Are you interested in the life sciences? Are you interested in computers too? If the answer is in the affirmative, you should go in for a course in Bioinformatics. This is the field in which there is a happy amalgamation between biology and information technology. You will analyse the huge amount of genomic sequence information which has been generated thorough years of research. Your analysis will throw light on the evolution of several species on the earth and will also help mankind to unearth the several mysteries of genetics. Bioinformatics is increasingly being utilized in pharmaceuticals, textiles, agricultural and biotech companies. This industry is growing by leap and bounds in India and several other foreign countries too. The prospect of finding a job, with a professional course in Bioinformatics under one's belt, are really immense.
The management and analysis of data by the usage of advanced computing systems is known as Informatics. Bioinformatics is the disciplines in which databases of biological information are created and maintained. Bioinformatics is the field in which information science is applied to biology.
Molecular biology has made tremendous advances in the past few decades. Large amount of complex data has been generated with the availability of equipments for research in this field. Research in this field has resulted in the complete sequencing of the genomes of several bacteria and also of some simple eukaryotes. Large portions of the genomes of several species have also been sequenced. There is rapid progress in the Human Genome Project whose objective is to sequence all the 24 human chromosomes. There has also been enormous growth in comprehensive sequence databases like the DDBJ (DNA Data Bank of Japan); the EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory) and GenBank. Most of the databases comprise nucleic acid sequences and protein sequences derived from them. Mostly, the data is in the form of sequences, images, intensities, pathways (networks and circuits) and structures. The representation, modelling and simulation of biological systems is dealt with, at a advanced level, in Bioinformatics.
The minimum eligibility criteria in order to study Bioinformatics is the successful completion of 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology as subjects. One also hast to have a minimum of 60 percent of marks in each of these subjects.
In order to pursuer higher studies in Bioinformatics, one should be a graduate in computer science with an additional degree in Biology of one should be a biologist with a degree in computer science. In order to study Bioinformatics at the level of Postgraduation, one should have pursued the subjects of Life Science or Mathematics / Statistics / Computers / Information Technology during one's graduation. Since Bioinformatics is the science where biology and computer science merge, one needs to have very strong background in these two areas.
One needs to qualify in the IIT-JEE entrance examination in order to pursue a course in Biotechnology at the IITs.
Aptitude:
One should have very keen interest in the subjects of Biotechnology and Computer Sciences in order to study Bioinformatics. One should be creative and innovative, since a job in this field requires the development of software that would help in bringing about breakthroughs in research. One should have keen interest in molecular biology and have an urge to find out the complicated sequences of genomes. One should be hardworking and also have an experimental bent of mind.
Course:
Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses in Bioinformatics are available at various institutes and universities in the country. Courses in Bioinformatics are available at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; Welingkar Institute of Management, Mumbai (Maharashtra); Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bangalore (Karnataka) etc. The Welingkar Institute of Management offers an M.Sc. in Bioinformatics in collaboration with the Nottingham Trend University of the UK. The NIIT in association with the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, offers an intensive course in Bioinformatics at IIT, New Delhi. A one-year Advanced Diploma in Bioinformatics is offered by the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.
Bio informatics Software and Tools, Computational Biology, Molecular Biology, Biological Databases, Biostatistics, Molecular Modelling, Drug Designing, Bio-programming and Genomics a vital areas for a programme on Bioinformatics. Other topics that one will be required to study in a course on Bioinformatics are Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Structural Biology, Mathematical Biology and Computer Simulations in Biology.
Prospects:
According to the NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies), Bioinformatics is one is one of the fastest growing among all emerging industries. Several institutes across the country, funded by the Government of India, are carrying out research activities in the field of Bioinformatics. The center for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad (Andra Pradesh), the Institute of Microbial Technology (Chandigarh), the Bose Institute, Kolkata (West Bengal), the University of Pune, Pune (Maharashtra, the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (Karnataka) and the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi are a few notable institutes which, funded by the Government of India, carry on research work in Bioinformatics. One can go in for research work at these institutes.
One who is professionally trained in Bioinformatics can get job opportunities abroad too as Biotechnology and Bioinformatics are two disciplines, which have an international career option. If one generates as a trained processional, having done a high-end course from a premier institute, one will be able to take a good position in this ever-expanding field.
Bioinformatics presents a new business opportunity to the Information Technology Industry. The IT industry provides services to those industries where Bioinformatics is applied directly. The scope of finding a job within a software company, as a Bioinformationist, is immense, with divisions of Bioinformatics being established within reputed organization like Infosys, Wipro, TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) and HCL (Hindustan computers Limited). In the software adequately trained in the IT disciplines and in life science, will readily find jobs.
Biomedical organizations, biotech organizations, pharmaceutical companies, agricultural companies, software companies and academic institutions are some avenues where one can find a job, if one is a trained professional in the discipline of Bioinformatics.
One can find jobs in several Biotech industries like CuraGen, Strand Life Sciences, Avestha Gengraine Technologies Private Limited and Celera Genomics which recruit experts in Bioinformatics. One can find jobs in academic institutions and pharmaceutical industries. One can find a job at an academic institution like the center for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad. One can also find a job in various Indian biotech and Pharmaceutical industries like GVK Biosciences, Dr.Reddy's Laboratories, Ranbaxy, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, Biscon in Bangalore and AstraZeneca Research Centre in Bangalore, Which employ professionals in the field of Bioinformatics. Research laboratories of Bioinformatics and Bioinformatics' tools companies employ informaticians who have deep skills in programming.
In the Bioinformatics sector, who will be offered jobs like system analysts, applications analyst, database designer / administrators, programmer, technical support, marketing, systems engineers etc.
Remuneration:
Handsome pay package are offered to the one who have done a professional course in Bioinformatics. One can start one's career as a Project Assistant with a salary of Rs.6,000 to Rs.7,000 per month. If one starts as an Analyst, one will draw a starting salary of Rs.8,000 per month. As an Assistant Programmer, one will earn in between Rs.8,000 to Rs.9,000 per month. One who starts as a Content Editor in the field of Bioinformatics will earn a salary in the range of Rs.8,000 to Rs.10,000 per month. Trained Bioinformaticians are huge demand in the USA, Europe and Australia also.
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