Bioinformatics

Overview

A successful bioinformatics solution combines theoretical and practical knowledge from several areas of science, including biology, statistics, and computer science – a network of competencies that students will acquire through this programme.

Finding Solutions

The field of bioinformatics plays a key role in modern biology and biomedicine, fields in which collecting and analysing large data sets is essential. To address the challenges of big data in modern biology and biomedicine, a bioinformatician must combine practical and theoretical skills in statistical modelling and computer programming with a deep knowledge of biology and biomedicine.

This MSc in Bioinformatics programme at Aarhus University gives students these skill-sets. Teaching is greatly influenced by the innovative bioinformatics research taking place at Aarhus University, where all lecturers are also active researchers. AU has strong research groups within many areas of bioinformatics, including evolutionary bioinformatics (the study of how and in what way genomes or hereditary material in organisms develop over the course of time) and medical bioinformatics (the study of the correlations between diseases and genetic factors). The bioinformatics programme at AU is based at the Bioinformatics Research Centre (BiRC), which focuses on the challenges involved in large-scale genomics and population genetics, including statistical modelling, algorithmic development, machine learning, and highperformance computing.

Student Life

Bioinformatics students are affiliated with the Bioinformatics Research Centre, a vibrant community with lots of regular academic and social activities for both students and staff. Students meet their peers from the other AU science programmes through joint lectures, and can participate in activities with students from programmes such as molecular biology, biology or computer science. A number of student organisations also arrange academic activities, as well as excursions, celebrations, and social get-togethers.

Careers

Graduates with a Master’s in Bioinformatics are equipped not only to work as bioinformatics specialists in the biotechnology industry, but also in additional areas in which computational skills in analysing large amounts of data are essential. They are also in demand among employers in the IT industry as potential software developers.