The Master of Science in Applied Computing (MScAC) is a 16-month professional master’s program offered by the Department of Computer Science in the Faculty of Arts and Science.

The Department of Cell and Systems Biology has developed the Data Science for Biology concentration for the MScAC in partnership with the Department of Computer Science.

Why an MScAC in Data Science for Biology?

As a discipline, Data Science for Biology (also known as bioinformatics) requires computational expertise with biological knowledge to advance reach and science in a rich variety of fields, such as biochemistry, medical science, molecular genetics, ecology and evolutionary biology, computer science, applied chemistry, etc. The Data Science for Biology concentration provides students with fundamental and applied research skills training to equip them to take on scientific leadership in the life sciences industry addressing biological big data challenges across Ontario, Canada, and internationally.

Interim Director for the MScAC in Data Science for Biology

Dr. Qian Lin
Chair, Department of Cell & Systems Biology
Member, Multinational Arabidopsis Steering Committee and the International Arabidopsis Informatics Consortium
Director, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Undergraduate Program

What can I expect in the MScAC in Data Science for Biology?

Training will focus on fundamental and hands-on instruction using cutting-edge analyses, tools, and resources, including software, artificial intelligence, visualization, statistical analyses, databases, and cloud infrastructure. Students will acquire the necessary skills and experience to evaluate, manipulate, analyze, document, and present complex biological data.

The following are some of the type of courses you will be completing in the Data Science for Biology concentration in addition to an eight-month research internship.

  • Foundational Computation Biology
  • Fundamentals of Genomic Data Science
  • Methods of Genomics and Proteomics
  • Data Visualization and Advanced Graphics in R
  • Machine Learning & Statistical Modeling
  • Molecular Evolution & Genomics
  • Introduction to Python
  • Communication for Computer Scientists
  • Technical Entrepreneurship

Learning Outcomes

By completing the Master of Science in Applied Computing with Data Science for Biology concentration, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate competency in data science and computational analyses representing core foundational knowledge in bioinformatics, including programming, software, statistical analyses, databases, and cloud infrastructure.
  • Understand the current technologies used to generate biological data and the basic biological processes that these technologies are designed to interrogate.
  • Develop complex analysis workflows, perform and interpret statistical tests, and work with large sequence databases.
  • Use basic software engineering principles such as design, scripting, prototyping, interoperability to analyze biological data analysis pipelines.
  • Effectively apply analytical skills and training in a real-world setting, collaborate with team members, and present employers with reproducible, critically evaluated results ready for interpretation and action.
  • Compare bioinformatics pipelines and data analysis methodologies using standard conceptual tools from computer science including computational resource requirements and measures of performance in a training and test data paradigm.
  • Use simulations and benchmark datasets to perform quality assessment on new bioinformatics pipelines and data science methodologies.
  • Critically evaluate, manipulate, analyze, document, and present complex biological data using existing algorithms and bioinformatics tools, with some tool-development skills.
  • Communicate data science results to a diverse audience using tables, graphs, figures and workflow diagrams.
  • Independently assess the latest research developments in data analysis methodologies and develop skills to update existing workflows when improvements arise.

Potential Career Opportunities

Discover the endless possibilities to accelerate your career as a world-class innovator.

  • Application Scientist
  • Big Data Investigator
  • Bioinformatics Researcher
  • Biostatistician
  • Computational Biologist
  • Data Engineer

How to apply

See the MScAC program website for eligibility requirements and for program fees.

To apply for general admission in September 2024:

General applications will open in October 2023 for a September 2024 start. For more information, please visit the MScAC website.

Questions?

Visit the MScAC FAQ page or email admissions@mscac.utoronto.ca.

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