u/Dukevanar-86

Hi there,

I recently started looking into bioinformatics, and, as you might expect, I ended up with more questions than answers. Since bioinformatics is a pretty vast and comparatively new field, finding clear and comprehensive information as a newbie can be quite difficult. A lot of the opinions online tend to be polarized (very positive or very negative) , and more often than not, not very helpful.

A few days ago, I attended a bioinformatics workshop that answered many of the questions I had. It provided a comprehensive introduction to the field, covering topics such as the different roles, the value of various degrees, job opportunities, job security, and the general workflow within the field.

The host mentioned that she plans to repeat this workshop during the second week of every month, which I think is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to build a basic understanding of the field.

The workshops main audience are Indian students, since she also goes over colleges in India that offer bioinformatics programs. However, even if you’re not from India, or don’t plan to pursue your education there, it’s still a valuable chance to familiarize yourself with the field and ask questions directly.

If you’re interested, the host is u/MeganJandoff, and you can contact her for more information on the wprkshop.

Hi there, I've just started my 12th grade, and next year I have to choose my degree and college. A while ago, I was advised by a friend to look into biotech fields. Prior to that, I was heading towards the medical field. Anyways, I started looking into different biotech branches and found bioinformatics. From what I understand, it's a field that utilizes technology in order to provide more accurate and stronger analysis of biological products. I really like the sound of this field, but I have some concerns.

Firstly, how are the job opportunities and security in this sector? I don't want to study for ten years and then end up jobless. Secondly, what is the job market like at different levels? If I'm starting something like this, I'll probably go at least till a PhD. It'll take time, I know, but I also know that it won't be very comfortable anywhere below that. But still, I have to survive, you know. I'm a little low on cash, so I would be very happy to know if getting a scholarship in this sector is more manageable. I'm not expecting a comfortable middle-class life, but if it's possible to get through it with student jobs and scholarships, then that's fine.

Now to my main questions: How can I get myself familiarized with everything? I still have a year ahead of me, so I want to gain some experience, maybe do a simple project, and build some credibility. I already know a little Python (not at a developer level), I'm somewhat comfortable with Git, and I have an undergraduate-level knowledge of genetics, so not very much. But I do have the willingness to start learning. The problem is, most roadmaps are very vague. They ask you to master a thousand things before touching anything. That would be okay if you had already made up your mind, but I'm still exploring. So, I would be more than happy to know if you have any resources in mind, or whether you can introduce me to the sector yourself. In short: I want to know what skills I should develop in order to get into this field, and also if you have any side projects that would familiarize me with it.

Thank you very much for spending the time and reading this. I'm not expecting much but I would be very happy if I get the answers that I wanted.