My experience has been far more complex. I usually start with a full SDLC process which includes an analysis of the requirements with requirements documents, data samples, desired end results, a list of formulas, etc. Then I design a conceptual, logical, then physical data model, which is the structure that holds the data in such a way that forces it to conform with the rules of the project and the rules of the data to be collected. For example, a patient encounter for testing and gathering data may need to capture each individual encounter with each individual staff member. The patients travel past, recent, and future may need to be captured and compared to the spread of a virus, etc. Once the physical model is complete, I use it to build a programmed graphical user interface, test it with data, test formulas, etc. Then I complete the application. I also test it with IBM Cognos or Oracle Hyperion which has automated charting and graphic features. Once that is done, I then load the data and release it to QA for testing. Once it passes QA, that is when the charts and models begin to be used by end users.
This is cool! I have enrolled on the OSSU Bioinformatics MOOC more than a year ago and have been trying to engage myself in my pre-built, online and self-taught curriculum for the past year. I am currently a 2nd BS Pharmacy student studying in the Philippines and I really want to use bioinformatics to help me out on the area for drug discovery and development (for example, using online computational animal models or computational molecular target to predict the effect of a lead compound that we are researching and studying). I am also really planning to use all of these skills I will gain from this MOOC to help bring about the research topic for my undergraduate thesis starting next year. If there is anyone interested in what I do, you can also reply to this comment, I'll get notifications from TH-cam anyway. Oh, and...this video honestly makes me understand what the "Modelling" area looks like - honestly, being someone who was very much interested on becoming a theoretical physicist when I was younger, these kind of stuff wants me to get back to, well, theoretical physics and help me out on this area of practice in bioinformatics. 😁
I'm from the Philippines too! Bioinformatics here is still on it's infant stage. I am a computer science student and have zero to no knowledge in biology,. Although I am catching up on the biology through supplemental resources such that of OSSU's Bioinformatics. It's a good source, but really, it is not a degree (but it can help). In my case, I can cross-enroll with biology and chemistry courses but it is not allowed on my school. I don't know about the classes on BS Pharmacy but if you've taken a molecular biology course or anything related to Bioinformatics with atleast three units, I suggest you look up on Philippine Genome Center internship/training. It would be the best starting point on bioinformatics in the Philippines for now, the experience you will get interning there would be valuable in the future. Goodluck!
So far, I have participated in the first two categories you outlined. Among other things, I've applied an R packages for RNA sequencing differential expression analyses and I've helped create a pipeline in Python to compare mutation burden between two populations using exome sequence data (maybe not a complete software, but the "meat and potatoes" of one). I agree that the distinction between computational biology and bioinformatics is not a super useful one. I like the categories you outlined better. I had a similar career trajectory, coming primarily from the biology side of things and then learning computer science + relevant math to do bioinformatics. For anyone in a similar position, I would recommend collaboration with others when doing computational/math stuff to keep you sane and because it makes you learn faster. Also, don't balk at learning new things outside of the biological realm; you have to do that constantly, and it eventually makes you a valuable asset to your team.
I'm just at the fundamental stages in bioinformatics, that is, I can't really do a lot of stuff. I really like bioinformatics and will like to advance my knowledge in this area after having got the opportunity to get a master's studies in it. I studied biotechnology and molecular biology at my undergrad. I must confess that I am overwhelmed by the several applications in this field and don't really know where to start from to advance my career in bioinformatics. I would be grateful for your advice going forward while seeking the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. in bioinformatics.
@@kwakuenoch823 I am more than happy to give my two cents about where to start, but I think it's important to realize that bioinformatics is too new a field for anyone to claim that they know a tried-and-true method for success . It's a casse of the blind leading the blind if you try to only follow what others have done in this field. So I would recommend being bold but having contingency plans. That said, I've had luck within academia by first learning a little Python during undergrad + online courses like DataCamp and then finding a genetics team that need a Python coder who knows molecular biology. I had to really bust my butt to learn about databases and more Python& R on the job (and I wasn't making anythong more than a research assistant's salary), but I became the in-house bioinformatics guy for this team. I think finding a research team where you have the freedom to chart your own course in order to solve a problem is a good fit for the molecular biology graduate who wants to become a bioinformatician. Another situation that could work well is to join a biology lab that needs a bioinformatics person and then collaborate closely with a different, more computationally-heavy lab. Perhaps your principal investigator can convince another PI to take you in for lab meetings where you are learning good bioinformatics & programming methodology. If you want to earn a PhD, I would start there before spending money and time working on a master's degree. You may surprise yourself by getting into a program, and then you will have much less debt. Howevere, if you know a job you want but need a master's to get that job, then the masters might be a good idea. Lots of masters programs offer degrees or specializations in bioinformatics these days. Other useful fields to earn a masters in include compsci and statistics, which both overlap heavily with each other and bioinformatics. Best of luck, friend! My email is luke.s.hebert@gmail.com if you want to chat in private.
@@lukehebert6207 The message is well understood and is resourceful to me. I really appreciate the response. I will contact you via email as well later. Thanks once again
Fascinating, new to me, too bad I can't study today, too many real-life problems to deal with(i am 37). Fields I would choose that I knew that they exist. This is proof that mathematics is the language of life. I use it daily as an engineer.
Very good top level description of a very misunderstood field. I have subscribed to watch more content from you. Best regards and keep up the good work.
So many nice comments in this video. My Turn! Idk what it is, but you really delivered the content well. I heard precisely what I needed to know in order to be intrigued into this field, and I'm definitely gonna continue to research some of this. Awesome job with the video, keep at it!
Your mention of modeling flu spread seems incredibly relevant at the moment😅. Interesting career path. I'm graduating with a Bsc in biology and am considering transitioning into bio informatics with a Msc in bio informatics. I have some thinking to do.. I love theoretical work and problem solving, however am quite a social person. My main concern is regarding job satisfaction. Will I remain motivated to continue working in this field should I find it boring and not involving enough social interaction. Anybody currently in the field which could provide insight here? Thank you :)
Dude Im in the same spot as you! Just graduated this may. I have sales and business experience as well and I am pretty social but I love biology and research, im kind of stuck now because I need to find a valuable skill to learn and apply in order to get entry level jobs before applying for my masters. Im gonna dive into this and try it out. Let me know what you decide or if you have any experience you want to share! Good luck
Nice video! I'm new to your channel (just subbed). I mainly do research in neuroscience and I am very curious about bioinformatics. Hoping to learn more about it over the next couple of years.
