Read the full press release here
UW Extended Campus, in partnership with seven University of Wisconsin
System campuses, will offer an online Graduate Certificate in Applied Bioinformatics in
September 2021. The certificate provides skills training for professionals seeking career
advancement in biotechnology and related healthcare and scientific research fields.
“Bioinformatics represents the marriage of science and computing. Our capacity to generate
large amounts of data is greater than ever, and the ability to organize and access that
information blazes a trail to discovery,” said Mark E. Levenstein, the Academic Director for the
M.S. in Applied Biotechnology program at UW-Platteville. “High demand for bioinformatics
analysts is supported by an average salary of $88,000 in Wisconsin.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of computer and information
research scientists is projected to grow 15 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the
average for all occupations.
Courses in the certificate focus on data science techniques used in processing biological data
from scientific research, such as large-scale genomics and other molecular and biological
datasets. Students will learn the basic principles of data science and gain proficiency in
statistics, machine learning, data visualization, programming, and other techniques. To earn the
certificate students must complete the four courses in the curriculum, all available entirely
online.
“Abbott Diagnostics recognized the value in establishing a bioinformatics team several years
ago,” said A. Scott Muerhoff, Ph.D., Director of Biologics Discovery, Senior Research Fellow,
Abbott Diagnostics and Applied Biotechnology Advisory Board member. “This certificate will
allow Abbott scientists who have no formal training in bioinformatics to continue to excel in their
current roles while obtaining the necessary skills to support the ever-increasing demand on our
current bioinformatics staff.”
UW System campuses participating in the Applied Bioinformatics certificate program include
UW-Green Bay, UW-Madison, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point,
and UW-Whitewater. UW Extended Campus, in collaboration with the universities, makes
advanced education possible through flexible, online programs that combine the diverse
expertise and resources of UW campuses and faculty. Students with a variety of work,
education, and life experience have found success in UW Extended Campus programs and are
making a difference in the world today.
It is possible to earn a certificate within one year; however, students may decide to take longer
to complete a certificate based on work and life commitments. Like other UW Extended Campus
programs, students pay the same tuition whether they live in Wisconsin or out of state.
Prospective students seeking more information about the online Graduate Certificate in Applied
Bioinformatics are encouraged to visit appliedbiotechnology.wisconsin.edu. For information
about all UW Extended Campus certificates, courses or degrees visit uwex.wisconsin.edu, call
1-608-262-2011 or 1-877-895-3276, or email [email protected].
