Bioinformatics and Computational Biology BS - Biomedical Informatics Concentration

The Bioinformatics and Computational Biology BS – Biomedical Informatics Concentration at the University at Buffalo gives students opportunities to apply biology, computing, mathematics and data analysis to real biomedical challenges. Students can gain practical experience through research projects, faculty mentorship and access to specialist computing and biomedical research facilities. This combination allows students to work with biological and healthcare data while developing the technical and analytical skills used in modern biomedical research.

Students can build practical experience through:

• Undergraduate research: Students can work with faculty on research projects that involve biological and biomedical data, computational analysis and scientific problem-solving.

• Bioinformatics tools and techniques: Students can be exposed to areas such as genome and protein sequence analysis, metagenomics, functional genomics, protein-structure prediction and computational drug discovery. Research activities at UB also use tools such as Galaxy and PLINK.

• High-performance computing: The Center for Computational Research provides high-performance computing, data-mining support, visualization facilities and software resources that support bioinformatics and biomedical research.

• Biomedical data resources: UB's clinical informatics infrastructure includes the UB Clinically Integrated Healthcare Data Repository, which supports research using electronic health record and healthcare claims data.

• Interdisciplinary research centres: Students can benefit from the research environment created by facilities such as the New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, UB Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Center for Computational Research and UB Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

• Biomedical informatics projects: Research opportunities cover areas including electronic health records, clinical decision support, public health informatics, natural language processing, database management, genomics and predictive modelling.

• Digital learning tools: Practical training within UB's Biomedical Informatics environment includes the use of Jupyter notebooks for programming and biomedical data exercises.

• Faculty mentorship: Students can work alongside faculty researchers and develop experience in applying computational methods to real biomedical questions.

• Clinical research exposure: UB's connections with clinical and healthcare research environments allow students to see how biomedical informatics can support clinical research, healthcare data analysis and improvements in patient care.

Facilities and research resources: Students have access to a broad research environment that includes the Center for Computational Research, New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, UB Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Institute for Healthcare Informatics and clinical data research infrastructure.

The Bioinformatics and Computational Biology BS – Biomedical Informatics Concentration prepares students for careers that bring together biology, healthcare, computing and data analysis. Graduates can explore opportunities in healthcare, biotechnology, research and technology, while those who want to specialise further can continue into graduate or professional study. The University at Buffalo highlights career possibilities such as biotech researcher, health care analyst, systems analyst and chief medical information officer.

Typical job roles: Biotech Researcher, Health Care Analyst, Systems Analyst, Chief Medical Information Officer

Students can build their careers through the following opportunities and resources:

• Career and academic support: Students have access to university and school-level academic support, including tutoring and guidance that can help them strengthen their academic skills and prepare for future career opportunities. UB also encourages students to gain practical experience and develop professional connections during their studies.

• Employment and salary outlook: University at Buffalo cites 2024 U.S. Department of Labor data showing mean annual wages of $152,310 for Computer and Information Research Scientists, $124,590 for Data Scientists, $116,700 for Computer Occupations, All Other, and $58,020 for Biological Technicians. These figures provide an indication of the earning potential in several career areas related to the degree, although individual salaries vary by role, experience and location.

• University–industry and research connections: UB's Center for Computational Research works with industry and provides access to advanced computing resources, software and technical expertise. Students also benefit from the university's wider biomedical research environment, including the UB Clinical and Translational Science Institute and the New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences.

• Research experience: Students can work with faculty-led research teams and develop practical skills in programming, application development, algorithm development and bioinformatics analysis. This experience can be particularly valuable for students planning careers in biomedical research or further study.

• Graduation outcomes: Graduates can move into areas such as biotechnology, healthcare analytics, systems analysis and biomedical information management. Students who want more specialised careers can also use the BS as a foundation for medical school or graduate study in bioinformatics, biomedical informatics and related disciplines.

• Long-term professional value: The combination of biological sciences, mathematics, computing and biomedical data analysis gives graduates a flexible foundation that can be applied across several areas of the life sciences and healthcare technology sectors. The interdisciplinary nature of the degree can also provide a strong base for developing more advanced expertise through graduate education.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS, students can continue their education in fields such as Biomedical Informatics, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Genetics and Genomics, Data Science and other related biomedical disciplines. The University at Buffalo offers graduate opportunities in Biomedical Informatics, including master's and PhD-level study, while students interested in computational biology and genetics can explore related graduate programs. A graduate degree can help students move towards more specialised research, academic, scientific or advanced data-focused careers.