Currently working on creating a device that measures blood cells through frequency in order to determine if someone has STDs. This is a new technology that will prevent the spread of STDs. We are working on a wristband with a microchip that can relay results directly to you iPhone so you can share your status with a potential partner.
nice contribution to the scientific community. Your videos helped to improve my data analysis experience. working on transcriptomics data and still learning
Bioinformatics is something between biology - medicine - information technologies. You can't compare Bioinformatics with Computer Science. They programm in much advanced level. The study of computer science is also focusing on programing. Students study Computer Science because they want to become programmers. Students who study Bioinformatics are basically still more focusing on Biology.
I guess its not comparison but...part of computer science is actually part of Bioinformatics...so, its not hard core comp science but yeah sense of it.
Hello I did my undergraduate degree in Pharmacy. I took microbiology and organic chemistry courses. I am very interested in the concept of bioinformatics and I want to peruse a MS degree in it. I well do the courses in a master program introduce to computer science part for someone with no background in coding or advanced math.
Is coding a big deal in bioinformatics? I am interested in data analysis, but software development... might not be something I enjoy doing.. I like biology and I like doing analysis but I don't want to do research...
You would be spending most of your time behind a computer, researching prior studies and translating them to useful algorithms. If you don't like coding, this might not be for you
Generally yes. I think it's broadly useful to learn data science and programming in python. If you're considering another degree and not just an individual course, then of course that's a larger decision that comes down to what you want from your career. Best of luck :)
@@nicoletteolokpa6439 What kinds of projects are you looking for? I know sites like rosalind.info/ that are good for practicing small coding tasks, but if you want something larger, it might depend on your field and what you are trying to learn.
OMGenomics well it’s hard because I like what I’ve seen in bioinformatics so far especially with respect to sequencing but It’s still a little grey to me since it’s still quite a developing field. But I would say things in regards to sequencing projects are my main focus not sure if I’m making sense lol
this is really cool i did a masters degree in cancer research and one of the modules i did was genomics (ngs, bionfirmatics etc) and im currently looking into the next step i should take in order for me to use bionformatics hands on whether its a short course or phd research in cancer for example that will enable me to use bioinfomatics (fyi i did a biomedical science undergrad)
Great info. I am considering branching out from business analytics to bioinformatics, but does these jobs have telework, self employment opportunities? I am a military spouse so I move around a lot. TIA!!
thanks, Maria! I have a question, if I have a B.s.c Computer Science and Life Science ( double majoring ), will it be enough to work as a bioinformatician?
If you can get a good industry internship during your degree, that can help you get a job. If not, it can be more difficult to stand out. I gave an answer in this post (as "marianattestad"): www.reddit.com/r/bioinformatics/comments/179jl4x/jack_of_all_trades_but_master_of_none/. It's also just what you want from your career: To do deep bio research, you'll likely be better off getting a PhD, but if you are okay with technical tasks and taking more of a supportive role or software engineer, then leaning into the technical skills more can make the bachelors enough to contribute in bioinformatics.
Hi, I am currently doing BSc in zoology and I'm in my second year. Is it possible for me to do MSc in bioinformatics without having any background in computer science or statistics?
Hi there, thanks a million for the wonderful information you have provided. I graduated in MSc Medical Microbiology and have become interested in Bioinformatics. I have been accepted to study MSc in Bioinformatics which begins in September but I am quite worried about the mathematics/statistics part since I haven’t got a head for mathematics. How hard would be bioinformatics for someone like me?
It probably depends on the specific research you are doing, but I personally haven't done advanced math in the genomics and sequencing field, so I think you can get by without mastering math in some parts of bioinformatics. If you check out the wikipedia pages for the subfields of bioinformatics represented in your program, you can tell which have more or less math in them. Also look at the backgrounds of professors you want to work with. Studying with a professor with a math/physics background probably means your research will require more math, while someone with a computer science (and sometimes biology) background might be less math-heavy in their research.
One of the domains that uses statistics and data science of your domaine is provisional Microbiology ( usually in food industry to determine the shelf life of a product )
Hello, i have a question. What do you think bioinformaticians should do in order to survive from being replaced by artificial intelligence? Surely AIs have better informatics skills than humans do.. so what's the solution?
It's simple: You need to be the one building the tools and using AI to make them smarter. If you are doing a repetitive task, then as someone who can code, you should already have automated that as much as possible. We are not the ones who will be replaced by machines, we are the ones making the machines. And if you are thinking you are replaceable, then build something to replace yourself.
Why not reach out to DNAstack itself for tutorials? It's a company, so I think they have a big interest in helping you learn how to use their platform...
Can you direct to someone or a institution wich uses bioinformatics IRL ? I mean where they have move from research to real life applications ? I stumbled across this video becuase two in my family traveled to Macedonia to visit a practicing Bioinformatics healer, wich they have gotten good results from. He hade developed a machine wich read people(i don´t know how but i´m guessing like a scan), and then used his own software wich he delivered trough small patches put on the body to start the healing, again i don´t know how. Have you heard about this ? thanks!
I've never heard of a bioinformatics healer, but it sounds an awful lot like bullshit. For real life bioinformatics, look at 23andMe, Invitae, Viome, and other such genetic testing companies that regular people can go through to analyze their genetics.
I want to know your opinion about what is the best program that I should take to become a bioinformatician in the future?? Computer Science or a Pre-med program like biology or medical technology?
