Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics
The emerging field of Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary research area that teaches you how to analyze large-scale datasets and apply that analysis to solve problems in a variety of professional, medical, and scholarly fields. The Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics will train students in basic concepts and skills to perform computational analysis of biological data - including the human genome. Students will be able to participate in research with Institute faculty and other faculty in departments across the campus. Institute core and adjunct faculty teach many of the informatics (INFO) classes offered each semester.
Learn more about the career opportunities available for bioinformatics majors here.
For more information about the Bioinformatics program contact Elliot Lefkowitz, Program Co-director
Admissions Criteria
Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the Bioinformatics program, admission criteria is higher than those for either biology or computer science.
Learn more about Admissions Criteria
Plan of Study
The plan of study for this program includes courses in biology, chemistry, computer sciences, mathematics, informatics and core curriculum courses.
Click here for the Plan of Study
Undergraduate Informatics Courses
Click here for course listing of Informatics courses offered at the undergraduate level.
Below is a listing of classes offered during the next semester.
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Spring 2023
INFO 101: Intro Bioinformatics Sem
CRN: 42206
Min CR: 1
Schedule Type: Lecture/Lab
Instructor: Elliot J. Lefokwitz (P)
DescriptionFaculty-led seminar course that exposes students to cutting edge research topics and career opportunities in the field of bioinformatics. Students will read assigned articles and be prepared for discussion. Subject matter varies by term and students will take this course during multiple semesters for a maximum of two credits.
INFO 403: Bioinformatics-II
CRN: 45983
Min CR: 3
Schedule Type: Lecture
Instructor: Ryan L. Melvin (P)
PrerequisitesUndergraduate level INFO 302 Minimum Grade of C and Undergraduate level CS 303 Minimum Grade of C
DescriptionDevelopment of computational algorithms to solve biological questions with a significant problem-solving component. This includes computational techniques such as dynamic programming, optimization, hidden Markov models, graph algorithms, and other mathematical and statistical approaches. In addition, data mining and machine learning methods in computational biology will be covered.
INFO 497: Research in Bioinformatics
CRN: 43717
Min CR: 0
Max CR: 4
Schedule Type: Undergraduate Research
Instructor: Elliot J. Lefkowitz (P)
PrerequisitesUndergraduate level PSDO 200 Minimum Grade of C
DescriptionResearch in Bioinformatics for non-honors students under the supervision of a faculty sponsor.
INFO 498: Honors Bioinformatic Research
CRN: 43718
Min CR: 0
Max CR: 4
Schedule Type: Capstone Course Undergraduate Research
Instructor: Elliot J Lefkowitz (P)
PrerequisiteUndergraduate level PSDO 200 Minimum Grade of C and Undergraduate level CS 103 Minimum Grade of C
Description
Honors Research is an innovative course that will provide undergraduate students with an opportunity to engage in rigorous scholarly practice of the core bioinformatics skills necessary for performing independent research. Program faculty will closely work with students to identify a project that explores an area of interest for the student based on the integration of prior learning. Students will be performing bioinformatics analyses on laboratory data or publicly available large-scale data, incorporate quality control and develop software pipelines.
INFO 499: Bioinformatics Capstone
CRN: 44674
Min CR: 3
Schedule Type: Lab Capstone Course
Instructor: Elliot J. Lefkowitz (P)
PrerequisiteUndergraduate level INFO 403 Minimum Grade of C and Undergraduate level INFO 404 Minimum Grade of C and Undergraduate level PSDO 200 Minimum Grade of C
Description
Students will be allowed to rotate to different program faculty or continue with their mentor from BY/CS 498 Bioinformatics Capstone Research I. With close mentoring and guidance from program faculty, the student will identify a capstone project or continue their existing bioinformatics project. The capstone project is expected to culminate in a formal scholarly work reflecting integration of the scientific knowledge gained through the project. The scholarly work may take the form or a written manuscript or semester report.
INFO 603: Biological Data Management
CRN: 42385
Min CR: 3
Schedule Type: Lecture Online
Instructor: Jake Y. Chen (P)Prerequisite
Graduate level INFO 601 Minimum Grade of C
Description
The introduction of biological data management concepts, theories, and applications. Basic concepts such as relational data representation, relational database modeling, and relational database queries will be introduced in the context of SQL and relational algebra. Advanced concepts including ontology representation and database development workflow will be introduced. Emerging big data concepts and tools, including Hadoop and NoSQL, will be introduced in the context of managing semi-structured and unstructured data. Application of biological data management in biology will be covered using case studies of high-impact widely used biological databases. A class project will be required of all participants.
