Bioinformatics (Co-operative Education)
About
Collecting large amounts of biological data is becoming easier and more affordable and as a result biology has become a data science. Examples of biological data include genetic sequences, genomes, epigenomes, proteomes, metabalomes and microbiomes. These large data sets require specialized and powerful computational and statistical tools for analysis. Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary science that applies computational and statistical methods to biological information in order to make new discoveries and to solve complex biological problems.
The discovery of thousands of disease-causing genes since the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003 exemplifies the power of early bioinformatics methods. Bioinformatics tools are now routinely used to study the underlying cause of disease and to find more effective treatments as well as to study biological patterns and develop biological and chemical models.
The Faculty of Science is pleased to offer three bioinformatics programs:
- Associate of Science Degree in Bioinformatics
- Diploma in Bioinformatics
- Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics
Want to learn more? Please join an information session on the bioinformatics program.
Co-operative education
Langara College Co-operative Education options enable students to integrate academic studies with related, practical work experience. The program provides students with the opportunity to gain valuable paid work experience while completing their studies. Students who participate in Co-op are better prepared for the job market, and often receive a higher salary than those who opt not to take Co-op.
All of our bioinformatics programs offer Co-op. An eight (8) month Co-op is mandatory to complete the Bachelor of Science degree in Bioinformatics.
Hear what our students are saying:
Sarah Bowker, Third-year Bioinformatics Student
"Co-op allowed me to collaborate with diverse teams and strengthened my problem-solving skills."
The co-op experience has been incredibly valuable, providing hands-on experience that went beyond classroom learning. Working in Optima Living for my co-op allowed me to collaborate with diverse teams across the company and strengthened my problem-solving skills. I feel well-prepared to apply these experiences to future roles and make a tangible impact in my career. Additionally, it opened doors to roles I might not have encountered otherwise, sparking new interests and possibilities for my future.
Sal Jahromi, Fourth-year Bioinformatics Student
"This experience greatly boosted my confidence in my academic knowledge and technical skills while also increasing my passion for bioinformatics."
As a bioinformatics student at Langara College, I secured a co-op position at STEMCELL Technologies, one of Canada’s largest biotech companies. This experience greatly boosted my confidence in my academic knowledge and technical skills while also increasing my passion for bioinformatics. I also feel more prepared to enter the job market after graduation. Co-op work experience is something you definitely don’t want to miss out on.
Gareth Tang, Fourth-year Bioinformatics Student
"By onboarding clients onto the GenXys' clinical decision support system, I contributed to improved patient outcomes."
As a bioinformatics intern at GenXys, I am grateful to receive support from understanding managers during my co-op work terms. I gained crucial insight into current pharmacogenomics technologies and practices. Through the co-op program, I developed soft skills from collaborating with various departments at the workplace. By onboarding clients onto the GenXys' clinical decision support system, I contributed to improved patient outcomes.
Mike Wu, Fourth-year Bioinformatics Student
"Co-op not only deepened my technical expertise but also gave me insight into cloud-based bioinformatics solutions."
My co-op experience with ProCogia has been playing a significant role in shaping my professional development in bioinformatics. Working on large-scale omic data processing applications and optimizing single-cell RNA sequencing pipelines allowed me to apply my academic knowledge in a practical setting. This placement not only deepened my technical expertise but also gave me insight into cloud-based bioinformatics solutions. The skills and experiences I gained through this co-op have significantly impacted my academic and career aspirations, and I highly recommend the program to anyone looking to bridge the gap between education and industry.
Our employers would love to meet you:
Dr. Piru Perampalam, Copoly.ai
"The work of the co-op students has been integrated into our internal processes, contributing significantly to our ability to identify new biomarkers."
I had the opportunity to work with two co-op students from Langara College’s Bioinformatics program, and I was thoroughly impressed by their preparedness and capability. From day one, the students came equipped with a solid understanding of the foundational skills required to approach complex scientific questions and build effective solutions.
For their project, I presented them with a challenging bioinformatics problem focused on identifying novel biomarkers and gene loci of interest. After providing them with a brief overview of the requirements, as well as some recommended papers and resources, we divided the tasks between the two students. They collaborated efficiently, demonstrating strong teamwork and a remarkable ability to learn and adapt quickly.
Within just two months of starting their co-op, the students successfully developed a functional solution that met the project’s needs. Their work has since been integrated into our internal processes, contributing significantly to our ability to identify new biomarkers.
The professionalism, dedication, and technical skills displayed by Langara’s students were exemplary, and I would highly recommend future collaborations with students from this program.
Dr. Martin Dawes, GenXys Prescribing Systems
"Within weeks the co-op students were taking on complex tasks and providing potential solutions to the team."
GenXys Health Care Systems has had two Co-op students from Langara Bioinformatics program work with the company over the last three years. Both students have been exceptional. The skills displayed, the work ethic, the collaborative skills, and the overall contribution to the company were impressive. Their background knowledge of informatics and biotechnology have meant that they could start work within days. Within weeks they were taking on complex tasks and providing potential solutions to the team. We have no hesitation in recommending Langara Co-Op students to BC biotech companies.
Our Co-op students have been hired by the following companies:
- Genxys
- Microbiome Insights
- Langara Applied Research Centre