I would focus on computer science, but take some classes in molecular biology and genetics, and any other specific areas you are interested in diving deeper into. The skills you will use in grad school and beyond are likely to be broad areas of software engineering, some statistics and working with data, and depth in one small area of biology. That's at least based on what the field looks like from where I'm standing. Some of my thoughts on this will be in the other videos on this channel :)
@@OMGenomics Yes this is exactly what I was thinking after doing a little research about this. The only problem is bioinformatician in our country is not that known, there are only about less than hundred, I guess not even fifty graduates in this field so I'm worried about the job opportunities that I would get. Regardless of that I still want to pursue this because I think we really need this in our county and I love what bioinformaticians do and I see myself enjoying in this career. Thank you, looking forward to your next video 💕
Hello maria, this is really a nice work from your side.:) I have done master in bioinformatics and currently i am jobless. I want to know what type of short course should I done that will help in getting of job in this field.
Hi , Maria i am completed master of science in zoology . i would much like to learn bioinformatics . what kind of field do i learn on bioinformatics. what kind of bioinformatics project sample do i work as learner.
Hi, great video, I liked and appreciate your work. I am an IT student about to graduate with a BSIT, though I was strongly considering staying within a career of biology and life sciences. I have a strong background in data analytics, but lack experience in biochemistry and the like. However, I am very passionate about biology and biotech, along with data science and statistics. Would it be feasible to quickly transfer into a career or possibly a masters degree of bioinformatics or computational biology? Basically, would you need a real hardcore foundation of life science to get by, or would it be enough to just have skill sets in data interpretation, information systems, programming, and stats at this point? Thanks.
As always, it depends. I haven’t used chemistry since undergrad but someone working in drug development or proteomics very much would, as would someone more involved with the sequencing or library prep process itself. Bioinformatics is still a pretty big field, so my part of downstream genomics analysis might be one of the few that don’t use chemistry much.
If I want to use software development in environmental science, would it be smart to major in bioinformatics or just major in CS and minor in Environmental Science?
Bioinformatics does not touch on environmental science all that often, so I recommend you read more into the courses you would be taking to make your choice.
I like the visuals when you compare bioinformaticians with data scientists. :) Currently in industry there's also other subtypes sprouting up, there's data engineers and data architects as well as biostatisticians. I think the you were asking for comments about what you could've missed out, I couldn't believe you forgot to mention Machine Learning, bioinformaticians have been using all sorts of AIs long before it took over the attention of the world. :P
Good point, I totally didn't mention machine learning! Where does that fall? I think like statistics it can be used in data analysis or as part of a piece of software to be shared with the community. What do you think?
OMGenomics I do agree that ML should fall under stats but in my experience statisticians always lament ML models are blackboxes hence aren't as sexy but it just really depends on your goals :) 👋 gd job on the series!
sorry I wasn't clear, I didn't mean ML is statistics, but that it can fall into data analysis and into software development, the same way that statistics can. ML is totally sexy though! Just ask silicon valley...
Speaking as a more stats-motivated industry bioinformatician, I tend to think of machine learning/deep learning as methods that are complementary to stats, and maybe fall under a broader heading with them, rather than as a set of distinct methods. I tend to think of the tradeoffs as: Stats: + more robust to training-set specific variation when done correctly + more informative upstream/downstream of your tool + opportunities for logical extensions/elaborations+ more rewarding (to me anyway...) - more time-consuming - still prone to your own errors - needs to be clearly documented Machine/deep learning: + able to pick up patterns humans might miss + compute time is faster and cheaper than expert time + details that are difficult to model statistically can be picked up in these models + retraining isn't terribly difficult - sensitivity to training data - difficult to tell when you've overfit to your training data (this is slightly different from sensitivity!) - "black box" In the end, some machine learning methods are actually incredibly informative for statistical model development (the two that I can think of as most helpful are PCA and random forest models), while others are VERY black box (for now, some neural networks are a good example). Ultimately, they choice between statistical modeling and machine learning/deep learning is about balancing priorities and your strengths/weaknesses (or your team's!) Great work Maria :)
I study computer engineer but I love biology, genes, DNA, animals...So I want mix computer science and biology. Please, Can you tell me how I can combine?
it depends on where you're at in your career. You can study them both and look for education programs in bioinformatics, or find a job to do software/data science/bioinformatics at a biotech company.
Hi, I did my undergrad in microbiology and veterinary science and now work at a clinical micro laboratory. I am interested in getting a master in heath informatics/bioinformatics. I am a little worried about how heavily programming skills is needed in this field? I have zero knowledge in that. I am still at the researching stage and don’t know a lot about this field, so if you could share some links to me, it would be amazing. Thank you.
It's an exciting field, building up as we speak. I'd suggest checking out sites like Codecademy to familiarize yourself with Python first, and maybe poke around at Rosalind to practice solving bioinformatics-related problems with code. That's a good start, and from there you might look at some bioinformatics Coursera courses. Just know that you don't have to know everything, but you really DO need to get very comfortable with coding. That's where all the power is! Best of luck!
Hi @joycelau212, may I ask you how things went? my major was veterinary science with zero knowledge in programming and maths as well and I'm considering bioinformatics as a career but still need some advice if you may assist.
Biology: introductory biology including any genetics courses, as well as any specific areas of biology to explore (cancer, evolution, etc.), one of which could become your research field. Outside of biology: computer science, statistics, linear algebra + machine learning, and any courses at the intersection of these, such as bioinformatics itself.
@@OMGenomics Im thinking of taking Biotechnology or Biochemistry, would those take me into Bioinformatics? Are you American or British or? Because I think the degrees to take may differ between the countries.
Hi, I have bachelors degree Biochemistry from India and I want to do masters in Bio-informatics. what will be my acceptance rate in the foreign university? Can you help me with that?
Interesting question! I'm not an expert on biostatistics, but I would say bioinformatics is more about computer science applied to biological data, which includes a lot of the genomics tools you run on the command-line, everything from BWA to bedtools. Biostatistics usually involves statistical tests, from basic t-tests to bayesian statistics. Bioinformatics and biostatistics certainly have a lot in common and often overlap within the same research project. In my case, I don't think my thesis had a single p-value in it because I was working with data from only one sample as a proof of concept, so I was definitely doing bioinformatics with virtually no biostatistics. If you did a GWAS, on the other hand, that involves running statistical tests across the genome, so it would count as biostatistics, and probably also bioinformatics because you dealt with a lot of data and bioinformatics tools to call all those variants in the first place.
