Bioinformatics and computational biology
Both modern biology and many fields in medicine rely on computational methods. There is a constant need for new methods in areas like molecular biology, genetics and biotechnology.
The sub-programme for bioinformatics and computational biology educates developers specialised in such methods and in the management and processing of biological data. The sub-programme ties in with the sub-programmes of algorithms, data management and intelligent systems. The studies may be focused anywhere between data analysis and bioinformatics.
As a basis for the sub-programme, good skills in mathematics and statistics and basic knowledge of biology are required. With this basis, it is possible to specialise in the method of one of the sectors of bioinformatics or develop more general skills in several sectors. These skills will be used in research and applications in bioinformatics. There are several bioinformatics research projects at the department that can offer successful students subjects for theses, as well as job opportunities.
In the field of bioinformatics, the most remarkable new project in 2005 was the preparation of the international Master's degree programme in BioInformatics (MBI). Set to start in 2006, the programme will be realised in cooperation with the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, the Faculties of Biosciences, Medicine, and Agriculture and Forestry, as well as Helsinki University of Technology. With this programme, bioinformatics will become a new major subject in the Faculty of Science. Teaching in the subject will become more extensive and diverse than before.
Contact person : Professor Juho Rousu
Teaching in bioinformatics at the department: http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/bioinformatiikka/
Master's degree programme in bioinformatics: http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/bioinformatiikka/mbi
Bioinformatics at the University of Helsinki : http://www.helsinki.fi/bioinfo/