Bioinformatics Technicians

Also called: Assistant Research Scientist, Bioinformatics Analyst, Bioinformatics Research Technician, Bioinformatics Specialist, Bioinformatics Technician

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Bioinformatics technicians 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.

Analyze or manipulate bioinformatics data using software packages, statistical applications, or data mining techniques.
Extend existing software programs, web-based interactive tools, or database queries as sequence management and analysis needs evolve.
Maintain awareness of new and emerging computational methods and technologies.
Conduct quality analyses of data inputs and resulting analyses or predictions.
Enter or retrieve information from structural databases, protein sequence motif databases, mutation databases, genomic databases or gene expression databases.
Develop or maintain applications that process biologically based data into searchable databases for purposes of analysis, calculation, or presentation.
Confer with researchers, clinicians, or information technology staff to determine data needs and programming requirements and to provide assistance with database-related research activities.
Participate in the preparation of reports or scientific publications.
Write computer programs or scripts to be used in querying databases.
Document all database changes, modifications, or problems.
Create data management or error-checking procedures and user manuals.
Develop or apply data mining and machine learning algorithms.
Design or implement web-based tools for querying large-scale biological databases.
Monitor database performance and perform any necessary maintenance, upgrades, or repairs.
Confer with database users about project timelines and changes.
Perform routine system administrative functions, such as troubleshooting, back-ups, or upgrades.
Package bioinformatics data for submission to public repositories.
Train bioinformatics staff or researchers in the use of databases.
Test new or updated software or tools and provide feedback to developers.

Work Context

Electronic Mail — 88% responded "Every day".
Spend Time Sitting — 81% responded "Continually or almost continually".
Work With Work Group or Team — 61% responded "Extremely important".
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 82% responded "Every day".
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 54% responded "Extremely important".
Face-to-Face Discussions — 43% responded "Every day".
Freedom to Make Decisions — 41% responded "A lot of freedom".

Work Activities

Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Detailed Work Activities

Develop computer or online applications.
Search files, databases or reference materials to obtain needed information.
Enter information into databases or software programs.
Analyze operational or research data.
Confer with coworkers to coordinate work activities.
Develop data analysis or data management procedures.

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.

English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Biology

Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Complex Problem Solving

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Written Comprehension

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Inductive Reasoning

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Deductive Reasoning

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Information Ordering

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Mathematical Reasoning

The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

Written Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Selective Attention

The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Near Vision

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Speech Recognition

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Flexibility of Closure

The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Category Flexibility

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Speech Clarity

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Fluency of Ideas

The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Number Facility

The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.

Perceptual Speed

The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

Visualization

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Originality

The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

They do well at jobs that need:

Achievement/Effort

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self Control

You might use software like this on the job:

Internet protocol IP multimedia subsystem software

Voice over internet protocol VoiP system software

Operating system software

Microsoft Windows
Linux

Graphics or photo imaging software

Microsoft Visio

Get started on your career:

New job opportunities are very likely in the future.

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Bioinformatics Technicians

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