Thank you very much for that kind answer. Well I'm studying Biostatistics in Colombia but unfortunately here it's focused on Epidemiology. I'd like to get in the future a Phd on Bayesian Statistics applied to Genomics. Do you know any way to find a program like that. I've been thinking about Canada. But I have no idea. Maybe you have worked with biostatisticians who do something like that?
PhD programs themselves don't have to be that specific. It's all about which professor you work with, so check out who writes papers in that field, follow people in the field on twitter, or search through faculty websites. You can find biostatistics people at most major research institutions.
I`d say yes although only regarding the treatment of the Data/information part. if you look at the very top level definition provided in this video about Bioinformatics. One can easily determine/conclude that the "Field of application" is interchangeable, that is: switch Biology and biological Biological processes (More general) for Cognitive science (More focused). The Statistical part on the Venn Diagram and the Computer Science part remain unchanged. That is why in my opinion a person with more general fields is called a DATA SCIENTIST. One very important fact is what one has as knowledge that enable him or her to interpret and integrate data into a reasonable depiction of reality.
Sounds like a cool field, I just wish pay in this field was as good as mainstream tech companies, this fusion of Bio and CS is so much interesting and fulfilling than other crap
It depends a lot on what you're doing, but of course even the mainstream tech companies are getting into bioinformatics/biotech these days, mostly sprung out of Google, so the pay there must be about as good, assuming you're still a kind of software engineer or in a similarly technical role.
As a physicist/budding statistician who works in statistical inverse problems, I can, without any reservations say, ANY SERIOUS PAPER SHOULD BE WRITTEN IN LaTeX
Most of modern bioinformatics is towards modelling these days, this is not an easy field, it requires advanced knowledge of calculus , linear algebra , differential equations, graph theory and a good knowledge of computing stochastic processes which is really advanced math. I would not recommend a career in bioinformatics to someone who doesn't like math.. I am about to finish my masters bio/neuro informatics degree in 11 months.
I agree that modeling is not easy, but I know plenty of people working in bioinformatics, including myself, who focus on the computer science and software side of it.
i agree, bioinformatics itself has such a broad range it so not a compact science field , the university i study is very much math oriented , anyway.. keep up the good work Maria and i hope you continue making more videos, your channel played a major role for me to choose bioinformatics as a career path after being a dentist for 10 years!
How much Math and Stat do we need to become a Bioinformatics Scientist . I'm from a biology background (BSc Biotechnology) and I think math n stat is not my cup of tea
I wish I could have done more to get involved but there was no draft of scientists - I hoped someone would have called us all up and said “we need your help pipetting for COVID tests” or something! But nope! My job was still interesting though but just less than normal because I have really missed the team lunches. It’s the little things. Hope you’re all good out there!
The vid that started it all, for me at least. Thanks Maria!
@Cade Atticus bot?
Hello. Did you study bioinformatics?
@@ahmadjiko7597 Nope. Not in undergrad anyway. Everything I know and used to get my metagenomics internship was self-taught after graduation
Ok , thanks for your answer, but im really confused between biomedicin and bioinformatic
Thank you for taking the time to make and post this video; years later it is still being watched.
This comment is purely for engagement purposes.
So cool! Somebody submitted a translation of the title and description into Russian! Thank you kind stranger!
How can I submit one in Bulgarian?
If you need translation into Arabic at any time, I am here ☺️
@@ismailsaleh7688 support.google.com/youtube/answer/6054623?hl=en looks as though nobody can contribute translations anymore.
@@dominic2446 yeah sadly
I can definitely do it for spanish
this video gives me more information about bioinformatics then my teachers does
My experience has been far more complex. I usually start with a full SDLC process which includes an analysis of the requirements with requirements documents, data samples, desired end results, a list of formulas, etc. Then I design a conceptual, logical, then physical data model, which is the structure that holds the data in such a way that forces it to conform with the rules of the project and the rules of the data to be collected. For example, a patient encounter for testing and gathering data may need to capture each individual encounter with each individual staff member. The patients travel past, recent, and future may need to be captured and compared to the spread of a virus, etc. Once the physical model is complete, I use it to build a programmed graphical user interface, test it with data, test formulas, etc. Then I complete the application. I also test it with IBM Cognos or Oracle Hyperion which has automated charting and graphic features. Once that is done, I then load the data and release it to QA for testing. Once it passes QA, that is when the charts and models begin to be used by end users.
Summary 1:
1. Distinguish Bioinformatics, Computational biology and Biological data science.
2. Interdisciplinary = Biology + Statistics + Computer Science (+ Physics/ Maths).
3. 3 main streams = Data analysis + Software development + Modelling.
*Note: Bioinformatics Engineering = Design/ Create software, tools etc. + Analyse bio(-med) data + Simulate/ Create Bio(-med) -related models + ??
and what do biomedical engineer?...they also make software in medical
This is cool! I have enrolled on the OSSU Bioinformatics MOOC more than a year ago and have been trying to engage myself in my pre-built, online and self-taught curriculum for the past year. I am currently a 2nd BS Pharmacy student studying in the Philippines and I really want to use bioinformatics to help me out on the area for drug discovery and development (for example, using online computational animal models or computational molecular target to predict the effect of a lead compound that we are researching and studying).
I am also really planning to use all of these skills I will gain from this MOOC to help bring about the research topic for my undergraduate thesis starting next year.
If there is anyone interested in what I do, you can also reply to this comment, I'll get notifications from TH-cam anyway.
Oh, and...this video honestly makes me understand what the "Modelling" area looks like - honestly, being someone who was very much interested on becoming a theoretical physicist when I was younger, these kind of stuff wants me to get back to, well, theoretical physics and help me out on this area of practice in bioinformatics. 😁
I'm from the Philippines too! Bioinformatics here is still on it's infant stage. I am a computer science student and have zero to no knowledge in biology,. Although I am catching up on the biology through supplemental resources such that of OSSU's Bioinformatics. It's a good source, but really, it is not a degree (but it can help). In my case, I can cross-enroll with biology and chemistry courses but it is not allowed on my school.
