BIOINFORMATICS ?
All About Bioinformatics Courses
| Courses Available | Certificate, Diploma, PG Diploma, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and Doctoral |
| Eligibility | Merit and Entrance Based |
| Average Annual Course Fee | INR 10,000 – INR 5,00,000 |
| Courses Offered | Certificate in Bioinformatics, Diploma in Bioinformatics, PGD in Bioinformatics, BTech Bioinformatics, BSc Bioinformatics, MTech Bioinformatics, Ph.D. in Bioinformatics |
| Top Colleges | Bharathiar University, VIT Vellore, IIT Delhi, BHU, JMI |
| Jobs and Scope | Bioinformatics Analysts, Bioinformatician, Bio-Statistician, Medical Coder, Bioinformatics Research Associate, Technology Manager |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 2,50,000 – INR 6,00,000 |
Types of Bioinformatics Courses
Bioinformatics courses in India can be pursued at certificate, diploma, PG diploma, UG, PG, and doctoral levels. They can be pursued online as well as offline in regular and distance learning modes. BTech Bioinformatics, PG Diploma in Bioinformatics, and MTech Bioinformatics are among the most popular bioinformatics courses. The course fees for various bioinformatics courses vary and can range between INR 10,000 – 5,00,000.
Online Bioinformatics Certification Courses
The following table highlights the most popular online certificate bioinformatics courses that candidates can do after completing their 10+2.
| Course Name | Providers | Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate Course in Bioinformatics | MITCON | INR 12,000 |
| Manipal School of Life Sciences | INR 11,000 | |
| Miranda House, New Delhi | INR 5,000 | |
| Bioinformatics Graduate Certificate | Harvard Extension School | INR 2,45,469 |
| Certificate Course in Bioinformatics | Indian Academy | – |
| Bioinformatics Specialization | Coursera | Free Enrolment |
| Online Graduate Certificate in Applied Bioinformatics | University of Delaware | INR 75,205 per credit |
| Bio-Informatics: Algorithms and Applications | NPTEL | Free |
| Graduate Certificate in Bioinformatics | Northeastern University | INR 27,700 |
Bioinformatics Course Eligibility
The eligibility criteria for bioinformatics courses vary from one another depending on the type of course, institutions offering them, and the level of course.
| Level | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Diploma in Bioinformatics | Completed class 12 in science stream from a recognized board with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as compulsory subjects |
| PG Diploma in Bioinformatics | Completed graduation or BSc with Physics/ Chemistry/ Biology as one of the subjects or an equivalent degree in relevant courses |
| Undergraduate Bioinformatics Courses | Passed 10+2 with PCBM and a minimum of 50- 55% marks and qualified for an entrance exam (if any) |
| Postgraduate Bioinformatics Courses | Passed an undergraduate bioinformatics course or relevant degree with at least 50-55% marks and qualified for an entrance exam (if any) |
| Ph.D. in Bioinformatics | Passed a master’s degree in management, science, or engineering with a minimum of 50-55% marks and must have qualified for a national or university level Ph.D. entrance exam such as UGC NET, IIT JAM, etc. |
Top Bioinformatics Colleges
Here is a list of top colleges for bioinformatics courses in India.
| Name of the College | Location |
|---|---|
| Indian Institute of Technology | Kanpur |
| Vellore Institute of Technology | Vellore |
| Stella Maris College | Chennai |
| Delhi Technological University | New Delhi |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | New Delhi |
| Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Information Technology and Biotechnology | Pune |
| Amity University | Noida |
| Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi |
| International Institute of Information Technology | Hyderabad |
| Punjab University | Chandigarh |
Bioinformatics Course Syllabus
The syllabus for bioinformatics courses varies depending on the level, of course, duration, and the institutions offering them. However, some of the important subjects/ topics for bioinformatics that are covered in many courses are given below.
