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Bioinformatics Scientists

Conduct research using bioinformatics theory and methods in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer information science, biology and medical informatics. May design databases and develop algorithms for processing and analyzing genomic information, or other biological information.
  • Summary

  • Details

  • Work Activities

    • Manipulate publicly accessible, commercial, or proprietary genomic, proteomic, or post-genomic databases.
    • Consult with researchers to analyze problems, recommend technology-based solutions, or determine computational strategies.
    • Instruct others in the selection and use of bioinformatics tools.
    • Provide statistical and computational tools for biologically based activities, such as genetic analysis, measurement of gene expression, or gene function determination.
    • Confer with departments, such as marketing, business development, or operations, to coordinate product development or improvement.
    • Prepare summary statistics of information regarding human genomes.
    • Develop new software applications or customize existing applications to meet specific scientific project needs.
    • Collaborate with software developers in the development and modification of commercial bioinformatics software.
    • Keep abreast of new biochemistries, instrumentation, or software by reading scientific literature and attending professional conferences.
    • Collaborate with software developers in the development and modification of commercial bioinformatics software.
    • Create novel computational approaches and analytical tools as required by research goals.
    • Create or modify web-based bioinformatics tools.
    • Improve user interfaces to bioinformatics software and databases.
    • Analyze large molecular datasets, such as raw microarray data, genomic sequence data, or proteomics data, for clinical or basic research purposes.
    • Test new and updated bioinformatics tools and software.
    • Communicate research results through conference presentations, scientific publications, or project reports.
    • Compile data for use in activities, such as gene expression profiling, genome annotation, or structural bioinformatics.
    • Recommend new systems and processes to improve operations.
    • Consult with researchers to analyze problems, recommend technology-based solutions, or determine computational strategies.
    • Design and apply bioinformatics algorithms including unsupervised and supervised machine learning, dynamic programming, or graphic algorithms.
    • Direct the work of technicians and information technology staff applying bioinformatics tools or applications in areas such as proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, or clinical bioinformatics.
    • Develop data models and databases.

    Skills

    • Coordination
      • Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
    • Social Perceptiveness
      • Understanding people's reactions.
    • Reading Comprehension
      • Reading work-related information.
    • Mathematics
      • Using math to solve problems.
    • Science
      • Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
    • Critical Thinking
      • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
    • Operation and Control
      • Using equipment or systems.
    • Learning Strategies
      • Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
    • Operations Analysis
      • Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
    • Management of Personnel Resources
      • Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
    • Negotiation
      • Bringing people together to solve differences.
    • Equipment Selection
      • Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
    • Management of Material Resources
      • Managing equipment and materials.
    • Instructing
      • Teaching people how to do something.
    • Service Orientation
      • Looking for ways to help people.
    • Installation
      • Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
    • Programming
      • Writing computer programs.
    • Time Management
      • Managing your time and the time of other people.
    • Systems Evaluation
      • Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
    • Quality Control Analysis
      • Testing how well a product or service works.
    • Judgment and Decision Making
      • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
    • Troubleshooting
      • Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
    • Operations Monitoring
      • Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
    • Technology Design
      • Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
    • Monitoring
      • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
    • Active Learning
      • Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
    • Complex Problem Solving
      • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
    • Repairing
      • Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
    • Persuasion
      • Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
    • Speaking
      • Talking to others.
    • Equipment Maintenance
      • Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
    • Active Listening
      • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
    • Writing
      • Writing things for co-workers or customers.
    • Systems Analysis
      • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
    • Management of Financial Resources
      • Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.

