Bioinformatics Data Technicians
Bioinformatics Data Technicians help scientists handle huge sets of biological data, such as DNA sequences and protein information. They use tools like Python or R, SQL databases, and specialized software (for example, BLAST or Ensembl) to organize, clean, analyze, and visualize molecular data so researchers can discover how genes work or how diseases develop. They also design and maintain databases, write scripts to automate tasks, test new analysis tools, and train other researchers to use these systems correctly and efficiently.
Did you know?
Most positions require a bachelor's degree in bioinformatics, biology, or computer science, along with proficiency in programming languages like Python, R, and SQL.
At a glance
Typical average pay
$73,200 Avg/yr
Growth
Fast growing
Top skill
Reading Comprehension
Things to consider
Strong Job Market Growth
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects much faster than average growth for this field due to increasing demand for genomic research and personalized medicine applications.
Diverse Industry Opportunities
Career paths span pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, academic research institutions, and government agencies like the NIH and CDC.
Key responsibilities
Confer with database users about project timelines and changes.
Confer with researchers, clinicians, or information technology staff to determine data needs and programming requirements and to provide assistance with database-related research activities.
Create data management or error-checking procedures and user manuals.
Test new or updated software or tools and provide feedback to developers.
Develop or maintain applications that process biologically based data into searchable databases for purposes of analysis, calculation, or presentation.