| Fundamentals of Bioinformatics | Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Genetics |
| Fundamentals of Programming Languages | Genomics & Proteomics |
| Data Structures & Algorithms | Microbiology & Biotechnology |
| Database Management Systems | Structural Bioinformatics |
| Java Programming & Software Applications | General Chemistry |
| Statistical Methods | Analytical Techniques & Chemoinformatics |
| Biodiversity, Ecological, & Immuno-Informatics | Essential Mathematics & Statistics |
| Molecular Anthropology | Organic Chemistry |
Skills Required to Pursue Bioinformatics Courses
| Knowledge of Genomics & Genetics | Statistical Skills |
| Programming Skills | General Biology Knowledge |
| Analytical Reasoning Skills | Database Management |
| Data Mining | Machine Learning |
| Good Communication | Managerial Skills |
Bioinformatics Course: Jobs and Scope
The scope of Bioinformatics courses in the field of science and technology is increasing rapidly. Students after completing a course in bioinformatics can work in various industries including Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Biomedical, Research institution, Hospitals, etc. Tabulated below is a list of popular job options after successfully completing a bioinformatics course
| Job Profiles | Job Description | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Bioinformatics Analysts | Their tasks include working with large databases of omics data, including genomics studies such as the Human Genome Project. They are responsible for conducting research on diseases/ pathology and developing experiments as well as algorithms for finding cures. | INR 5.8 lakhs |
| Bioinformatician | They are responsible for analyzing, computing data, and creating customized algorithms as well as program pipelines based on that data. They may also perform tasks such as creating and implementing new as well as innovative software/ automation. | INR 5.4 lakhs |
| Bio-Statistician | They perform statistical analysis for a vast range of topics related to biology and assist with experimental design. They are responsible for working with the scientific team for studying statistical design, helping in determining the needs of the team and their appropriate methods. | INR 5.9 lakhs |
| Medical Coder | Their duties include transferring diagnostic as well as treatment terms from various health professionals into coded forms for keeping records, billing, and insurance purposes. They also review and analyze patients’ health records for determining relevant diagnoses and treatment plans and provide the patient’s healthcare records to ensure proper coding. | INR 2.5 lakhs |
| Bioinformatics Research Associate | They are responsible for performing research and developing novel bioinformatics algorithms as well as conducting large-scale integrative analyses of datasets related to biological and genomics. | INR 4 lakhs |
| Technology Manager | Their duties include coordinating information systems in locations such as companies, government agencies, as well as other organizations. They are responsible for ensuring the proper working of the organization’s computer hardware, software, database management systems, internet servers, telecommunication services, etc | INR 25 lakhs |
Job Profiles and Top Recruiters
Stemming from a course with an extensively diversified subject base, Bioinformatics comes with a hoard of career opportunities that you can branch into. Being adept at both computers and biotechnology, you can make your next career choice based on which one of the fields you would want to lean towards. Both come with equally good prospects of pay as well as growth.
Listed here are a few popular careers in the field of Bioinformatics –
| Job Title | Description |
1. | Bio information Analyst | Development of algorithms and software to determine the cure for diseases by studying their pathology. It also involves analyzing complex life forms, as well as other biological data. |
2. | Team Leader | Heads a research group of Bioinformatics graduates as well as organizes the process of both study and analysis. |
3. | Research Associate | Performs tasks related to research, study and innovation in the field of Bioinformatics |
4. | Bio Statistician | Deals with the collection, study and interpretation of data using the methods of statistics to come up with results in the field of bioinformatics. |
5. | Computational Biologist | Study of biological systems using biological data that has been analyzed with the use of the software. |
6. | Database Programmer | Helps with the creation as well as maintenance of programs with relation to the storage of biological data. |
7. | Bioinformatics Software Developer | Helps with the creation and handling of software that is used to process and analyze biological data. |
8. | Medical Coder | They help in the field of medicine in the process of transforming physicians reports into useful medical codes. |
Top Recruiters
This course holds job opportunities in several departments such as hospitals, clinical pharmaceuticals, Database Design and Maintenance, Bioinformatic Research, as well as Proterozoic Pharmacology. Listed here, are some of the top companies that recruit you after a course in Bioinformatics –
- Bison
- Wipro
- Ranbaxy
- TATA Consultancy Services
- IBM Life Sciences
- Strand Life Sciences
- Torrent Pharmaceuticals
- Satyam
- Reliance
Average Salary
For salaries in the private sector, the initial salary is of Rs. 2 lakhs to 3 lakhs per annum. There is a steady rise with experience, up to around Rs. 6 lakhs to Rs. 7 lakhs per annum. In the government sector, the salary is usually fixed to about Rs. 3,00,000 to Rs. 4,00,000 per annum.
| Job Description | Salary Per Annum |
1. | Clinical Bioinformatician | Rs. 2,00,000 |
2. | Bioinformatics Analyst | Rs. 8,00,000 |
3. | Medical Coder | Rs. 2,50,000 |
4. | Team Leader | Rs. 8,00,000 |
5. | Bioinformatics Trainee | Rs. 6,00,000 |
6. | Technology Manager | Rs. 10,00,000 |
7. | Application Scientist | Rs. 5,00,000 |
8. | Bio-Statistician | Rs. 7,00,000 |
9. | Research Associate | Rs. 3,00,000 |
The salary figures mentioned anywhere in these articles are just for reference purposes. Please treat them as such. Actual salaries may vary depending on respective candidates, employer, job location and numerous other factors.
Required Skillset for Bio-informatics
For any individual who is interested in pursuing bio-informatics course, it is essential to have certain skillsets that will help in understanding and learn the course better.
Analytical Skills – The core aspect of Bioinformatics is to create solutions to various problems in the field of biology. Therefore, having innovative ideas and analytical skills is the key to success in this field.
Adept with handling software and other technology – A huge part of the Bioinformatics course works around handling as well as the development of several software for the storage and analysis of biological data. Hence, being adept at the usage of a computer is essential.
Teamwork and Coordination – There are several departments that one must coordinate with in the field of Bioinformatics. Therefore, good communication skills, an ability to delegate and work as a team are essential for the above field