I don't know about the classes on BS Pharmacy but if you've taken a molecular biology course or anything related to Bioinformatics with atleast three units, I suggest you look up on Philippine Genome Center internship/training. It would be the best starting point on bioinformatics in the Philippines for now, the experience you will get interning there would be valuable in the future. Goodluck!
If your interested in modeling, mabye take a look into Quantative Biosciences, it might match your interest.
@@thatmlgyoutuber7311 Oh, okay. Thank you for the recommendation! I'll search it up, anyway.
So far, I have participated in the first two categories you outlined. Among other things, I've applied an R packages for RNA sequencing differential expression analyses and I've helped create a pipeline in Python to compare mutation burden between two populations using exome sequence data (maybe not a complete software, but the "meat and potatoes" of one). I agree that the distinction between computational biology and bioinformatics is not a super useful one. I like the categories you outlined better.
I had a similar career trajectory, coming primarily from the biology side of things and then learning computer science + relevant math to do bioinformatics. For anyone in a similar position, I would recommend collaboration with others when doing computational/math stuff to keep you sane and because it makes you learn faster. Also, don't balk at learning new things outside of the biological realm; you have to do that constantly, and it eventually makes you a valuable asset to your team.
I'm just at the fundamental stages in bioinformatics, that is, I can't really do a lot of stuff. I really like bioinformatics and will like to advance my knowledge in this area after having got the opportunity to get a master's studies in it. I studied biotechnology and molecular biology at my undergrad. I must confess that I am overwhelmed by the several applications in this field and don't really know where to start from to advance my career in bioinformatics. I would be grateful for your advice going forward while seeking the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. in bioinformatics.
@@kwakuenoch823 I am more than happy to give my two cents about where to start, but I think it's important to realize that bioinformatics is too new a field for anyone to claim that they know a tried-and-true method for success . It's a casse of the blind leading the blind if you try to only follow what others have done in this field. So I would recommend being bold but having contingency plans.
That said, I've had luck within academia by first learning a little Python during undergrad + online courses like DataCamp and then finding a genetics team that need a Python coder who knows molecular biology. I had to really bust my butt to learn about databases and more Python& R on the job (and I wasn't making anythong more than a research assistant's salary), but I became the in-house bioinformatics guy for this team. I think finding a research team where you have the freedom to chart your own course in order to solve a problem is a good fit for the molecular biology graduate who wants to become a bioinformatician.
Another situation that could work well is to join a biology lab that needs a bioinformatics person and then collaborate closely with a different, more computationally-heavy lab. Perhaps your principal investigator can convince another PI to take you in for lab meetings where you are learning good bioinformatics & programming methodology.
If you want to earn a PhD, I would start there before spending money and time working on a master's degree. You may surprise yourself by getting into a program, and then you will have much less debt. Howevere, if you know a job you want but need a master's to get that job, then the masters might be a good idea. Lots of masters programs offer degrees or specializations in bioinformatics these days. Other useful fields to earn a masters in include compsci and statistics, which both overlap heavily with each other and bioinformatics.
Best of luck, friend! My email is luke.s.hebert@gmail.com if you want to chat in private.
Sorry for the typos. *case, *However
@@lukehebert6207 The message is well understood and is resourceful to me. I really appreciate the response. I will contact you via email as well later. Thanks once again
Good explanation. Thanks Maria. I'm working now on data analysis which includes mappings, variants calling and their annotation.
Fascinating, new to me, too bad I can't study today, too many real-life problems to deal with(i am 37). Fields I would choose that I knew that they exist. This is proof that mathematics is the language of life. I use it daily as an engineer.
This is great. I'm about to start a bioinformatics module and still not really sure what it all entails.
Wonderful sense of humor, Thanks!
Very good top level description of a very misunderstood field. I have subscribed to watch more content from you. Best regards and keep up the good work.
So many nice comments in this video.
My Turn!
Idk what it is, but you really delivered the content well. I heard precisely what I needed to know in order to be intrigued into this field, and I'm definitely gonna continue to research some of this. Awesome job with the video, keep at it!
Your mention of modeling flu spread seems incredibly relevant at the moment😅. Interesting career path. I'm graduating with a Bsc in biology and am considering transitioning into bio informatics with a Msc in bio informatics. I have some thinking to do.. I love theoretical work and problem solving, however am quite a social person. My main concern is regarding job satisfaction. Will I remain motivated to continue working in this field should I find it boring and not involving enough social interaction. Anybody currently in the field which could provide insight here? Thank you :)
Dude Im in the same spot as you! Just graduated this may. I have sales and business experience as well and I am pretty social but I love biology and research, im kind of stuck now because I need to find a valuable skill to learn and apply in order to get entry level jobs before applying for my masters. Im gonna dive into this and try it out. Let me know what you decide or if you have any experience you want to share! Good luck
What did you end up doing in the end?
Do you have videos on pyrosetta?
Nice video! I'm new to your channel (just subbed). I mainly do research in neuroscience and I am very curious about bioinformatics. Hoping to learn more about it over the next couple of years.
Currently working on creating a device that measures blood cells through frequency in order to determine if someone has STDs. This is a new technology that will prevent the spread of STDs. We are working on a wristband with a microchip that can relay results directly to you iPhone so you can share your status with a potential partner.
nice contribution to the scientific community. Your videos helped to improve my data analysis experience. working on transcriptomics data and still learning
Maria you articulated this video very well so I subscribed immediately.
thanks Maria, great explanation, really helpful! Can someone with a bachelor degree in data science/computer science take bioinformatics for masters?
Hey. Greag video.
I havd one question.
Do you modifying micribes genetically?
Is genetical engneering related to Modeling?
Bioinformatics is something between biology - medicine - information technologies. You can't compare Bioinformatics with Computer Science. They programm in much advanced level. The study of computer science is also focusing on programing. Students study Computer Science because they want to become programmers. Students who study Bioinformatics are basically still more focusing on Biology.
