Life Sciences Information Technology Certificate

Researchers have become increasingly reliant on Information Technology tools to reduce the costs and boost the productivity of life sciences research and development. Information Technology tools and bioinformatics research and development are key to remaining competitive for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. For that reason these companies are expanding IT capabilities by developing in-house programs, acquiring companies, and partnering with IT companies, bioinformatics firms, and consulting firms. Increasingly, companies and research organizations are seeking workers with formalized training that have the skills of both computer and life scientists.

The Life Sciences Information Technology Certificate aims to provide professional with backgrounds in the Life or Computer Sciences with the knowledge necessary to cross over and be conversant on both areas. The certificate provides an ample spectrum of job opportunities within the software, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, from providing researchers with technical IT support, to database administration, to research in bioinformatics, or programming applications for the industry. The different focus areas within the certificate permit specialization in IT support, bioinformatics research or programming applications for the life sciences industry.

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Certificate Course Matrix
Course Title	Course Number	Units	FA	WI	SP	SU
Prerequisites (Proficiency in these areas is strongly recommended. Up to 2 classes will count towards certificate.)
Introduction to Molecular Biology	BIOL-40001	3	X		X
Introduction to SQL Programming Concepts	CSE-40933	2.5	X	X	X	X
Understanding Biopharmaceuticals	BIOL-40148	3			X
PERL for Bioinformatics	BIOL-40158	2		O		O
Core Courses (All three courses required.)
Data Mining for Scientific Applications	CSE-40770	3		O
Biological Database Design	CSE-40845	2		X
Bioinformatics	BIOL-40236	3	O	O	O	O
FOCUS AREAS (Choose one focus area. Requirements are outlined in each focus area.)
Research Information Services (All three courses required. Choose an additional 9.5 units from other focus areas to complete the 24 units required for the certificate. )
Chemical Information Management	BIOL-40240	2			O
Laboratory Information Management Systems	BIOL-40188	2				X
Project Management Essentials	BUSA-40064	3	L, O	L, O	L, O	L, O
Bioinformatics Data Mining (All three courses required. Choose an additional 8.5 units from other focus areas to complete the 24 units required for the certificate. )
Pattern Recognition for Bioinformatics	BIOL-40157	2				X
Databases and Genome Analysis	BIOL-40131	3	X
Genomic Sequencing Technologies	BIOL-40237	3		O
Bioprogramming (16.5 units of study required for this focus area to meet the 24 units required for the certificate. You must choose one course from another focus area.)
Biostatistics	BIOL-40049	3		O		O
Clinical Biostatistics	BIOL-40253	3				O
C/C++ Programming I : Fundamental Programming Concepts	CSE-40475	3	O	X	O	X
C/C++ Programming II : Dynamic Memory and File I/O Concepts	CSE-40476	3	X	O	X	O
C/C++ Programming III : Intermediate Programming with Objects	CSE-40477	3		X	O	X
In Vitro Diagnostics Product Development	BIOL-40244	2	X		X
Java for Bioinformatics	BIOL-41244	3		O
Java for Bioinformatics II	BIOL-40245	3			O
Perl For Bioinformatics II	BIOL-40242	3	O
L=La Jolla M=Mission Valley O=Online R=Rancho Bernardo S=Sorrento Mesa X=Location TBA

Certificate Programs

To Register in the Certificate Program

Certificate registration is required to complete the program. Candidates are encouraged to register in the certificate program as early as possible to take advantage of program benefits. See Certificate FAQs for more information.

Certificate Section ID:	073915	Register Now!
Application Fee:	$50
Contact:	Life Sciences, (858) 882-8027
E-mail:	unexbio@ucsd.edu

Program Benefits

Master the programming languages used to build informatics applications in the life sciences industry.

Integrate chemical and biological information to deploy the complex information systems used in the life sciences industry.

Gather and mine genomic information using state of the art tools to aid in bioinformatics research.

Manage information technology projects in the life sciences industry by conversing in the language of chemical and biological research and of the information technologies.

Certificate Guidelines

Before starting the core courses, the students should ensure they have a degree of proficiency in programming with a scripting language and database query languages, as well as a basic understanding of the life sciences industry.

Advisors

Simon Craw, Ph.D.
Senior Director of IS and IT
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Ping Du, Ph.D.
Director, Informatics
Allergan, LLC

Scott Kahn, Ph.D.
Chief Information Officer
Illumina, Inc.

Darryl Leon, Ph.D.
Product Manager
TimeLogic

Paul A. Rejto, Ph.D.
Director of Computational Biology
Pfizer Global R&D, La Jolla Laboratories

Steven Stelman, Ph.D.
Bioinformatics R&D Manager
ActiveMotif

Helge Wessig, Ph.D.
Director, Bioinformatics
Activx

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