Master's degree in Medical Bioinformatics

Overview

Course details

Type

Postgraduate and Master's programmes

Duration

2 years

Degree class

LM-18 - Classe delle lauree magistrali in Informatica

Supervisory body

Collegio Didattico di Informatica

Programme Director

Rosalba Giugno

Information

Amministrazione Collegi del Dipartimento di Informatica

Location

VERONA

Learning outcomes

The specific learning objectives of the programme can be grouped as follows:
• theoretical, methodological, experimental and applied knowledge in the core areas of computer science, with a focus on the application domains of biology and medicine;
• knowledge of techniques and methods in order to design data and processes, for the development of computer systems in the field of medicine, bioinformatics and omics analysis;
• knowledge of information systems, processing, management and data mining of bioinformatics and medical data;
• knowledge of the main software platforms, sequencing techniques, bioinformatics databases for public use and the standards in use for the representation and communication of data;
• ability to design, implement and integrate software modules for genome analysis and implementation of web services for the management of biological and clinical data;
• ability to identify the components and tools suitable for the treatment of complex problems of bioinformatics and medical informatics, where the integration of interdisciplinary skills is required.
Given the international dimension of the scientific, technical and economic aspects of informatics and its applications in medicine and health systems, this Master’s degree programme is entirely taught in English.
The programme, in line with the learning objectives outlined above, is organised in such a way as to deepen the theoretical, methodological and technological aspects of computer science disciplines with regard to their applications in the biological and medical fields, and to provide graduates with appropriate biological and medical knowledge in order to deal with these complex application domains with awareness.
To this end, the first year of the programme includes modules aimed at providing students with solid basic and transversal skills essential for computer science postgraduates, fundamental to address specialised applications in the biomedical field. In the first year, students will be also provided with specific modules that will enable them to gain an in-depth understanding of medical and biological knowledge, fundamental in the fields of Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics. During their second year, students will be able to deepen their knowledge and skills in the area of Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics through specific modules in computer science focused on the following key areas: architectures for the processing of biological data; analysis of genomic sequences, natural computing models, and health information systems; data analysis techniques to support the clinical decision and processing of biomedical images. The programme is integrated with modules chosen by the student and further training activities on language skills, and internships.
The culmination of the programme is the writing of a dissertation (a work of research, formalisation, design or development), through which the students will be able to complete their technical and scientific training.

Career prospects

Graduates in Medical Bioinformatics are IT professionals specialised in processing (representation, processing, analysis, visualisation, archiving and communication) of large amounts of data (structured, semi-structured and unstructured data), thus acting as Data Scientists in order to deploy and use advanced IT techniques and tools in the fields of biology, medicine and health. Our graduates contribute to broaden scientific knowledge by conducting research and experiments in the fields of information sciences and telematics applied to medicine and biology.
Graduates–who will be able to apply to, and make available such knowledge for, clinical, health, biomedical and bioinformatics scientific research activities–shall find employment in a range of work contexts, as follows: computer manufacturing companies and software houses specialised in the production of software and hardware for bioinformatics or medical-clinical applications; hospitals and health agencies/organisations; pharmaceutical companies; research institutions - public and private - and genomic and health services; as self-employed professionals and in public departments.
Graduate’s role in a work context: graduates in medical bioinformatics will be able to enter management and supervisory positions in the design, development, management and maintenance of information systems in medicine, biology and health systems, with particular regard to:
• design of complex biomedical software oriented to scientific and technological innovation for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes;
• design of complex computer systems for the management of clinical and bioinformatics databases;
• design of systems for the processing of medical and biological data in clinical decision support systems;
• management of health information systems with heterogeneous and complex architectures;
• design of systems and visual interfaces for bioinformatics.
Expected skills: while performing their tasks, graduates in medical bioinformatics will be able to address computer problems in the biomedical field from a managerial point of view, to coordinate teams and to define innovative approaches. The expected skills are therefore relevant to the following areas:
• theoretical, methodological, experimental and applicative skills in the fundamental areas of information technology, particularly regarding bioinformatics activities of biomedical laboratories, specifically clinical activities, and activities specifically aimed at healthcare organisations;
• ability to address and analyse complex problems in the biological, medical and healthcare fields and to coordinate the development of computer systems for their solution;
• knowledge of investigation methodologies and ability to apply them in concrete situations, leading teams in projects that require expertise in medical computing and bioinformatics;
• appropriate biomedical knowledge to integrate their IT skills.

Expected tasks: Graduates will be able to perform tasks of the following types:
• carry out development tasks in the field of scientific and technological innovation for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes;
• design, organisation, management and maintenance of complex medical information systems for the management of clinical or bioinformatics databases, for the processing of medical and bioinformatics data in clinical decision support systems, both in health information systems and in hospital centres;
• support to organisational, clinical and scientific inter and intra-hospital activities, both in bioinformatics research labs and in information technology companies operating in the medical sector;
• teaching activities in schools of different types and levels, upon completion of the specific teaching courses.
Graduates in Medical Bioinformatics are typically open-minded about where to find their best job opportunities, in Italy or abroad. Observing the Italian and international contexts, the skills acquired in a master's degree of this kind will enable graduates to apply for positions in IT companies operating in the medical sector, as well as hospitals and research laboratories, in bioinformatics and medicine to support clinical and scientific activities of single units or departments.

Main Department

Computer Science

Macro area

Sciences and Engineering

Subject area

Sciences and Engineering