    Abilities

    • Gross Body Coordination
      • Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
    • Finger Dexterity
      • Putting together small parts with your fingers.
    • Extent Flexibility
      • Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
    • Stamina
      • Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
    • Originality
      • Creating new and original ideas.
    • Rate Control
      • Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
    • Manual Dexterity
      • Holding or moving items with your hands.
    • Fluency of Ideas
      • Coming up with lots of ideas.
    • Deductive Reasoning
      • Using rules to solve problems.
    • Information Ordering
      • Ordering or arranging things.
    • Peripheral Vision
      • Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
    • Control Precision
      • Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
    • Spatial Orientation
      • Knowing where things are around you.
    • Mathematical Reasoning
      • Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
    • Glare Sensitivity
      • Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
    • Multilimb Coordination
      • Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
    • Visualization
      • Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
    • Perceptual Speed
      • Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
    • Memorization
      • Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
    • Speed of Closure
      • Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
      • Keeping your arm or hand steady.
    • Dynamic Flexibility
      • Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
    • Speed of Limb Movement
      • Quickly moving your arms and legs.
    • Written Comprehension
      • Reading and understanding what is written.
    • Category Flexibility
      • Grouping things in different ways.
    • Night Vision
      • Seeing at night or under low light.
    • Wrist-Finger Speed
      • Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
    • Flexibility of Closure
      • Seeing hidden patterns.
    • Near Vision
      • Seeing details up close.
    • Far Vision
      • Seeing details that are far away.
    • Problem Sensitivity
      • Noticing when problems happen.
    • Written Expression
      • Communicating by writing.
    • Reaction Time
      • Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
    • Oral Expression
      • Communicating by speaking.
    • Dynamic Strength
      • Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
    • Speech Recognition
      • Recognizing spoken words.
    • Speech Clarity
      • Speaking clearly.
    • Trunk Strength
      • Using your lower back and stomach.
    • Static Strength
      • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
    • Time Sharing
      • Doing two or more things at the same time.
    • Auditory Attention
      • Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
    • Inductive Reasoning
      • Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
    • Gross Body Equilibrium
      • Keeping your balance or staying upright.
    • Hearing Sensitivity
      • Telling the difference between sounds.
    • Response Orientation
      • Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
    • Selective Attention
      • Paying attention to something without being distracted.
    • Depth Perception
      • Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
    • Oral Comprehension
      • Listening and understanding what people say.
    • Visual Color Discrimination
      • Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
    • Number Facility
      • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
    • Sound Localization
      • Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
    • Explosive Strength
      • Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.

    Knowledge

    • Food Production
      • Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
    • Geography
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
    • Telecommunications
      • Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
    • Sales and Marketing
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
    • Communications and Media
      • Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
    • Transportation
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
    • Design
      • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
    • Sociology and Anthropology
      • Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
    • Computers and Electronics
      • Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
    • Mathematics
      • Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
    • Customer and Personal Service
      • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
    • Physics
      • Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
    • Administrative
      • Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
    • Economics and Accounting
      • Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
    • Psychology
      • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
    • Chemistry
      • Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
    • History and Archeology
      • Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
    • Education and Training
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
    • Medicine and Dentistry
      • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
    • English Language
      • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
    • Engineering and Technology
      • Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
    • Production and Processing
      • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
    • Therapy and Counseling
      • Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
    • Administration and Management
      • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
    • Building and Construction
      • Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
    • Mechanical
      • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
    • Foreign Language
      • Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
    • Biology
      • Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
    • Law and Government
      • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
    • Fine Arts
      • Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
    • Personnel and Human Resources
      • Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
    • Philosophy and Theology
      • Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
    • Public Safety and Security
      • Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

    Education

    Education
    Bachelor's degree
    Work Experience
    No work experience
    Training
    No on-the-job training

    Pay

    Washington Annual Salary
    96120/yr
    Washington Hourly Wage
    46.21/hr

    Washington Employment Trends

    Currently Employed
    1,790
    Yearly Projected Openings
    180

    Personality

    Investigative: People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out. They do well at jobs that need:
    • Analytical Thinking
    • Attention to Detail
    • Persistence
    • Dependability
    • Integrity
    • Independence

    Tools

    • Desktop computers
    • Laser printers
    • Notebook computers
    • Personal computers
    • Scanners

    Technology

    • Analytical or scientific software
    • Application server software
    • Business intelligence and data analysis software
    • Cloud-based data access and sharing software
    • Customer relationship management CRM software
    • Data base management system software
    • Data base user interface and query software
    • Development environment software
    • Enterprise application integration software
    • Enterprise resource planning ERP software
    • File versioning software
    • Internet browser software
    • Object or component oriented development software
    • Object oriented data base management software
    • Office suite software
    • Operating system software
    • Portal server software
    • Presentation software
    • Program testing software
    • Spreadsheet software
    • Web platform development software
    • Word processing software