Our MRes Bioinformatics provides high-quality training in bioinformatics, including a major research component.

This specialist postgraduate degree is ideal if you are from a scientific background and want to pursue research training in bioinformatics, or if you are seeking a future career in both academia and industry. Bioinformatics has grown dramatically in the last two decades and this course has been designed to meet the needs of the pharmaceutical, chemical and biotechnology industries for research and development.

It covers the core concepts and statistical fundamentals underpinning bioinformatics, most notably in the area of sequence analysis. You will learn how to program in Python and design and query databases using SQL, and gain experience in more advanced programming practices such as software testing and application development. You will also explore core biological concepts such as genes and genomes, protein structure and function, and growth areas such as next generation sequencing and systems modelling.

Our research areas include:

• computational structural bioinformatics, with a focus on the characterisation of macromolecular assemblies relevant to disease
• analysis of next-generation sequencing data, both genomic and transcriptomic
• immunoinformatics, in particular virus-host interactions and immune responses to protein therapeutics
• developing bioinformatics and chemoinformatics methods to analyse metabolic pathways
• structure-thermodynamic relationships, molecular simulation and inhibitor design
• developing new computational methods that exploit data produced using various experimental techniques (e.g. cryo-EM, mass spectrometry, NMR and tomography).

• Part of the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, a joint initiative with University College London and a major biology research hub in the heart of London.
• Access to online learning material, computer and visualisation laboratories.
• In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF), in a joint submission with UCL, Biological Sciences at Birkbeck were ranked 11th in the UK, with a research environment supporting world-leading and internationally excellent research.

You take four modules selected from a list of seven options and undertake a thesis, which may include programming and method development as well as the use of existing techniques such as genome analysis, analysis of next-generation sequencing data, molecular simulations and molecular modelling.

Training is also provided in searching and evaluating data in literature and online databases, and the analytical and presentational skills required by the successful research scientist.

Graduates go on to careers in the biotechnology, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors, as well as academia. Possible professions include healthcare scientist (genetics), research scientist, or higher education lecturer. This degree can also be useful in becoming a science writer or software developer.

We offer a comprehensive Careers Service to help you advance your career, while our in-house, professional recruitment consultancy, Birkbeck Talent, works with London’s top employers to help you gain work experience that fits in with your evening studies.