Constituent courses in the study programme

This is a one-year study programme, and the first semester comprises four courses. The first two courses are Concepts and Methods of Bioinformatics and Bioinformatical Analysis with Python. These courses provide both a broad introduction to the field and a basic grounding in programming and algorithm development. They are followed by Bioinformatical Analysis with R and The Bioinformatical Research Process. Bioinformatical Analysis with R introduces the R programming language and the statistical analysis of large-scale biological data. The Bioinformatical Research Process includes a series of seminars that provide an insight into relevant research. This also constitutes a preparatory course for the degree project. The second semester is devoted to the degree project, in which you will formulate and work with a relevant research problem.

Career opportunities

The labour market within the field of bioinformatics is in a state of continual development. In line with rapidly increasing access to new biological data, there is a corresponding increase in the need for qualified bioinformaticians. Positions are available within bioscientific companies, including pharmaceutical companies. Depending on what you have studied in your basic studies, you could, for example, work as a molecular biologist by applying bioinformatical methods, or as a bioinformatician developing new bioinformatical methods and tools.

Opportunities for further study

Upon successful completion of this study programme, you may continue with a research programme in bioinformatics.

Research within this field

Research within the field of bioinformatics is progressing rapidly. This can be divided into the development of new bioinformatical tools and the application of tools for the analysis of biological data. For the research group at the University of Skövde, the most important area for research currently concerns the identification of biomarkers. The group is conducting bioinformatical studies in the field of stem cell differentiation.