I guess its not comparison but...part of computer science is actually part of Bioinformatics...so, its not hard core comp science but yeah sense of it.
Thanks now I know what exactly is bioinformatics and give me I clear view what should I studies it
Thank you for making this video seriously.
Hello
I did my undergraduate degree in Pharmacy. I took microbiology and organic chemistry courses. I am very interested in the concept of bioinformatics and I want to peruse a MS degree in it. I well do the courses in a master program introduce to computer science part for someone with no background in coding or advanced math.
Thank you. Very meaningful video..!
:) from Korea
Is coding a big deal in bioinformatics? I am interested in data analysis, but software development... might not be something I enjoy doing.. I like biology and I like doing analysis but I don't want to do research...
You would be spending most of your time behind a computer, researching prior studies and translating them to useful algorithms. If you don't like coding, this might not be for you
very educative video. Just starting out in bioinformatics
The distinction between bioinformatics and computational biology I would say the latter has more focus on mathematical abstraction,,
Very informative and I love the witty screen name as well..
What all computer applications do we need to know before pursuing a degree in Bioinformatics?
I already have a degree in genetics, Would you recommend taking a course on data science with python?
Generally yes. I think it's broadly useful to learn data science and programming in python. If you're considering another degree and not just an individual course, then of course that's a larger decision that comes down to what you want from your career. Best of luck :)
Also Do you know sites I could use to practice some bioinformatics projects?
@@nicoletteolokpa6439 What kinds of projects are you looking for? I know sites like rosalind.info/ that are good for practicing small coding tasks, but if you want something larger, it might depend on your field and what you are trying to learn.
OMGenomics well it’s hard because I like what I’ve seen in bioinformatics so far especially with respect to sequencing but It’s still a little grey to me since it’s still quite a developing field. But I would say things in regards to sequencing projects are my main focus not sure if I’m making sense lol
OMGenomics and I’ve heard of Rosalind.info id look more into that
biomedical engineering?? make a video about
Can i do Masters in genetic Engineering /Biochemistry /Microbiology after finishing my ug in Bioinformatics Engineering?
this video was very informative for me as new learner .i wanted to go deep into this i'll be in touch for latest videos.
this is really cool i did a masters degree in cancer research and one of the modules i did was genomics (ngs, bionfirmatics etc) and im currently looking into the next step i should take in order for me to use bionformatics hands on whether its a short course or phd research in cancer for example that will enable me to use bioinfomatics (fyi i did a biomedical science undergrad)
Great info. I am considering branching out from business analytics to bioinformatics, but does these jobs have telework, self employment opportunities? I am a military spouse so I move around a lot. TIA!!
The modeling part sounds so cool
What is the logiciel that you use to learn bioinformatic python or R.
thanks, Maria! I have a question, if I have a B.s.c Computer Science and Life Science ( double majoring ), will it be enough to work as a bioinformatician?
If you can get a good industry internship during your degree, that can help you get a job. If not, it can be more difficult to stand out. I gave an answer in this post (as "marianattestad"): www.reddit.com/r/bioinformatics/comments/179jl4x/jack_of_all_trades_but_master_of_none/. It's also just what you want from your career: To do deep bio research, you'll likely be better off getting a PhD, but if you are okay with technical tasks and taking more of a supportive role or software engineer, then leaning into the technical skills more can make the bachelors enough to contribute in bioinformatics.
@@OMGenomics thanks Maria!
do i need to have studied computer science or maths to pursue in this career.
Very insightful video!
Thank you very much for creating this video, they are very useful and you speak very clear
Hi, I have one question. I should begin to learn data science or I should learn bioinformatics right away?
Hi, I am currently doing BSc in zoology and I'm in my second year. Is it possible for me to do MSc in bioinformatics without having any background in computer science or statistics?
I would suggest you try to learn some computer science and statistics beforehand, either in courses at your school or online, like through Coursera.
OMGenomics I think I'll try the online one. Thanks dear!!!
Very explanatory and insightful video, thanks a lot!
Hi there, thanks a million for the wonderful information you have provided. I graduated in MSc Medical Microbiology and have become interested in Bioinformatics. I have been accepted to study MSc in Bioinformatics which begins in September but I am quite worried about the mathematics/statistics part since I haven’t got a head for mathematics. How hard would be bioinformatics for someone like me?
It probably depends on the specific research you are doing, but I personally haven't done advanced math in the genomics and sequencing field, so I think you can get by without mastering math in some parts of bioinformatics. If you check out the wikipedia pages for the subfields of bioinformatics represented in your program, you can tell which have more or less math in them. Also look at the backgrounds of professors you want to work with. Studying with a professor with a math/physics background probably means your research will require more math, while someone with a computer science (and sometimes biology) background might be less math-heavy in their research.
What happened?
One of the domains that uses statistics and data science of your domaine is provisional Microbiology ( usually in food industry to determine the shelf life of a product )
I like the explanation from the year 2020. :D
What are programming languages widely used in bioinformatics?
I have a whole video just on that! Here: th-cam.com/video/ZZz9HROAONA/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=OMGenomics
Hello, i have a question. What do you think bioinformaticians should do in order to survive from being replaced by artificial intelligence? Surely AIs have better informatics skills than humans do.. so what's the solution?
It's simple: You need to be the one building the tools and using AI to make them smarter. If you are doing a repetitive task, then as someone who can code, you should already have automated that as much as possible. We are not the ones who will be replaced by machines, we are the ones making the machines. And if you are thinking you are replaceable, then build something to replace yourself.
Yes. That's the best solution.
Could you please do an in depth tutorial on dnastack?
Why not reach out to DNAstack itself for tutorials? It's a company, so I think they have a big interest in helping you learn how to use their platform...
Can you direct to someone or a institution wich uses bioinformatics IRL ? I mean where they have move from research to real life applications ?
I stumbled across this video becuase two in my family traveled to Macedonia to visit a practicing Bioinformatics healer, wich they have gotten good results from. He hade developed a machine wich read people(i don´t know how but i´m guessing like a scan), and then used his own software wich he delivered trough small patches put on the body to start the healing, again i don´t know how.
