Occupation

Bioinformatics Technicians

Human Advantage 65%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.4 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

Apply principles and methods of bioinformatics to assist scientists in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer information science, biology and medical informatics. Apply bioinformatics tools to visualize, analyze, manipulate or interpret molecular data. May build and maintain databases for processing and analyzing genomic or other biological information.

Also Known As: Bioinformatics Analyst, Bioinformatics Research Technician, Bioinformatics Specialist, Bioinformatics Technician, Biometrics Technician, Biotechnician, Data Analyst, Data Technician +7 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Analyze or manipulate bioinformatics data using software packages, statistical applications, or data mining techniques.
  2. Extend existing software programs, web-based interactive tools, or database queries as sequence management and analysis needs evolve.
  3. Maintain awareness of new and emerging computational methods and technologies.
  4. Conduct quality analyses of data inputs and resulting analyses or predictions.
  5. Enter or retrieve information from structural databases, protein sequence motif databases, mutation databases, genomic databases or gene expression databases.
  6. Develop or maintain applications that process biologically based data into searchable databases for purposes of analysis, calculation, or presentation.
  7. Confer with researchers, clinicians, or information technology staff to determine data needs and programming requirements and to provide assistance with database-related research activities.
  8. Participate in the preparation of reports or scientific publications.
  9. Write computer programs or scripts to be used in querying databases.
  10. Document all database changes, modifications, or problems.
  11. Create data management or error-checking procedures and user manuals.

Supplemental Tasks (8)

  1. Develop or apply data mining and machine learning algorithms.
  2. Design or implement web-based tools for querying large-scale biological databases.
  3. Monitor database performance and perform any necessary maintenance, upgrades, or repairs.
  4. Confer with database users about project timelines and changes.
  5. Perform routine system administrative functions, such as troubleshooting, back-ups, or upgrades.
  6. Package bioinformatics data for submission to public repositories.
  7. Train bioinformatics staff or researchers in the use of databases.
  8. Test new or updated software or tools and provide feedback to developers.

Education & Training

Job Zone 4 Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Bachelor's Degree
51%
Master's Degree
41%
Doctoral Degree
4%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.
2%
Post-Doctoral Training
2%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Apache Subversion SVN
  • Atlassian Bamboo
  • C
  • C++
  • Git
  • Hypertext markup language HTML
  • IBM SPSS Statistics
  • Jenkins CI
  • Linux
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Word
  • MySQL
  • Oracle Database
  • Oracle Java
  • Perl
  • Python
  • R
  • Ruby
  • SAP software
  • SAS
  • Structured query language SQL
  • The MathWorks MATLAB

Software (50)

  • Avaya Identity Engines
  • Basic Local Alignment Search Tool BLAST
  • Bioconductor
  • Bowtie
  • Burrows-Wheeler Aligner BWA
  • ClustalW
  • Cufflinks
  • Customer relationship management CRM software
  • Data visualization software
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Esri ArcGIS
  • GENSCAN
  • Genome Analysis Toolkit GATK
  • Geographic information system GIS software
  • PHYLIP
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific Ion Reporter
  • TopHat
  • Voice over internet protocol VoIP system software
  • Web browser software
  • Word processing software

Tools & Equipment (8)

  • Computer clusters
  • Computer workstation setups
  • Desktop computers
  • High throughput screening HTS systems
  • Network file servers
  • Nuclear magnetic resonance NMR spectrometers
  • Semiconductor-based sequencers
  • Web servers

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Biotechnology Research & Development Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 4
Bioinformatics Technicians You are here

Business Information Management Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 4
Bioinformatics Technicians You are here
Zone 5
Statisticians 79% match

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