Co-op Required
Salary and Career Info
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology BS
In this dynamic bioinformatics BS, biology and computing combine to analyze big data collected by the health industry to discover, diagnose, and treat a wide range of medical conditions.
Program skills
Beginning in their first year of study, students attain a combined skillset in the biotechnology laboratory and in computer programming like SQL, PERL, C, C++, and Python, among others on a UNIX operating system. While taking upper level courses, students develop a range of laboratory skills that is nearly equivalent to that attained by students in our Biotechnology program. Additionally, Bioinformatics students gain considerable experience applying common bioinformatics software tools and have a deep understanding of the algorithms underlying those tools. Students strive to hone their quantitative and analytical abilities.
Program facilities equipment
The bioinformatics program maintains a server room with systems dedicated to and accessible by students for coursework and research projects. We frequently update our hardware, software, and other resources. Our systems include a combination of storage and database servers. Additionally, we maintain local copies of common bioinformatics databases and software to ensure that our students have access to the latest versions.
This program also maintains a common area for students to share and support their research activities with peers and faculty advisors, and to help each other with courses. In addition to this, RIT also has a centralized Research Computing center. They offer access to multi-core clusters, a large memory SMP (Symmetric Multi-Processor) server, and Condor pool. Research Computing also maintains collaborations with large grids shared across institutions and provides training seminars in high-performance computing.
Program job titles
Bioinformatics Analyst; Biomedical Researcher; Biostatistician; Computational Biologist; Geneticist; Research Technician; Laboratory Technician; Software Programmer; Technical Support Specialist
Select program hiring partners
Boston University, Cleveland Clinic, DAAD RISE Germany, Ginkgo Bioworks, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, University of Rochester Medical Center
Experiential Learning
Cooperative Education
What’s different about an RIT education? It’s the career experience you gain by completing cooperative education and internships with top companies in every single industry. You’ll earn more than a degree. You’ll gain real-world career experience that sets you apart. It’s exposure–early and often–to a variety of professional work environments, career paths, and industries.
Co-ops and internships take your knowledge and turn it into know-how. Science co-ops include a range of hands-on experiences, from co-ops and internships and work in labs to undergraduate research and clinical experience in health care settings. These opportunities provide the hands-on experience that enables you to apply your scientific, math, and health care knowledge in professional settings while you make valuable connections between classwork and real-world applications.
Students in the bioinformatics and computational biology degree are required to complete one cooperative education experience.
National Labs Career Events and Recruiting
The Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education offers National Labs and federally-funded Research Centers from all research areas and sponsoring agencies a variety of options to connect with and recruit students. Students connect with employer partners to gather information on their laboratories and explore co-op, internship, research, and full-time opportunities. These national labs focus on scientific discovery, clean energy development, national security, technology advancements, and more. Recruiting events include our university-wide Fall Career Fair, on-campus and virtual interviews, information sessions, 1:1 networking with lab representatives, and a National Labs Resume Book available to all labs.