Tommaso De Fernex, Chair of the Department of Mathematics. Credit: Todd Anderson

Tommaso De Fernex, chair of the Department of Mathematics at the University of Utah, has announced a new bioinformatics bachelor's degree (BS) available beginning fall semester 2024. The degree provides rigorous interdisciplinary training to help graduates thrive in rapidly growing sectors.

At the nexus of data science and life and physical sciences, bioinformatics applies intensive computational methods to analyze and understand complex biological information related to health, biotechnology, genomics and more. Through a comprehensive curriculum, undergraduates at the U will gain expertise in a variety of areas that together form an inter-disciplinary, multi-semester laboratory with rich possibilities.

“This major represents a pivotal step in keeping our students at the forefront of biotechnology,” says De Fernex. “It embodies true interdisciplinary collaboration, drawing expertise from biology, chemistry, and computer science faculties. I'm grateful for the dedication of our faculty in developing this program and for our strong partnerships with the medical campus and Utah's thriving biotechnology sector.”

 The complexity of life

Another math professor at the U, Fred Adler, agrees. The “study of life” is decidedly complex, says Adler who has joint faculty appointments in biology and mathematics and is currently director of the U’s School of Biological Sciences. “Unraveling that complexity means combining the tools developed in the last century: ability to visualize and measure huge numbers of tiny things that used to be invisible, technology to store and analyze vast quantities of data, and the fundamental biological and mathematical knowledge to make sense of it all.”

Continues Adler: “A few years ago, we heard that biology is the science of the 21^st century. But with all the excitement and innovation in AI and machine learning, it might seem that this prediction was premature. We think nothing could be further from the truth.” Clearly, with the advent of biostatistical modeling, machine learning for genetics, biological data mining, computer programming and computational techniques for biomedical research, he said, “the preeminent role of biology in the sciences” has arrived.

A busy intersection

Bioinformatics is a field that intersects virtually every STEM discipline, developing and utilizing methods and software tools for understanding biological data, especially when the data sets are large and complex. Mathematics, (including statistics), biology, chemistry, physics, computer science and programming and information engineering all constellate to analyze and interpret biological data. The subsequent process of analyzing and interpreting data is referred to as computational biology.

Historically, bioinformatics and computational biology have involved the analysis of biological data, particularly DNA, RNA, and protein sequences. The field experienced explosive growth starting in the mid-1990s, driven largely by the Human Genome Project and by rapid advances in DNA sequencing technology, including at the U.

The new bioinformatics bachelor’s degree also complements the University’s storied graduate program in biomedical informatics, run by the Department of Biomedical Informatics at the Spencer Fox School of Medicine.

High-growth career field

The field of bioinformatics is experiencing rapid growth, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 15% increase in related jobs over the next decade, outpacing many other occupations. Graduates with a bioinformatics degree can expect to find opportunities in diverse sectors, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and research institutions. The interdisciplinary nature of this degree equips students with a unique skill set that combines biological knowledge with computational expertise. This blend of skills is increasingly valuable in today's data-driven economy, opening doors to a wide range of career paths and translating into higher earning potential for bioinformatics graduates.

"Students with quantitative expertise, like that offered in the new bioinformatics degree, are in high demand in the life sciences industry," says Peter Trapa, dean of the College of Science. "Recent data on U graduates highlights strong job placement and impressive salaries for graduates with such skills. This degree is designed to prepare students for success in these thriving job markets."

What students can expect

As a bioinformatics major, a student will learn from and collaborate with faculty pushing the boundaries of genomics, systems biology, biomedical informatics and more. Other universities and colleges offer a similar degree, but advantages to the U’s bioinformatics major include the following:

• Hands-on research experiences in a student’s first year through the College’s celebrated Science Research Initiative
• Core mathematical foundations through the renowned Department of Mathematics
• Access to an R1 university with nationally ranked biomedical, health sciences and genomics programs
• Internship opportunities with industry partners
• Advisory support and career coaching

Concludes De Fernex, “Our bioinformatics curriculum promises a challenging yet immensely rewarding journey, equipping students for high-paying careers or further advanced studies. In today's world, where science and medicine increasingly rely on big data analysis, bioinformatics stands as a frontier of discovery.”

Students can learn more about the new bioinformatics major by visiting http://math.utah.edu/bioinformatics.

By David Pace