Have you heard about this ?
thanks!
I've never heard of a bioinformatics healer, but it sounds an awful lot like bullshit. For real life bioinformatics, look at 23andMe, Invitae, Viome, and other such genetic testing companies that regular people can go through to analyze their genetics.
I want to know your opinion about what is the best program that I should take to become a bioinformatician in the future?? Computer Science or a Pre-med program like biology or medical technology?
I would focus on computer science, but take some classes in molecular biology and genetics, and any other specific areas you are interested in diving deeper into. The skills you will use in grad school and beyond are likely to be broad areas of software engineering, some statistics and working with data, and depth in one small area of biology. That's at least based on what the field looks like from where I'm standing. Some of my thoughts on this will be in the other videos on this channel :)
@@OMGenomics Yes this is exactly what I was thinking after doing a little research about this. The only problem is bioinformatician in our country is not that known, there are only about less than hundred, I guess not even fifty graduates in this field so I'm worried about the job opportunities that I would get. Regardless of that I still want to pursue this because I think we really need this in our county and I love what bioinformaticians do and I see myself enjoying in this career. Thank you, looking forward to your next video 💕
Hello maria,
this is really a nice work from your side.:)
I have done master in bioinformatics and currently i am jobless. I want to know what type of short course should I done that will help in getting of job in this field.
why are you jobless? isn't this field in demand .?
Hi , Maria i am completed master of science in zoology . i would much like to learn bioinformatics . what kind of field do i learn on bioinformatics. what kind of bioinformatics project sample do i work as learner.
same to me
+1
thank you so much Maria! It helps me a lot
Wow, Maria you're 🔥🔥🔥! Thanks a lot for sharing the information! Found you by a chance and subscribed at once!🤗
I m an aspiring indian 12th standard student .... Found this video in an article
... Really grateful 💕
Hi, great video, I liked and appreciate your work. I am an IT student about to graduate with a BSIT, though I was strongly considering staying within a career of biology and life sciences. I have a strong background in data analytics, but lack experience in biochemistry and the like. However, I am very passionate about biology and biotech, along with data science and statistics. Would it be feasible to quickly transfer into a career or possibly a masters degree of bioinformatics or computational biology? Basically, would you need a real hardcore foundation of life science to get by, or would it be enough to just have skill sets in data interpretation, information systems, programming, and stats at this point? Thanks.
It sounds you have the right kinds of preparation, but your specific educational program may have more to say about that :)
thanks for the informative videos! So helpful :) How much chemistry do you have to know to be a good bioinformatician?
As always, it depends. I haven’t used chemistry since undergrad but someone working in drug development or proteomics very much would, as would someone more involved with the sequencing or library prep process itself. Bioinformatics is still a pretty big field, so my part of downstream genomics analysis might be one of the few that don’t use chemistry much.
Good recap video, thank you for this!
If I want to use software development in environmental science, would it be smart to major in bioinformatics or just major in CS and minor in Environmental Science?
Bioinformatics does not touch on environmental science all that often, so I recommend you read more into the courses you would be taking to make your choice.
@@OMGenomics thank you
I like the visuals when you compare bioinformaticians with data scientists. :)
Currently in industry there's also other subtypes sprouting up, there's data engineers and data architects as well as biostatisticians.
I think the you were asking for comments about what you could've missed out, I couldn't believe you forgot to mention Machine Learning, bioinformaticians have been using all sorts of AIs long before it took over the attention of the world. :P
Good point, I totally didn't mention machine learning! Where does that fall? I think like statistics it can be used in data analysis or as part of a piece of software to be shared with the community. What do you think?
OMGenomics I do agree that ML should fall under stats but in my experience statisticians always lament ML models are blackboxes hence aren't as sexy but it just really depends on your goals :)
👋 gd job on the series!
sorry I wasn't clear, I didn't mean ML is statistics, but that it can fall into data analysis and into software development, the same way that statistics can. ML is totally sexy though! Just ask silicon valley...
Speaking as a more stats-motivated industry bioinformatician, I tend to think of machine learning/deep learning as methods that are complementary to stats, and maybe fall under a broader heading with them, rather than as a set of distinct methods.
I tend to think of the tradeoffs as:
Stats:
+ more robust to training-set specific variation when done correctly
+ more informative upstream/downstream of your tool
+ opportunities for logical extensions/elaborations+ more rewarding (to me anyway...)
- more time-consuming
- still prone to your own errors
- needs to be clearly documented
Machine/deep learning:
+ able to pick up patterns humans might miss
+ compute time is faster and cheaper than expert time
+ details that are difficult to model statistically can be picked up in these models
+ retraining isn't terribly difficult
- sensitivity to training data
- difficult to tell when you've overfit to your training data (this is slightly different from sensitivity!)
- "black box"
In the end, some machine learning methods are actually incredibly informative for statistical model development (the two that I can think of as most helpful are PCA and random forest models), while others are VERY black box (for now, some neural networks are a good example). Ultimately, they choice between statistical modeling and machine learning/deep learning is about balancing priorities and your strengths/weaknesses (or your team's!)
Great work Maria :)
I study computer engineer but I love biology, genes, DNA, animals...So I want mix computer science and biology. Please, Can you tell me how I can combine?
it depends on where you're at in your career. You can study them both and look for education programs in bioinformatics, or find a job to do software/data science/bioinformatics at a biotech company.
It seems to me that "modelling" could be the machine learning, if we're talking about Data Science.
Hi, I did my undergrad in microbiology and veterinary science and now work at a clinical micro laboratory. I am interested in getting a master in heath informatics/bioinformatics. I am a little worried about how heavily programming skills is needed in this field? I have zero knowledge in that. I am still at the researching stage and don’t know a lot about this field, so if you could share some links to me, it would be amazing. Thank you.
It's an exciting field, building up as we speak. I'd suggest checking out sites like Codecademy to familiarize yourself with Python first, and maybe poke around at Rosalind to practice solving bioinformatics-related problems with code. That's a good start, and from there you might look at some bioinformatics Coursera courses. Just know that you don't have to know everything, but you really DO need to get very comfortable with coding. That's where all the power is! Best of luck!
