Home of the proposed multidisciplinary:

OSU BIOINFORMATICS CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

Oklahoma State University is pushing for an interdisciplinary Bioinformatics Certification Program. The basics of the Certification program include extra work at the graduate level to pass courses selected for Bioinformatics training. These courses would be in addition to required courses within the respective Departments where the student receives their degree. For example, a student could get a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, with a certification in Bioinformatics. This effort stems from the existing Bioinformatics Core Facility  "BIOinfOSU" in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Bioinformatics Definition:
"The analysis of biological information using computers and statistical techniques; the science of developing and utilizing computer databases and algorithms to accelerate and enhance biological research." 

Bioinformatics includes multiple graduate disciplines working simultaneously to acheive a result. Biologists increasingly use high-throughput technologies such as arrays to generate large datasets. Statisticians and Mathematicians are needed to analyze and interpret the quality of the data. Computer Scientists are critical to implement the statistical tools, and maintain the databases for generated. These few examples are complemented by applied aspects of information technology, where information is an important part of business and transformative clinical applications.

There is exceptional support for the Bioinformatics Program through the campus of OSU. There are additional institutions around Oklahoma that would like to work with OSU to develop these programs. An Advisory Comittee has been created to lead the different disciplines toward a common goal. Fortunately, there are several existing courses that are suitable for training graduate students in diverse specialty areas. A curriculum committee, and many faculty members "at-large" have contributed information regarding suitable curricula pre-existing at OSU. Additional faculty have offered to focus certain aspects of the courses they teach to encourage students from other disciplines to participate. The first step has been taken. Step two is to learn a common language.

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