What does a computational biologist do?
A computational biologist is an expert in computational management, high-performance computing, data algorithm, and biological and statistical processes. You study to understand biological systems using computational theoretical principles. Your duties typically include doing research and computer programming, developing a theory, mathematical models, and computer simulations to organize and analyze your findings, and building databases. To become a successful computational biologist, you must have extensive knowledge of bioinformatics, biochemistry, and computational biology, excellent communication skills, and problem-solving skills.
Computational biologist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real computational biologist resumes:
- Develop UNIX shell script, PERL and AWK program and apply TECPLOT software macro files to automate data processing and report.
- Manage detailed GLP laboratory manual daily.
- Design and perform model-based gene expression analysis with whole genome tiling-microarray data sets using SAS.
- Generate QC report and plots for new RNASeq samples using BAM files, PICARD, SAM tools etc.
- Foster collaborations both within USDA and with external scientists.
- Breed the mice, perform genotyping, injection and operation.
- Predict SNP function for genes associate with risks in ovarian cancer.
- Determine and compare RNA levels in mutant and wild type HCV replicon cells.
- Provide bioinformatics and HPC support to the students and researchers in the lab.
- Follow all OSHA, EHS, FDA and good housekeeping regulations in the laboratories.
- Create Perl scripts to aid scientists in their data collection, analysis, and results.
- Reduce the operation cost of RNA-seq data processing procedure by optimizing and automating the pipeline on HPC clusters.
- Develop a spline fitting method along with a graphical user interface for ordering effect detection in single cell RNA-seq data.
- Adhere to GMP guidelines for keeping records of all laboratory procedures and test results in electronic laboratory notebook and LIMS.
- Provide a diversity of data visualization tools.
Computational biologist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 24% of Computational Biologists are proficient in Python, Machine Learning, and Next-Generation Sequencing.
We break down the percentage of Computational Biologists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Python, 24%
Designed and employed ad hoc tools in Perl and Python for analysis and display of complex data sets.
- Machine Learning, 13%
Developed new bioinformatics methods in RNA-seq variant classification using machine learning.
- Next-Generation Sequencing, 9%
Build up infra-structure for next-generation sequencing data analysis.
- C++, 6%
Designed and wrote code for parallelizing algorithms on a blade farm using an LSF scheduler using C++ on Linux.
- Visualization, 5%
Provided a diversity of data visualization tools.
- Biological Data, 5%
Managed all of the biological data for the division on DEC VAX and PC computer systems.
Common skills that a computational biologist uses to do their job include "python," "machine learning," and "next-generation sequencing." You can find details on the most important computational biologist responsibilities below.
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a computational biologist to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what computational biologists do because "medical scientists must be able to explain their research in nontechnical ways." Additionally, a computational biologist resume shows how computational biologists use communication skills: "maintained open lines of communication with multiple departments, collaborating on study designs and issues. "
Observation skills. Many computational biologist duties rely on observation skills. "medical scientists conduct experiments that require monitoring samples and other health-related data.," so a computational biologist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways computational biologist responsibilities rely on observation skills: "used trimble gps to geographically tag all burrow locations, tortoise observations and any sensitive species seen in the area. "
The three companies that hire the most computational biologists are:
- Oregon Health & Science University13 computational biologists jobs
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center7 computational biologists jobs
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute7 computational biologists jobs
Compare different computational biologists
Computational biologist vs. Fish culture supervisor
A research associate is responsible for assisting the research team, organizing and interpreting findings, and verifying information before presenting the study to the board. Research associates duties also include gathering and comparing data from multiple sources, analyzing the current industry trends, creating draft outlines for reports, collecting individual contacts for interview purposes, and helping with the development of research procedures. A research associate must have excellent time-management skills and ability to multi-task, especially on meeting strict deadlines and conducting studies.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between computational biologists and fish culture supervisor. For instance, computational biologist responsibilities require skills such as "python," "machine learning," "next-generation sequencing," and "c++." Whereas a fish culture supervisor is skilled in "payroll," "customer service," "performance evaluations," and "cultural events." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Fish culture supervisors tend to reach lower levels of education than computational biologists. In fact, fish culture supervisors are 22.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 16.6% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Computational biologist vs. Fish culture technician
Research assistants give support to researchers or other professionals who need assistance as they conduct experiments, studies, or other research projects. Research assistants help in conducting experiments, surveys, or interviews under the supervision of the primary researcher. They also work on research activities such as literature reviews, collect data, assist in interpreting results, prepare designs or visuals for the presentation of the results, and even ensure that all the tools and documentation related to the study are properly organized. They also assist in fact-checking the output and ensure that the data presented are accurate. Research assistants usually possess an academic background that is related to the main research topic.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, computational biologist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "python," "machine learning," "next-generation sequencing," and "c++." Meanwhile, a fish culture technician has duties that require skills in areas such as "lab equipment," "data entry," "water quality," and "oversight." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
In general, fish culture technicians achieve lower levels of education than computational biologists. They're 7.7% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 16.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for computational biologists in the next 3-5 years?
Janet Williams Ph.D.
Professor of Biology, College of Our Lady of the Elms
Computational biologist vs. Research associate
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, computational biologists are more likely to have skills like "machine learning," "visualization," "biological data," and "rna-seq." But a research associate is more likely to have skills like "patients," "research projects," "data analysis," and "data collection."
Research associates earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $84,005. Comparatively, computational biologists have the highest earning potential in the health care industry, with an average salary of $79,159.When it comes to education, research associates tend to earn lower degree levels compared to computational biologists. In fact, they're 5.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 7.8% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Computational biologist vs. Research assistant
Types of computational biologist
Updated January 8, 2025
