BINF Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bioinformatics?

Bioinformatics is the use of computers and statistics to make sense out of the huge mounds of data that are accumulating from high-throughput biological and chemical experiments, such as sequencing of whole genomes, DNA microarray chips, two-hybrid experiments, and tandem mass spectrometry.

There are three different approaches to bioinformatics:

• Tool Building

  Creating new programs and methods for analyzing and organizing data. This is where our graduate program is focused.

• Tool Using

  Using existing programs and data to answer biologically interesting questions. We believe that this type of bioinformatics does not need a separate degree, but should be part of every new biologist's training.

• Tool Maintenance

  Setting up databases, translating biologists' questions into ones that programs can answer, keeping the tools working and the databases up to date. The undergraduate program prepares students for this role in industry, as well as for going into graduate school.

This page has an excellent collection of pointers addressing the definition of Bioinformatics:

• What is Bioinformatics?

These articles describe some of our programs and areas of research:

• An overview of many of our research projects.
• “Engineering school offers new major in bioinformatics”
• “Genome scientists muster computer software tools for handling the flood of raw data from the Human Genome Project and related efforts”
• “Bioinformatics experts gain ground in protein sequence analysis”
• “Take the protein challenge”

What can I do with a Bioinformatics degree?

You can work at the interface between biochemistry, computer science, and mathematics, creating new solutions for high-throughput chemistry, designing analysis systems for drug design, and many other things. Our graduates in bioinformatics have not had any difficulty finding jobs. Our Ph.D. students have been sought for faculty positions. One of our graduate students went on leave to form a company that was recently purchased by Affymetrix. We hope he'll finish up one day!

Are there any jobs?

We don't keep track of jobs ourselves, but frequently get calls either trying to hire us or trying to hire away our grad students.

There are some good web sites out there that you might want to check:

• International Society for Computational Biology, Job Listings
• Biotech Find
• BioPlanet
• BioSpace Career Center Search for bioinformatics or computational
• JobSearchTech
• Color Base Pair
• Hire Bio
• Future Bio Jobs
• Bioinform
• Canadian Bioinformatics Jobs
• Bioinformatics Jobs in the Boston Area
• Georgia Tech "Career Outlook in Bioinformatics"
• Science Magazine's Listing of Bioinformatics Job Ads (mainly faculty positions)

You can find even more sites by googling bioinformatics (jobs or career).

Who else offers a bioinformatics degree?

Several universities now offer bioinformatics degrees. Two good lists are at:

• http://ils.unc.edu/bmh/bioinfo/Bioinformatics_Programs_Brief_12-14-04.htm
• http://www.iscb.org/univ_programs/program_board.php

What degrees does UCSC offer?

We offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in bioinformatics:

• A B.S. in Bioinformatics. Appropriate high school preparation includes mathematics, biology, and chemistry.
• A minor in Bioinformatics. This minor is suitable for biology and chemistry majors or for computer science and computer engineering majors.
• M.S. in Bioinformatics. Our master's students are generally accepted without financial support.
• Ph.D. in Bioinformatics. Our Ph.D. students usually receive full support.
• Our combined B.S. and graduate program in Bioinformatics allows our undergraduate majors to complete their graduate degrees in a somewhat condensed timeframe.

Why do bioinformatics courses have a BME code, and what is the BME doing behind the cyberslug?

The bioinformatics programs are run by a new department, Biomolecular Engineering, created Winter 2004. Eventually, the BME department will have another major in biomolecular engineering, but that will take some time to develop, as it requires new faculty, new labs, and new lab courses.

How do I apply?

Application is now done entirely through the web, at the UCSC Graduate Application Web Site.

What is your relation to the UCSC Extension program in Bioinformatics?

The certificate program at the UCSC Extension in Silicon Valley is not the equivalent of either the undergraduate or graduate programs at UCSC and is not taught by UCSC faculty. It does help train people in industry in the field of bioinformatics, and it has served as an introduction to the field for students who later came to UCSC for the graduate program.

Does UCSC have a mailing list for bioinformatics announcements? How do I join?

We have several mailing lists for different purposes:

• compbio

  used for announcements of research seminars, updates on research progress, research opportunities, and general-interest bioinformatics topics at UCSC. To subscribe, ask Kevin Karplus (or any of the bioinformatics grad students) to run "add_compbio" for you.

• genecats

  used by the genome-browser developers to share tips, describe new features, discuss problems, and provide progress reports. To subscribe, join the genome-browser research and development group.

• School of Engineering undergrad mailing list

  for weekly newsletter to undergraduates. To subscribe, contact .

• binf-ugrads

  for bioinformatics undergraduates (majors, minors, and premajors). Only bioinformatics faculty and advising staff can send to this mailing list. To subscribe, you must either officially declare the major or minor or talk with the School of Engineering advising office about your intent to declare and ask to be added to the mailing list.

• binfgrads

  for official communications to Bioinformatics grad students. To subscribe, get accepted into the bioinformatics grad program. (See http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/advising/graduate/grademail.html for more information about graduate mailing lists.