Career-Ready in Bioinformatics: Must-Have Tools & Skillsets for the Modern Computational Biologist

Empowers Future Computational Biologists with Career-Ready Skills

• Date: 24th Sept, 2025 (Wednesday)
• Duration: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM IST
• Mode: Online on Zoom platform

BioTecNika, India’s premier Life Sciences education and training platform, hosted its highly anticipated webinar, “Career-Ready in Bioinformatics: Must-Have Tools & Skillsets for the Modern Computational Biologist”. The dynamic one-hour online session brought together students, Researchers, and aspiring Computational Biologists to explore the cutting-edge tools, skill clusters, and career pathways shaping modern Biological Research.

As Computational Biology evolves from a niche discipline into the backbone of modern Life Sciences,  from Drug Discovery to Precision Medicine,  the webinar provided a robust roadmap for building future-ready careers in this transformative field.

Opening Insights: The Growing Role of Computational Biology

Mrs. Diluxi, the host, set the stage by framing Computational Biology as no longer optional, but essential for today’s Life Sciences professionals. She emphasized: “By 2030, over 70% of Biology-driven Research jobs will demand Computational literacy.”

She highlighted that the demand for hybrid Biologists,  skilled in both Biology and Computational biology, and Bioinformatics career is skyrocketing in the Pharmaceutical industry, Genomics, Personalized Medicine, and global Research collaborations. With

that, she introduced the session’s expert speakers and outlined the webinar’s roadmap.

Session 1: Beyond Pipelines: Core Competencies Every Computational Biologist Must Master

Speaker: Dr. Elamathi Natarajan

Dr. Natarajan provided an insightful perspective on how Biology careers are transforming in the Computational era. She stressed that success in modern Biology requires blending deep Biological knowledge with Bioinformatics skills and Computational expertise.

Key highlights included:

• The New Face of Biology Careers: The rise of hybrid Biologists capable of thinking Computationally, working across remote and global teams.
• Foundational Skill Areas: Mastery of Biological databases such as NCBI, UniProt, and Ensembl; sequence literacy (FASTA, FASTQ); and pathway analysis using KEGG and Reactome.
• Sequencing & Data Interpretation: A practical example on variant calling for Cancer Genomics.
• Career Essentials: A skillset checklist encompassing database management, sequence analysis, structural Bioinformatics, visualization, and reproducibility.
• Portfolio Building: How small, diverse projects can demonstrate competence and differentiate candidates.

Dr. Natarajan’s session painted a clear picture: Computational Biology or Bioinformatics skills are not just a skill set; it’s a mindset that empowers Scientists to push the boundaries of Research.

Session 2: The Modern Bioinformatics Toolbox: Tools That Get You Hired

Speaker: Dr. Neeraj Kumar

Dr. Kumar delivered a pragmatic guide to the tools and workflows that give Computational Biologists a competitive edge. His session bridged technical mastery with strategic application in Research and industry.

Key highlights included:

• Structural Bioinformatics Tools: SWISS-MODEL and MODELLER for homology modeling; GROMACS for molecular dynamics simulation and drug design.
• Drug Discovery Tools: Virtual screening and docking basics with AutoDock and PyRx.
• Visualization Tools: PyMOL for molecular structure visualization; Cytoscape for network and pathway analysis.
• Integrated Workflow Example: Demonstrating a seamless flow from gene identification → pathway analysis → protein modeling → docking → simulation.
• Niche Tools Selection: Strategic mapping of tools for Genomics, Proteomics, or Structural Biology to build a focused, marketable skill set.

Dr. Kumar emphasized: “It’s not just about learning tools or Bioinformatics skills, it’s about weaving them together into reproducible workflows that deliver real-world results.”

About the Speakers

Dr. Elamathi Natarajan – CRO Scientist, AI/ML & Bioinformatics Specialist at BioTecNika
Dr. Elamathi brings deep expertise at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Bioinformatics. With a strong background in building computational models and designing intelligent biological data pipelines, she has guided multiple research initiatives in genomics and systems biology. Her passion lies in empowering scientists with next-gen computational tools to accelerate discoveries.

 

Dr. Neeraj Kumar – CRO Scientist, Computational Biologist & Bioinformatics Specialist at BioTecNika
Dr. Neeraj is a seasoned computational biologist with significant contributions to multi-omics data analysis, biomarker discovery, and computational drug design. At BioTecNika, he plays a vital role in advancing AI-driven bioinformatics research while mentoring the next generation of professionals in computational life sciences. His work reflects a strong commitment to integrating biology with cutting-edge computational strategies.

Closing & Interactive Q&A

The closing session brought together the key insights:

• From Dr. Natarajan: The importance of building the right skill clusters and Computational mindset.
• From Dr. Kumar: The tools and workflows that make Computational Biologists industry-ready.

The Q&A session enabled attendees to engage directly with the speakers, asking questions about transitioning into Computational Biology, selecting tools, and creating portfolios that stand out.

Mrs. Diluxi concluded with an inspiring reminder: “The future of Biology is Computational,  and it belongs to those who start building their skillsets now.”

Attendees were also invited to BioTecNika’s upcoming Bioinformatics Course and Project Internship, starting later this month, which offers guided mentorship, hands-on practice, and live project experience to transform learning into career-ready expertise.

Key Insights from the Webinar

• Computational Biology is no longer optional; it is central to the future of Life Sciences Research.
• The demand for hybrid Biologists who merge Biological knowledge with Computational skills is surging globally.
• Core competencies include proficiency with Biological databases, sequence analysis, structural Bioinformatics skills, visualization tools, and reproducibility.
• Building a diverse portfolio of projects boosts employability and credibility.
• Strategic tool selection enables niche specialization and career growth.

About BioTecNika

BioTecNika is India’s leading Life Sciences education and training platform, empowering students, Researchers, and professionals with industry-relevant skills and mentorship. Through expert-led courses, workshops, webinars, and certification programs, BioTecNika bridges the gap between academic learning and industry demands in Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Regulatory Affairs, and Bioinformatics career.

BioTecNika invites Life Sciences aspirants and Computational Biology enthusiasts to advance their careers through its Bioinformatics Course + Project Internship,  a guided, hands-on pathway to building skills and portfolios that employers value.

For more information and registration, visit: www.biotecnika.org