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. Bioinformatics is a rapidly growing interdisciplinary science dealing with the application of computer science to the study of biology. Bioinformatics education is increasingly in demand for many careers in science and health care.

This program enables students to integrate academic studies with related, practical work experience. Co-op students alternate terms of classroom studies with terms of paid, full-time employment with a participating employer.