International experiences
Functions
The graduate in Bioinformatics will perform functions as a technical operator, researcher, scientific collaborator, analyst, or manager in public or private biomedical research institutions, healthcare facilities, or in the biomedical-pharmaceutical or biotechnological industry.
- The acquired competencies will allow them, in particular, to perform the following types of functions:
- The design and management of complex IT systems for diagnostic and therapeutic medical applications, for the management of clinical and bioinformatics databases, for the processing of medical and bioinformatics data in clinical decision support systems, in computing centers within the biotechnological, biopharmaceutical, and molecular biology fields, both in health information systems and in hospital centers.
- Support for scientific activities, both in biological-medical research laboratories for bioinformatics, clinical, and scientific applications (inter- and intra-hospital), for personalized medicine, and in IT companies operating in the medical sector. Furthermore, applications exist in national and local agri-food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. In this context, it is also useful to note that the Lazio region is the third in Italy, after Lombardy, for Biotech and Pharmaceutical companies that increasingly use -omics technologies requiring bioinformatics technicians for their analysis and application.
- Collaboration with experimental biologists and physicians in research and diagnostic activities.
Competencies
The graduate must therefore be able to develop computational models and methods for the analysis of biological sequences and gene expression data (genome, transcriptome, proteome, epigenetic profiles, post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications, genomic localization of proteins, genetic polymorphisms, RNA/DNA editing, etc.) and three-dimensional structures of biological macromolecules, in order to identify phylogenetic specificities/analogies and relevant mutations, for example, for personalized medical diagnosis and therapy (cancers, vaccines, genetic diseases).
Furthermore, they must be able to organize integrated archives equipped with analysis platforms for better use and presentation of biomolecular data. Their ability to analyze and predict the structural and functional aspects of macromolecules and their interactions with ligands and drugs is also important.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Bachelor's in Bioinformatics can find employment in IT service providers, IT companies operating in the production of software and hardware for bioinformatics or medical-clinical applications, public and private research institutions, and genomic and health services. Observing the Italian and international reality, the skills from such a bachelor's degree allow for considering professions in hospital centers, in the bioinformatics field, in research laboratories, in the medical field supporting clinical and scientific activities of individual departments, and in IT companies operating in the medical sector.
Furthermore, continuing studies in Master's degrees, such as those in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Genomic Biotechnologies and Medical Biotechnologies, but also many Master's degrees in the biological and computer science (Data Science) fields, for which the course provides the basic requirements, can be considered an outlet for the greater specialization these Master's degrees can provide. Those who wish to continue their preparation in the strictly bioinformatics field will find a good offer of Master's degrees and second-level Master's programs nationally and also in the region (just to mention the Master's in Statistics, Biostatistics curriculum at Sapienza, and the Master's in Bioinformatics at Roma2 University).
Biological Data Analyst/Modeler
Functions
The functions of the data analyst/modeler are to analyze, model with formal tools, present, and predict relevant biomedical characteristics in data, i.e., to identify diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, trends, and statistically significant groupings. The bioinformatics data analyst understands the issues related to analyzing large volumes of data and identifies the correct software tools to use.
Competencies
Mathematics, programming, building mathematical models, optimization, understanding software infrastructures, knowledge of algorithms for analyzing biological sequences and structures.
Biological Data Manager
Functions
Coordinates the collection, integration, and publication of large volumes of biological data. Is able to develop programs to provide web-based services using their own data or publicly accessible data.
Competencies
Management and maintenance of -omics data, understanding software infrastructures, mathematical data analysis and modeling, understanding data flows and their formats.
Biological Data Integration Professional
Functions
Is able to integrate data from heterogeneous sources and find appropriate methodologies to make recognizable patterns emerge that are immediately usable by the medical/biological user. The biological data integration professional understands the general issues of bioinformatics and must be able to coordinate both biomedical and IT aspects.
Competencies
Knowledge of biological databases and their formats, understanding data mining tools.
Tools Developer for Biological Data
Functions
Is able to understand biomolecular problems and solve them using appropriate public software or software developed in-house. Is able to develop software implementations for both data analysis and their presentation and integration.
Competencies
Knowledge of programming languages and algorithms for analyzing biological sequences and structures, software design for data analysis.