Hi @joycelau212, may I ask you how things went? my major was veterinary science with zero knowledge in programming and maths as well and I'm considering bioinformatics as a career but still need some advice if you may assist.
Is it okay to consider taking Master degree on bioinformatics if I have Bachelor in CS and just have a little or basic knowledge in biology ?
That sounds reasonable. If you want to catch up on the biology, there are plenty of online courses in biology and in bioinformatics.
@@OMGenomics wow thanks! that's encouraging
What undergraduate courses would you take to do bioinformatics?
Biology: introductory biology including any genetics courses, as well as any specific areas of biology to explore (cancer, evolution, etc.), one of which could become your research field.
Outside of biology: computer science, statistics, linear algebra + machine learning, and any courses at the intersection of these, such as bioinformatics itself.
@@OMGenomics Im thinking of taking Biotechnology or Biochemistry, would those take me into Bioinformatics?
Are you American or British or? Because I think the degrees to take may differ between the countries.
I kind of put modeling more into the area of computational biology,,,
Hi, I have bachelors degree Biochemistry from India and I want to do masters in Bio-informatics. what will be my acceptance rate in the foreign university? Can you help me with that?
Hello, could you tell the difference with biostatistics and how both help genomics. Thanks!
Interesting question! I'm not an expert on biostatistics, but I would say bioinformatics is more about computer science applied to biological data, which includes a lot of the genomics tools you run on the command-line, everything from BWA to bedtools. Biostatistics usually involves statistical tests, from basic t-tests to bayesian statistics. Bioinformatics and biostatistics certainly have a lot in common and often overlap within the same research project. In my case, I don't think my thesis had a single p-value in it because I was working with data from only one sample as a proof of concept, so I was definitely doing bioinformatics with virtually no biostatistics. If you did a GWAS, on the other hand, that involves running statistical tests across the genome, so it would count as biostatistics, and probably also bioinformatics because you dealt with a lot of data and bioinformatics tools to call all those variants in the first place.
Thank you very much for that kind answer. Well I'm studying Biostatistics in Colombia but unfortunately here it's focused on Epidemiology. I'd like to get in the future a Phd on Bayesian Statistics applied to Genomics. Do you know any way to find a program like that. I've been thinking about Canada. But I have no idea. Maybe you have worked with biostatisticians who do something like that?
PhD programs themselves don't have to be that specific. It's all about which professor you work with, so check out who writes papers in that field, follow people in the field on twitter, or search through faculty websites. You can find biostatistics people at most major research institutions.
Thank you so much Maria! I will follow your advices. The best for you, your channel and your work!
Is Bioinformatics a subject that can study in college or graduate school ?
Yes, but it’s not offered at all universities.
What is the salary of bioinformatics scientist
Are cognitive science and bioinformatics related to each other?
I`d say yes although only regarding the treatment of the Data/information part. if you look at the very top level definition provided in this video about Bioinformatics. One can easily determine/conclude that the "Field of application" is interchangeable, that is: switch Biology and biological Biological processes (More general) for Cognitive science (More focused). The Statistical part on the Venn Diagram and the Computer Science part remain unchanged. That is why in my opinion a person with more general fields is called a DATA SCIENTIST. One very important fact is what one has as knowledge that enable him or her to interpret and integrate data into a reasonable depiction of reality.
Is bioinformatics work method seems such as "Cell Lab" game??
Sounds like a cool field, I just wish pay in this field was as good as mainstream tech companies, this fusion of Bio and CS is so much interesting and fulfilling than other crap
It depends a lot on what you're doing, but of course even the mainstream tech companies are getting into bioinformatics/biotech these days, mostly sprung out of Google, so the pay there must be about as good, assuming you're still a kind of software engineer or in a similarly technical role.
As a physicist/budding statistician who works in statistical inverse problems, I can, without any reservations say, ANY SERIOUS PAPER SHOULD BE WRITTEN IN LaTeX
About to enrol onto Computer Science at QUB. Would I be able to do this later on?
Absolutely. Learning computer science allows you to do a lot of cool things, and bioinformatics is one of those :)
Great video!
Fantastic ♥️♥️❤️
Most of modern bioinformatics is towards modelling these days, this is not an easy field, it requires advanced knowledge of calculus , linear algebra , differential equations, graph theory and a good knowledge of computing stochastic processes which is really advanced math. I would not recommend a career in bioinformatics to someone who doesn't like math.. I am about to finish my masters bio/neuro informatics degree in 11 months.
I agree that modeling is not easy, but I know plenty of people working in bioinformatics, including myself, who focus on the computer science and software side of it.
i agree, bioinformatics itself has such a broad range it so not a compact science field , the university i study is very much math oriented , anyway.. keep up the good work Maria and i hope you continue making more videos, your channel played a major role for me to choose bioinformatics as a career path after being a dentist for 10 years!
عاش يا ماريا maria
good work
How much Math and Stat do we need to become a Bioinformatics Scientist . I'm from a biology background (BSc Biotechnology) and I think math n stat is not my cup of tea
You can get away without math and stats if you focus on computer science instead and choose labs accordingly.
@@OMGenomics Thanks Maria
Hvilket universitet læste du Bioinformatik på?
Cøld Spring Hårbør Labøråtøry :)
Hey Maria! Nice video, i only use bioinformatics for data analysis. I think your flu project had foreseen the covid pandemic haha . Cheers,
Awesome channel!
I have done all 3 I think,,
Nice video!
YourProfessor must be clairvoyant lol ! @OMGenomics
love the humor! :D
I bet your job during COVID was veeerrry interesting :)))
I wish I could have done more to get involved but there was no draft of scientists - I hoped someone would have called us all up and said “we need your help pipetting for COVID tests” or something! But nope! My job was still interesting though but just less than normal because I have really missed the team lunches. It’s the little things. Hope you’re all good out there!
nice mam
Good
I love your accent
Hi . hope so u r sound and healty ..
kindly share github code link here ...
thanks
nice
Modelling, ha! :p