Computational Biologist Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Computational Biologist resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Computational biologists use computer programs to analyze huge amounts of data to solve problems in biology. They’re also called bioinformaticians, bioinformaticists, or bioinformatics specialists.
If you love playing with data but also have a passion for biology, this could be the perfect role for you. Computational biologists use their computer skills to make sense of the massive amounts of information generated by scientists every day.
Here are some tips plus an example to help you write your own fantastic computational biologist resume that hiring managers will love.
How to Write a Computational Biologist Resume
Here’s how to write a computational biologist resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
Bullet points are the most effective way to showcase your experience and qualifications. But rather than simply listing your responsibilities, you can make your bullet points much more interesting and compelling by using them to tell a story about your work.
For example, rather than saying you “analyzed data to identify trends,” you could say you “analyzed data from patient surveys to identify trends in patient satisfaction and develop new initiatives to improve hospital ratings.”
The second bullet point is much more interesting because it provides more detail about what exactly you did and the outcome of your work.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a job as a computational biologist, your resume is likely to go through an applicant tracking system (ATS). This program will scan your resume for certain keywords related to the position you’re applying for. If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right keywords, the ATS might automatically reject your application.
One way to make sure you have the right keywords on your resume is to look at the job posting and take note of the terms they use. Then, try to use those same terms throughout your resume. Here are some commonly used keywords for computational biologist roles:
- Biostatistics
- Bioinformatics
- Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology
- Python (Programming Language)
- MATLAB
- Linux
- Genetics
- R (Programming Language)
- Sequence Analysis
- SAS
- Data Analysis
- Biochemistry
- Machine Learning
- Computational Biology
- Life Sciences
- Proteomics
- MATLAB Programming
- Cell Culture
- Statistical Data Analysis
- Genomics
- Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)
- HPC
- High-Performance Computing
- Java
- Microarray
- Biostatistics
- Research
- Biotechnology Research
- Scientific Writing
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As a computational biologist, you need to be proficient in a variety of software programs and systems in order to effectively do your job. This might include programs like R, Python, and MATLAB, as well as systems like Linux and Hadoop. Additionally, you should have experience with data mining, machine learning, and modeling.
Recruiters are looking for computational biologists who have a solid understanding of big data concepts and who are familiar with a wide range of software programs and systems. So if you have the relevant skills and experience, be sure to list them prominently on your resume.