Bioinformatics Scholarships

Get a Degree in One of the Newest Fields of Biomedicine

Bioinformatics attempts to make sense of large amounts of data mined from biomedical research. It is the process of collecting medically viable information from patients, and using that data to improve medical efficiency. The field is highly interdisciplinary and comprises the study of medicine, biology, and computer science and is heavily weighted on research. Many students do not stop with an undergraduate degree, because that’s where the good stuff of bioinformatics begins—in graduate and doctoral level work and research.

Students will find that programs where key research is being conducted will afford them the best opportunities for study and for scholarships. Bioinformatics is a rapidly growing field, and creative new minds are in high demand. The list below is just a small sampling. More and more colleges are offering financial opportunities for studying in Biometrics. Check with the schools you are interested in attending for financial assistance availability in this field of study.

Scholarship Programs

Ohio University offers the Choose Ohio First for Bioinformatics Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships and educational opportunities for students interested in pursuing a career in bioinformatics or related fields. The Choose Ohio First (COF) Scholarship provides up to $5200 per year to  incoming freshmen, transfer students, upperclassmen, or graduate students who demonstrate academic excellence and an interest in the field.

Baylor University offers ten scholarships to their Computer Science and Biometrics students. Awards vary, but the student is only required to fill out one form to apply for all eligible scholarships. Both need and merit are considered, and a new application and FASFA are required for each year.

San Diego State University offers several forms of financial assistance to talented Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics (BMI) students. These include tuition waivers, scholarships (up to $25,000 a year), assistantships, paid internships and more. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

UC Santa Cruz’s Center for Biomedical Science and Engineering offers several scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students in a number of specialties including Minority Biomedical Research Support, which allows undergraduates to participate in ongoing research projects and compete for future research positions. They also provide a long list of scholarships offered by other institutions.

The University of Nebraska, Omaha (UNO) College of Information Science and Technology offers assistance to Biometric students in the form of workshops, internships, and the Idea Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) scholarship. The INBRE program is designed to enhance the competitiveness biomedical research in Nebraska by enhancing human and technological resources in the state.

The Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) provides leads to several internships, fellowships and scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students, such as the new Samford University REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) program that offers hands-on, field- and laboratory-based research experiences to US undergraduates. Awards include a $500 per week stipend, travel, room, board and research expenses.

New Mexico State University is quite a focal point in the research field with a brand new facility funded by the National Science Foundation. The Center for Research Excellence in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology was designed with an eye toward synthesizing the fields of science and technology. In the interest of attracting and training a first generation of highly skilled bioinformatics professionals, NMSU’s new center is also offering scholarships to students at the local community colleges who demonstrate career or educational interest in the field. Even local high schools are being scoured for interested and academically suited students.

Sun Microsystems of Canada Scholarships in Computational Sciences and Engineering are funded by Sun Microsystems and High Performance Computing Virtual Laboratory. The program supports the educational pursuits of students majoring such fields as informatics and bioinformatics. Eligible applicants must be in an approved program of study in Canada and have impeccable academic records. Awards are $5,000.

Internships and Co-ops

Internships and Cooperative education, (or Co-op) are valuable ways to advance your education. Besides being an opportunity for meaningful work experience in your field of study, they can be a good source for making money to help pay for your education, Because of the expanding nature of the Bioinformatics, and the emphasis on research, there are many, many co-op/internships and research opportunities available.

It is well worth your time to investigate the possibilities. If you have a preferred school, check with them. Check online for additional resources. Tom Frederick of the Rochester Institute of Technology maintains a website that supplies an extensive list of paid co-ops, internships and research  opportunities in the life sciences. A subsection including Bioinformatics can be found here.