INFO 604: Next-gen Sequ Data Analysis
CRN: 43768
Min CR: 3
Schedule Type: Lecture Online
Instructor: Min Gao (P)Prerequisite
Graduate level INFO 601 Minimum Grade of C
Description
This course is aimed to equip participants with the essential knowledge and skills required to begin analyzing next-generation sequencing data and carry out some of the most common types of analysis. The topics covered in-depth during this course are the analysis of RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq data, ATACseq data, and Single-cell data, with an optional Variant Calling session. The sessions will also include Introduction to next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, common NGS data analysis issues, applications of sequencing technologies, introduction to bioinformatics file formats (e.g. FASTQ, bam, bed) and bioinformatics toolkits. At the end of this course, participants will have the expertise to perform these data analysis independently.
INFO 691: Bioinformatics Seminar I
CRN: 45776
Min CR: 1
Schedule Type: Lecture Seminar
Instructor: Amy Wang (P)
PrerequisiteGraduate level INFO 601 Minimum Grade of C
DescriptionFor master’s student only. Students will learn how to prepare, present, and critique research presentations in bioinformatics by attending seminar presentations made by presenters. Seminars are presented by graduate students, faculty, visitors, or online speakers. Students must show evidence of prior preparation, active participation, and documented comprehension of the topics.
INFO 697: Biomed Informatics Methods II
CRN: 45778
Min CR: 3
Schedule Type: Lecture Online
Instructor: Tiago K. Colicchio (P)Prerequisite
Undergraduate level INFO 695 Minimum Grade of B or Undergraduate level INFO 696 Minimum Grade of B
DescriptionBiomedical informatics is the art and science of collecting, representing and analyzing patient and biomedical information and translating insights from the information into better health and new medical discoveries. The spectrum of informatics applications ranges from molecules (bioinformatics) to individuals and populations (clinical and public health informatics). We will examine the scientific field and research methods that form the foundation for biomedical informatics research. The course will include didactics, readings, and applications in applying research methods, culminating in a research plan in grant proposal format and review by a mock panel. This foundational course is intended for informatics majors and students in allied fields (e.g., health, biological, or computer sciences) who are interested in exploring the field of informatics. It is primarily intended for students who will pursue research careers in biomedical informatics and is the second course in a two-part series.
INFO 703: Biological Data Management
CRN: 42389
Min CR: 3
Schedule Type: Lecture
Instructor: Jake Y. Chen (P)Prerequisite
Graduate level INFO 701 Minimum Grade of C
DescriptionThe introduction of biological data management concepts, theories, and applications. Basic concepts such as relational data representation, relational database modeling, and relational database queries will be introduced in the context of SQL and relational algebra. Advanced concepts including ontology representation and database development workflow will be introduced. Emerging big data concepts and tools, including Hadoop and NoSQL, will be introduced in the context of managing semi-structured and unstructured data. Application of biological data management in biology will be covered using case studies of high-impact widely used biological databases. A class project will be required of all participants.
INFO 704: Next-gen Sequ Data Analysis
CRN: 43851
Min CR: 3
Schedule Type: Lecture
Instructor: Min Gao (P)Prerequisite
Graduate level INFO 701 Minimum Grade of C
DescriptionThis course is aimed to equip participants with the essential knowledge and skills required to begin analyzing next-generation sequencing data and carry out some of the most common types of analysis. The topics covered in-depth during this course are the analysis of RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq data, ATACseq data, and Single-cell data, with an optional Variant Calling session. The sessions will also include Introduction to next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, common NGS data analysis issues, applications of sequencing technologies, introduction to bioinformatics file formats (e.g. FASTQ, bam, bed) and bioinformatics toolkits. At the end of this course, participants will have the expertise to perform these data analysis independently.
INFO 791: Bioinformatics Seminar I
CRN: 45775
Min CR: 1
Schedule Type: Lecture
Instructor: Amy Wang (P)Prerequisite
Graduate level INFO 701 Minimum Grade of C
DescriptionFor doctoral student only. Students will learn how to prepare, present, and critique research presentations in bioinformatics by attending seminar presentations made by presenters. Seminars are presented by graduate students, faculty, visitors, or online speakers. Students must show evidence of prior preparation, active participation, and documented comprehension of the topics.
INFO 797: Biomed Informatics Methods II
CRN: 45777
Min CR: 3
Schedule Type: Lecture Online
Instructor: Tiago K. Colicchio (P)Prerequisite
Graduate level INFO 795 Minimum Grade of B or Graduate level INFO 796 Minimum Grade of B
DescriptionBiomedical informatics is the art and science of collecting, representing and analyzing patient and biomedical information and translating insights from the information into better health and new medical discoveries. The spectrum of informatics applications ranges from molecules (bioinformatics) to individuals and populations (clinical and public health informatics). We will examine the scientific field and research methods that form the foundation for biomedical informatics research. The course will include didactics, readings, and applications in applying research methods, culminating in a research plan in grant proposal format and review by a mock panel. This foundational course is intended for informatics majors and students in allied fields (e.g., health, biological, or computer sciences) who are interested in exploring the field of informatics. It is primarily intended for students who will pursue research careers in biomedical informatics and is the second course in a two-part series.