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FAQ: Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat degree would I get at the end of the CIHR Bioinformatics Training Program for Health Research?You can select one of two possible endpoints for your studies:
The specific degree that you obtain will depend on the university to which you are admitted, and the particular faculty within that university to which you apply. We are currently affiliated with the following universities and departments:
The specific degree you would receive would be subject to the rules of each particular department. For instance, from SFU's School of Computing Science, you might receive a M.Sc. in Computing Science with a "specialty" in bioinformatics. Currently, SFU is initiating the process of allowing students in this program to have the flexibility to graduate with either a degree in "Computing Science", "Bioinformatics" or "Molecular Biology and Biochemistry" - this is subject to senate approval. Our program has only been in operation since the summer of 2002. The program has graduated eight students. Can I study part-time while I still keep my job?Unfortunately, no. The belief of the program's founders and mentors is that bioinformatics is a difficult discipline to study, and full-time attention during the program is required. If you wish to maintain your job during your studies, some employers will offer you an unpaid leave of absence in order to improve your educational qualifications; you may wish to investigate that possibility. I've already studied bioinformatics, or for some reason I think I've mastered some of the course material. Do I have to take the whole program, or can I start in the middle?Sorry, you can't start in the middle. No matter what endpoint you're progressing towards, you need to do all the mandatory core courses, and the required number of electives and research rotations. Every student that starts in any given September - regardless of whether s/he is studying towards a M.Sc. or a Ph.D. - does the same required courses and a certain number of electives/research rotations. I've read the material about the background that you're looking for, and I have some of the background (in biochemistry/biology, or computing science, or mathematics/statistics) but I'm missing one of those three areas. Should I apply?That depends. If your academic record is very, very good, and you have most of the background, the program can offer you the opportunity to learn the rest. However, you should know that we have many applications from students who have both halves of the background we're looking for; if you don't have a history in both life science and computing/mathematical science, then you will have to have an exceptional history. Many of our applicants for the 2002 cohort had grade-point averages of 3.75 or higher, and experience in both life science and computing/mathematical science. Can I be admitted if my GPA is (such-and-such), and my educational history includes (a long list of courses), and if I take (such-and-such a course)?Our admissions process is competitive. For admission to one of our small yearly cohorts, we take all the applications we have received and rank them against each other. Sorry, but we cannot comment on the suitability of your application before we receive it - the only way you can find out is by applying. Our Admissions Committee looks at many things, including your GPA, the content of courses that you have taken, your letters of reference, and how you express your interests and goals for studying in the program. If you are applying from outside Canada, we encourage you to apply as early as possible so that your educational background can be assessed against Canadian standards. I'm really interested in bioinformatics, but I don't think I have the grades, or the educational/working background, to get into your program. What should I do?First of all - there's nothing that we could recommend that would be a way to improve your qualifications that would guarantee you entrance to our program. We only have a limited number of spaces, and we have many applications from very highly qualified students. Even if you follow our suggestions, we cannot guarantee that you'll be admitted to our program. However, we do think it's a great idea that you want to study bioinformatics. There are two paths for people in your position: (1) improve your qualifications and hope to get access to our program, or (2) study bioinformatics in another program. How can I improve my qualifications and perhaps gain admission to your program?There's nothing that you can do to raise your grade-point average retroactively? but our Admissions Committee looks at your entire application, not just your GPA. If you have, say, a B+ average, you can look for ways to make your background more well-rounded. For instance, if you have a lot of life science education, you might consider studying computing science or statistics. One very good program is the Canadian Bioinformatics Workshops, and you can find out more about them at www.bioinformatics.ca. These workshops are a great introduction to the tools and techniques of bioinformatics - taking one of the CBW courses may give you the exposure to bioinformatics that you would need to decide whether you are truly suited to studying and working in the field. To quote the University of California at Santa Cruz on this topic: "you should be strong in at least 2 of the 3 core areas of Bioinformatics: Programming and Computers, Mathematics and Statistics, and Biochemistry and Biology. If you are lacking expertise in Programming and Computers, take some advanced undergraduate courses in algorithms. If you are lacking expertise in Mathematics, take some advanced undergraduate statistics courses such as Bayesian Statistics. If you are lacking experience in Biochemistry, take some courses in biochemistry, proteins, and genomics. We generally do not accept students who have not had any advanced mathematics. We have also found that programming is a skill that usually takes years to develop. Please learn to program before entering the graduate program." Where else can I study bioinformatics?There are a number of excellent undergraduate and post-graduate programs in bioinformatics all over the world, and more are becoming available all the time. If you want to do an undergraduate degree in bioinformatics, here are some resources:
Many other undergraduate options exist, and you should research available programs carefully. There are many available opportunities to study life sciences, computing science or statistics at the undergraduate level, take courses in bioinformatics during progress towards an undergraduate degree, and then specialize in bioinformatics at the post-graduate level. If you have an undergraduate degree and want to get a certificate or diploma in bioinformatics that will get you into the workforce quickly, there is a Canadian program you could investigate. Seneca College in Ontario, Canada offers a one-year diploma program that is designed to teach computer science material to students who are already qualified in the life sciences area. Further information can be found at http://bioinformatics.senecac.on.ca/program.html. If you want to study bioinformatics at the post-graduate level, there are many programs available and more are created all the time. We can offer a partial list of programs of which we are aware, as a starting point for your own research:
Note that an excellent listing of many undergraduate, diploma and post-graduate programs can be found at http://www.bioinformatics.ca. What kind of work can I do after I'm finished studying bioinformatics? What kinds of jobs are out there?Well, to quote the University of California at Santa Cruz, you can "work at the interface between biochemistry, computer science, and mathematics, creating new solutions for high-throughput chemistry, designing analysis systems for drug design, and many other things." In general, there are two paths: you can teach bioinformatics at a university or college, or you can work for a biotechnology company. Both areas seem to have plenty of available positions right now. We don't keep track of jobs, but there are a number of good Internet-based resources that will help you. Entering "bioinformatics, jobs" into your favourite search engine is a good place to start. The International Society for Computational Biology maintains a job board, and you can find information about Canadian positions at http://www.bioinformatics.ca/jobs/. Science magazine maintains a listing of positions, primarily academic ones. There are also organizations that specialize in finding positions for people with scientific qualifications. We cannot endorse any of these and recommend that you investigate your options thoroughly before signing up with one, but they can be a good way for you to find a position. Since the choice would be dependent on where you live and what your expectations and needs are, we won't list any for you, but a search engine should find these references for you easily. Does the program do anything to prepare me for a job?The program has very recently been funded by the Sloan Foundation of New York City to do precisely that. We will be offering training to students in the general area of career management - how to choose a job, how to get a job, and other areas of interest such as how to make a scientific presentation, write your CV, etc. Tell me about the financial arrangements.Our students receive a stipend of CDN$21,000 per year, plus a yearly $500 travel allowance. From the stipend, the student is required to pay tuition and any other university fees. There are no required duties such as becoming a "teaching assistant". We cannot advise you on matters such as eligibility for Canadian student loans, your income tax situation, etc., but recommend strongly that you investigate your situation before making a decision to apply. You should definitely check the latest fee structure that's posted on the Websites of our affiliated universities, but a general guide for students enrolled in a post-graduate science program is:
This information may change without warning, so get the best information during your decision-making process. "Additional fees" are often mandatory and include programs such as athletics, health coverage and student union fees. The tuition fee differential between the two Universities will be covered by the CIHR program. |
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(c) 2002 Training Program in Bioinformatics for Health Research at UBC, SFU and BCCA | ||