Van Loan School Now Offering Graduate Program in Bioinformatics
The Van Loan School at Endicott College is pleased to offer a new master’s degree in the growing area of bioinformatics — an interdisciplinary field that integrates natural sciences, computer science, and statistics. Industries with increasing job opportunities in bioinformatics include biotech, pharmaceutical, clinical sciences, and academic research labs.
Ideal for those with an undergraduate degree in biology, computer science, or bioengineering, the Master of Science (M.S.) in Bioinformatics is a 36-credit, two-year hybrid program providing students with technical skills in programming, data analysis, research methods, and statistics, while working in a team environment on group problem-solving. The program leverages existing strengths in undergraduate programs such as Biology/Biotechnology and Computer Science and makes use of the outstanding facilities in the Ginger Judge Science Center, including the North Shore Genome Sequencing Center and STEM Incubator for startup companies.
“The need for bioinformaticians is growing,” said Assistant Dean of Science, Technology, and Mathematics for Endicott College Justin Topp, Ph.D. “One of our program goals is to provide students with an inter-disciplinary and applied learning environment that integrates theory and real-world application.”
Some required courses in the graduate program include Programming for Bioinformatics, Molecular Genetics, Protein Biochemistry, Statistics and Data Visualization, Biological Sequence Analysis, and Cheminformatics and Drug Discovery. Electives cover topics like principles of software design, biological systems and image analysis, high content screening analysis, and more.
Students will also choose between a capstone internship or thesis experience that provides them with opportunities to enhance skills in critical thinking and problem solving. The internship option ensures that students apply learned academic theories to a professional work environment, integrating theory and practice, and refining job search skills; and the thesis course requires students to complete an independent, original research project that is the culmination of the academic experience.
“We specifically designed this program to provide students with an education experience that integrates multiple disciplines from day one. Students will take two courses concurrently that will enable them to connect programming and data analysis with natural sciences.” said Topp. “Once they have a thorough understanding of the diverse functions of bioinformatics scientists, they can choose a direction suited to their individual career goals.”
Enrollment in the Bioinformatics program is on a rolling basis with the first cohort starting as early as September 2018. There is no GRE requirement to apply. Learn more about the Master of Science (M.S.) in Bioinformatics available through the Van Loan School at Endicott College. For more information contact Justin Topp, Assistant Dean of Science, Technology and Mathematics, at 978-232-2307 or jtopp@endicott.edu.