Program Overview

Introduction to the Applied Bioinformatics MSc

The Applied Bioinformatics MSc course provided a unique hands-on learning experience in bioinformatics skills, combining the latest advances in analyzing high-throughput genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomics data. Cranfield's Bioinformatics MSc was the first of its kind and the longest-running bioinformatics course in the UK.

Course Overview

• The course covered a plethora of programming languages typically applied in bioinformatics, such as Python, Java, R, and SQL, as well as modern web technologies like JavaEE, NoSQL, and JavaScript.
• Two dedicated taught modules focused on established bioinformatics protocols for the latest next-generation sequencing (NGS) and 3rd generation sequencing (3GS) technologies.

Target Audience

This course aimed to equip graduate scientists with the computational skills and awareness needed to process, analyze, and interpret the vast amounts of biological data now becoming available. It was equally suitable for candidates from life sciences disciplines who aimed to gain programming and computational skills and graduates with IT/computer science backgrounds who wanted to gain molecular biology understanding to become bioinformaticians.

Career Opportunities

The MSc opened doors to careers in industry, public research establishments, and university research. Successful graduates pursued careers in various key areas, including:

• Pharmaceutical and biotech companies
• Plant research institutes
• Food sector
• Public health sectors
• Bioinformatics & IT companies

Support and Resources

• Cranfield's Career Service is dedicated to helping students meet their career aspirations, providing access to career coaching, CV development, interview practice, and opportunities to meet recruiting employers.
• The strong reputation and links with potential employers provide outstanding opportunities to secure interesting jobs and develop successful careers.
• Support continues after graduation, with free life-long access to a range of career resources to help continue education and enhance careers.

Alumni Success

Previous students have gone on to jobs within prestigious institutions, including The Sanger Institute, Illumina, Oxford Nanopore, AstraZeneca, The European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI), GlaxoSmithKline, PubGene, Tesla, the Wellcome Trust, Inpharmatica, Invitrogen, Oxford Gene Technology, and Cancer Research. Others have chosen to continue their research training by undertaking a PhD either at Cranfield or elsewhere. Cranfield graduates are highly successful in achieving relevant work, and for professionals already in the industry, Cranfield qualifications enhance their careers, benefiting both the candidate and their employer.