Bioinformatics
What is Bioinformatics?
Bioinformatics involves the use of computers to process large amounts biological information, usually molecular or genetic data. It is a new and rapidly growing field that has resulted from revolutions in both biology and computer science.
The Human Genome Project is probably the most well-known bioinformatics project in the world. However there are many other aspects to the field and it has diverse applications in biodiversity, medicine, agriculture and biotechnology.
University of Canterbury offers a number courses in the field of bioinformatics.
Careers in Bioinformatics.
It is an exciting time for bioinformatics, and opportunities in the field continue to grow every year. The demand for skilled people (and salaries) is very high worldwide.
Most bioinformatics practitioners work in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies in New Zealand and overseas. There are also opportunities within academic and research institutions to do more fundamental scientific research. Careers in bioinformatics may involve diverse applications including: drug design, immunology and medical applications, forensics, and molecular evolution and population biology.