn’t mean that there isn’t a place for bioinformatics in the clinic. There is a push to create a highly functional field of clinical bioinformatics. The goal is to create easy-to-use databases and computer search programs that clinicians can use to quickly search vast amounts of scientific literature and pull key ideas to help in making diagnoses and planning treatment. There could also be an algorithm that quickly matches biomarker data and links between genes, manifested disease, and drug development [4]. Such work would be very useful in bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, and could speed up the rate of new discoveries and advancements in treatment methodologies.
  • Some laboratories that process a large amount of human samples might find the need to hire a bioinformatics scientist to catalog and interpret the data. Many of these laboratories in the United States are CLIA certified, which means that they are regulated by a governmental organization called Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), through the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) guidelines. The purpose of this regulation is to ensure quality procedures that yield consistent and accurate results. This is important for clinicians to be able to provide proper diagnoses and treatments. As part of this federal program laboratories must hire personnel possessing the necessary education and experience for each position as outlined in subpart M of the code of federal regulations [5]. There are positions for people with a MD, PhD, MS, or BS degree in CLIA laboratories. An additional license may be required to work in a CLIA certified lab but it varies by state. Each state may be contacted for additional information about licensing procedures [6].
  • Do you need help finding a bioinformatics scientist, analyst, or engineer?
    • Connexis Search Group if you need help in finding the right person for the big data project at hand. With over 35 years of hiring experience and with 15  recruiters in the US, Connexis has the ability to find the employee you are looking for.
 
  • Article References
  •  
    1. “Bioinformatics Market by Sector.” Markets and Markets.com. Np., June 2013. Web. 13 Jan 2015. < http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/bioinformatics-39.html>.

         2.”Bioinformatics Programs in the United States.” UNC.edu. N.p., June 2006. Web. 13  Jan 2015.<http://ils.unc.edu/informatics_programs/doc/Bioinformatics_2006.html>

    1. International Society for Computational Biology. “ISCB listing of Degree/Certificate Programs Worldwide.” iSCB.org. N.p., 2014. Web. 13 Jan 2015.<https://www.iscb.org/iscb-degree-certificate-programs>.
    2. Bellazzi, R.,Masseroli, M., Murphy, S., Shabo, A., and Romano, P. “Clinical Bioinformatics: challenges and opportunities.” BMC Bioinformatics (2012)13(Suppl 14):S1. doi:10.1186/1471-2105-13-S14-S1

          5.”Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.” U.S. Government Publishing Office.   ECFR.gov. 13 Jan 2015.<http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx? SID=1248e3189da5e5f936e55315402bc38b&node=pt42.5.493&rgn=div5#sp42.5.493.m>.

    1. “Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA).” Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. CMS.gov., 15 Dec 2014. Web. 13 Jan 2015.<http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/CLIA/index.html>.
   

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