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Bioinformatics

Master of Science in Biomedical Science (M.S.B.S.), Professional Science Master's (P.S.M.)

A pioneer in the field.
UToledo’s graduate program in bioinformatics and proteomics-genomics has been recognized by the Ohio Board of Regents for its excellence.

A pioneer in the field.
UToledo’s graduate program in bioinformatics and proteomics-genomics has been recognized by the Ohio Board of Regents for its excellence.

Bioinformatics Master's Degree Overview

The University of Toledo is a pioneer in the field of bioinformatics — a field at the intersection of computer science and molecular biology. We have offered a graduate program in bioinformatics for more than a decade. 

 We offer: 

  • Master of science in biomedical sciences (M.S.B.S.) with a concentration in bioinformatics and proteomics-genomics 
  • Professional science master’s degree (P.S.M.) with a concentration in biomarkers and diagnostics. The P.S.M. program is focused on industrial careers, with required courses in business administration and an internship instead of a thesis.  
  • Certificate in bioinformatics and biomarkers. Complete four core courses and earn formal certification. 

UToledo’s bioinformatics graduate program is a core educational component of the Center for Biomarker Research and Personalized Medicine (School of BRIM). BRIM was designated by the Ohio Board of Regents as a Center of Excellence in Biomedicine and Individualized Medicine in 2009. 

The School of Biomarker Research and Individualized Medicine is housed in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, but includes faculty and students from the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the College of Engineering. 

Bioinformatics Master's Degree Highlights

Distinctive program. UToledo's graduate program in bioinformatics has been recognized for its outstanding achievements.  

  • Receives funding from Choose Ohio First, which offers tuition scholarships to UToledo bioinformatics students 
  • Designated by the state of Ohio as a Center of Excellence  

Dual B.S./M.S. degree. This unique pipeline program allows UToledo and University of Findlay biology majors to earn their B.S. and M.S. in bioinformatics in about 5.5 years. 

Professional development. Each year, our students attend the Great Lakes Bioinformatics Conference, an affiliate of the International Society for Computational Biology. They are encouraged to participate by presenting orally or in poster form. 


Career Opportunities

Our graduate program prepares students to: 

  • Enter a Ph.D. program in biomedical, engineering or biotechnological fields 
  • Enter a professional program in 
    • Medicine (particularly genomic medicine) 
    • Business (particularly biotechnology management) 
    • Law (particularly intellectual-property law) 
  • Find positions at government agencies or with companies focused on biotechnology (genomics, pharmaceuticals and more) 

UToledo students seeking employment have been hired immediately or soon after graduation from our program. Students who intern are often hired by the companies for whom they work. One student began work even before officially graduating, at a starting annual salary of $80,000. 

UToledo bioinformatics graduates have been accepted to: 

  • The University of Toledo (M.D. and Ph.D. programs) 
  • University of Calgary 
  • University of Michigan School of Medicine 
  • Henry Ford Hospital Residency Program 
  • Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine  
  • University of Pikeville-Kentucky Osteopathic Medicine 

Alumni of UToledo’s bioinformatics graduate program have been hired as: 

  • Scientists, Progenity, Ann Arbor, Mich. 
  • Molecular microbial ecologist, University of Jordan, Amman 
  • Computational biologist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta  
  • Molecular biologist, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. 
  • Developer, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada 
  • Bioinformatics analyst, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus  
  • Associate creative director at DDB Health, New York  

Our Alumni

"UToledo’s bioinformatics and proteomics-genomics program helped me get a competitive post-doc and think about science from a unique perspective. The program is especially suited for students interested in pursuing careers in industry, as most companies (large and small) are now using computational approaches in all areas of drug development and scientific communications."

Dr. Michael Harr
BIPG certificate ’06

"When I finished my bachelor’s degree in India, I began searching for a master’s program that would help me learn about recent advances in biomedical sciences and bioinformatics. I wanted to learn about industrial perspectives of these fields. The P.S.M. program at The University of Toledo matched my interests. UToledo is known for quality education, diversity and a welcoming atmosphere. The P.S.M. program is flexible. You can choose elective courses that follow your interest. You take business management courses, which adds to your skills and helps you look at your profession from a managerial angle. During the internship, you apply things you learned in the program."

Amit Chougule
P.S.M. '15

"I always had an innate curiosity about applying programming skills to biological problems. My admission to UToledo's M.S. program provided an ideal platform toward building a bioinformatics career. The course work covered a breadth of subjects. The faculty was available to answer questions and offer valuable career advice. My thesis advisor helped me stay abreast of the requirements of this fast-growing field. I coauthored four publications and received awards from The University of Toledo, as well as my current employer, the University of Calgary. The growing number of genomic datasets is creating an urgent need for experts in computer programming, biology, genetics, mathematics and statistics. As a result, bioinformatics skills are widely sought in academia and industry."

Arnab Saha Mandal, research scientist at the University of Calgary
Ph.D. ’13

"My bioinformatics degree has differentiated me from other scientists in biological or computer sciences, as it has given me the skills to understand both sides."

Maryam Nabiyouni, scientist at Encodia, Inc., San Diego, Calif.
M.S.B.S. ’01;  Ph.D. ‘14 in biomedical engineering


Bioinformatics Master's Degree Plan of Study

UToledo’s graduate bioinformatics program provides students with:  

  • Advanced analytical tools and approaches 
  • A solid foundation in modern biomedical science 
  • Training in computational methods 

Students have opportunities to take an array of elective courses. Many choose business classes in management, leadership and more. 

P.S.M. graduate students are required to take an industrial internship in the business or public sector. The internship is optional for M.S. students. 

Master’s students work with their advisors in their labs. A research project and written thesis are required.  

Bioinformatics and Proteomics-Genomics Master's Program Sample Courses 

  • Fundamentals in Bioinformatics 
  • Statistical Methods in Bioinformatics 
  • Bioinformatic Computations 
  • Applications of Bioinformatics and Proteomics/Genomics 
  • Biomarker Discovery and Individualized Medicine 

View Plan of Study

Research Opportunities

UToledo faculty members in the bioinformatics graduate program have won teaching, research, mentoring and patent awards. They represent a variety of research interests and areas of expertise, including:  

  • Using bioinformatics, genetics and biochemical approaches to analyze transcriptional regulation in prostate and breast cancer 
  • Human genome function 
  • Modeling of DNA evolution 
  • Gene regulation in bacteria 
  • Flow of genes between bacteria 
  • Smoking and lung cancer 
  • Large-scale data analysis 
  • Plant molecular biology 
  • Genetics of hypertension 
  • Genetics of diabetes 

Want More Information?


Bioinformatics Master's Degree

M.S.B.S.: 2-2.5 years; P.S.M.: 1 year

Program Availability

 On Campus

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Last Updated: 1/27/2023