Have you ever wondered how research and data goes from numbers to solutions? That’s bioinformatics. From fighting diseases to protecting endangered species, bioinformatics touches almost every corner of modern biology. Bioinformatics tackles challenges like climate change and public health using data, computers, software, and algorithms.
Biologists, conservationists, doctors, and more are making new discoveries everyday, and someone needs to do the hard work of interpreting the surge of data. The field of bioinformatics is growing more than the national average, and it’s not hard to see why.
More Data Than Ever
One of the biggest forces driving demand is just how much biological data is being discovered in the lab. New technologies, imaging tools, and molecular processes produce massive datasets at a low cost. It’s never been easier to make world-changing discoveries, but raw data isn’t enough. You need someone to compile, sort, and make sense of the data.
Because labs, institutions, and even industries can’t keep up with interpreting all this output on their own, they turn to professional bioinformatics specialists. They’re essential in every biological industry, and that’s not going away any time soon.
Industries That Need Bioinformatics
Industries in biology keep growing, and so does their need for bioinformatics. Here are some industries where bioinformatics is growing the most:
- Medicine: Medicine needs to take data from millions of patients to come up with a solution for just one. That’s a lot of numbers, and doctors don’t have the time to do it themselves. That’s where bioinformatics specialists come in!
- Agriculture: With millions of farmers across the globe and thousands of different ways to grow food, sifting through the data isn’t an easy task. With computers and algorithms, bioinformatics makes it possible.
- Conservation: Bioinformatics can put conservation efforts on the fast track. By analyzing genetic data on biodiversity, endangered species, invasive organisms, and global warming, specialists help scientists protect environments and our climate.
- Public Health: During disease outbreaks, scientists need to look at the data and make a decision fast. Bioinformatics makes it possible to track viruses and protect the public from a health crisis.
Supply and Demand
The current pool of bioinformatic specialists is not very big, and companies are having a hard time finding qualified professionals who can code and understand biology. While bioinformatics is small now, the projected growth for this field and similar ones is expected to grow by at least 8% by 2033. That’s 5% more than the national average!
This may not be an overnight explosion like some other professions, but it’s still a bright outlook on the career field. A steady demand is far more sustainable, leaving jobs open to you in your future. So if you’re getting your bioinformatics degree, you’re already on the right track.
What This Means for You
Bioinformatics is becoming a critical backbone in biology, medicine, agriculture, and public health. The demand is rising everyday because of the explosion of biological data that industries rely on. Companies need someone to make solutions out of the numbers they come up with.
Programming, statistics, biology, and working with data are becoming valuable skills in the world of science. Every breakthrough in biology starts with someone who can understand biology and computers. Maybe that could be you.
Citations
BioSpace — Bioinformatics Roles in Increasing Demand, Critical to Industry and Personalized Medicine
University of Tennessee — Bioinformatics, Genomics, and Quantitative-Based Solutions for Food Security Under a Changing Climate
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — Conservation Genetics Laboratory
CDC — Detecting Outbreaks with Whole Genome Sequencing
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Mathematicians and Statisticians