The recent explosion of high-throughput experimental techniques (e.g., next-generation sequencing, proteomics, metabolomics, imaging, etc.), coupled with rapid advances in computational and statistical technologies, has laid the foundation for the emergence of a highly interdisciplinary field of bioinformatics. The Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics is strategically designed with core courses in statistics/mathematics, biology/genetics, and computer science, as well as comprehensive and advanced training in bioinformatics. Bioinformatics, at the intersection of Biology, Statistics, and Computer Science, bears resemblances to Computational Biology. However, Bioinformatics emphasizes quantitative skills to better harness large-scale biological data, whereas Computational Biology is mainly focused on addressing biological questions using computational approaches.

The overall purpose of this program is to empower graduates with a profound grasp of biological, genetic, and genomic principles, complemented by robust skills in statistics, computation, and data science. This program aims to nurture the next generation of bioinformaticians, computational biologists, data scientists, and researchers in various life science, biotechnology, and healthcare settings. This program structurally and administratively resides in the Department of Statistics, in close partnership with the Department of Biology and with full support from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.