High School

In high school, take as many science (especially biology and chemistry), math, and computer science (especially database design and computer programming) courses as possible. English and speech classes will help you to develop your communication skills, which are important for success in this field.

Postsecondary Education

A bachelor’s degree in biostatistics or bioinformatics is required to work as a bioinformatics specialist. Some students combine a degree in statistics with a minor in biology, chemistry, or a related field. Many people go on to earn graduate degrees in biostatistics or bioinformatics. Typical courses in bioinformatics program include Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics, Bioethics, Biostatistical Methods, Data Analysis, Calculus, Statistics, Computer Programming, Database Design, and Chemistry. In addition to classwork, students spend a considerable amount of time in computer and science laboratories. One or more internships are typically required. Visit https://www.iscb.org/iscb-degree-certificate-programs for a listing of bioinformatics-related degree and certificate programs.

Other Education or Training

The Bioinformatics Organization and International Society for Computational Biology offer conference sessions and professional development courses on programming languages; genome browsers; biomedical data and literature mining; computational genetic epidemiology; genome analysis; health informatics; structural bioinformatics; and other topics. The Biotechnology Industry Organization provides continuing education classes on general topics in biotechnology. Contact these organizations for more information.

Certification or Licensing

There are no certification or licensing requirements for bioinformatics specialists.

Any experience one can obtain in the field of bioinformatics—such as an internship, summer job, volunteering, or a part-time job—will be useful.

To be a successful bioinformatics specialist, you should have excellent computer, mathematical, and problem solving skills, be very knowledgeable about medical science, be able to use scientific rules and the scientific method to solve problems, have an analytical mind, have a patient personality, and be highly ethical. You also need strong written and verbal communication skills, the ability to work as a member of a team, and a willingness to continue to learn throughout your career.