Bioinformatics analyzes, interprets, and integrates biological data using computational methods. It addresses challenges arising from high-throughput molecular technologies in biomedical research, engineering, and the pharmaceutical industry. Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that provides opportunities for bioengineers to apply their skills in this emerging area of biotechnology.

Whole genome sequencing and expression analysis provides an enormous amount of information about the master blueprint of the molecular structures and activities of life. Understanding the structures and functions of gene products, the regulation of gene expression profile, and the network of regulatory and metabolic molecular interactions of entire cell is a task that promises direct impact on our fundamental understanding of living systems. Combined with high-throughput chemical synthesis and biological assays, new opportunities emerge for engineering manipulation, controlling, and modification of molecular interactions, with broad applications in disease gene discovery, molecular diagnostics, drug design, metabolic engineering, bioconversion, biosynthesis, and biodegradation.

The Department of Bioengineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago offers a program of graduate study in the field of Bioinformatics at the M.S. and Ph.D. level. The goal of the program is to prepare and train bioengineers capable of using computational genomic analysis to solve engineering problems arising at the new frontiers of biology and medicine. These students will also be well prepared for careers in bioinformatics, cheminformatics, pharmaceutical industry, and biotechnology industry. A broad range of courses and integrative research opportunities exists for students.

There is a vigorous program of Bioinformatics research at UIC. Dr. Jie Liang, a member of our core faculty, works in several areas of Bioinformatics. In structural bioinformatics, his lab has developed cutting-edge computational methods for analyzing binding protein surfaces and core packing of proteins. In cheminformatics, his lab has developed novel shape descriptors for molecular data mining for drug discovery. Also Dr. Yang Dai, a member of our core faculty, is doing research in Computational Biology, Machine Learning & Data Mining Combinatorial and Global Optimization. In addition, Dr. Rong Chen, Dr. Bhaskar DasGupta, Dr. Carol Westbrook are also affiliated faculty members of the Department of Bioengineering.

Bioinformatics Faculty List