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    • Computational Biology

    Computational Biology Courses Online

    Explore computational biology for analyzing biological data. Learn to apply algorithms and models to study genomes, proteins, and biological systems.

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    Explore the Computational Biology Course Catalog

    • T

      The University of Melbourne

      Discrete Optimization

      Skills you'll gain: Operations Research, Combinatorics, Applied Mathematics, Graph Theory, Mathematical Modeling, Algorithms, Computational Thinking, Linear Algebra, Computational Logic, Computer Programming

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      777 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      S

      Stanford University

      Greedy Algorithms, Minimum Spanning Trees, and Dynamic Programming

      Skills you'll gain: Algorithms, Bioinformatics, Graph Theory, Computational Thinking, Data Structures, Theoretical Computer Science

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.3K reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      University of Alberta

      Mountains 101

      Skills you'll gain: Environment, Physical Science, Biology, Water Resources, Environmental Monitoring, Cultural Diversity, Social Studies, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, Risk Management, Anthropology, World History

      4.9
      Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2.6K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • N

      New York University

      Engineering Health: Introduction to Yoga and Physiology

      Skills you'll gain: Respiratory Care, Mindfulness, Respiration, Physical Therapy, Stress Management, Pulmonology, Research, Cardiology, General Science and Research, Kinesiology, Orthopedics, Biology, Preventative Care, Health Assessment, Vital Signs, Anatomy, Chronic Diseases, Neurology, Mental Health

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      523 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      University of California San Diego

      Our Energy Future

      Skills you'll gain: Energy and Utilities, Electrical Power, Pollution Prevention, Environmental Policy, Mitigation, Environment, Social Studies, Food and Beverage, Environmental Regulations, Environmental Science, Economics, Chemical Engineering, Production Process, Biology

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.2K reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of California San Diego

      Molecular Evolution (Bioinformatics IV)

      Skills you'll gain: Bioinformatics, Statistical Analysis, Molecular Biology, Graph Theory, Taxonomy, Tree Maps, Algorithms

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      79 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University of Copenhagen

      Diabetes - a Global Challenge

      Skills you'll gain: Preventative Care, Pharmacology, Chronic Diseases, Epidemiology, Medical Science and Research, Patient Treatment, Pharmaceuticals, Internal Medicine, Public Health and Disease Prevention, Clinical Nutrition, Public Health, Biology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Molecular Biology

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      735 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      Universidad de Palermo

      Psicología

      Skills you'll gain: Student-Centred Learning, Psychology, Human Learning, Learning Theory, Creativity, Human Development, Behavior Management, Neurology, Self-Awareness, Education and Training, Culture, Molecular Biology, Cognitive flexibility, Learning Strategies, Anatomy, School Psychology, Social Sciences, Mental Health, Computational Thinking, Systems Thinking

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.3K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      M

      Meta

      Coding Interview Preparation

      Skills you'll gain: Data Structures, Algorithms, Software Visualization, Pseudocode, Programming Principles, Computational Thinking, Computer Science, Technical Communication, Computational Logic, Program Development

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      690 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free
      Free
      É

      École normale supérieure

      Statistical Mechanics: Algorithms and Computations

      Skills you'll gain: Sampling (Statistics), Physics, Simulations, Statistical Programming, Computational Logic, Numerical Analysis, Markov Model, Mechanics, Quantitative Research, Algorithms, Programming Principles, Applied Mathematics, Linear Algebra, Integral Calculus

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      264 reviews

      Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      M

      MedCerts

      Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology Fundamentals

      Skills you'll gain: Medical Terminology, Pulmonology, Pathology, Cardiology, Medical Records, Neurology, General Medical Tests and Procedures, Urology, Gynecology, Anatomy, Health Information Management and Medical Records, Respiration, Orthopedics, Vital Signs, Electocardiography, Biology, Laboratory Testing, Medical Billing and Coding, Health Information Management, Physical Therapy

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      211 reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

      Introducción a la inteligencia artificial

      Skills you'll gain: Bayesian Network, Program Development, Computational Logic, Game Theory, Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Algorithms, Computational Thinking, Creativity, Engineering Software, Markov Model, Software Development, Theoretical Computer Science, Generative AI, Decision Support Systems, Applied Machine Learning, Data Ethics, Problem Management, Social Sciences, Bioinformatics

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      587 reviews

      Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

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    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular computational biology courses

    • Discrete Optimization: The University of Melbourne
    • Greedy Algorithms, Minimum Spanning Trees, and Dynamic Programming: Stanford University
    • Mountains 101: University of Alberta
    • Engineering Health: Introduction to Yoga and Physiology: New York University
    • Our Energy Future: University of California San Diego
    • Molecular Evolution (Bioinformatics IV): University of California San Diego
    • Diabetes - a Global Challenge: University of Copenhagen
    • Psicología: Universidad de Palermo
    • Coding Interview Preparation: Meta
    • Statistical Mechanics: Algorithms and Computations: École normale supérieure

    Skills you can learn in Algorithms

    Graphs (22)
    Mathematical Optimization (21)
    Computer Program (20)
    Data Structure (19)
    Problem Solving (19)
    Algebra (12)
    Computer Vision (10)
    Discrete Mathematics (10)
    Graph Theory (10)
    Image Processing (10)
    Linear Algebra (10)
    Reinforcement Learning (10)

    Frequently Asked Questions about Computational Biology

    Computational Biology is a multidisciplinary approach to applying data-scientific methods, processes, or theories to the study of biological systems. The field includes foundations in Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry, Genetics, Genomics, Computer Science, Evolution, and related disciplines.

    An example of Computational Biology is performing experiments that produce data—building sequences of molecules, for instance—and then using methods such as machine learning to analyze the data.

    When mastered, Computational Biology enables successful learners to bring drug discovery and disease prevention expertise to Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, and other essential fields.‎

    As Data Science roles pertaining to Biology become increasingly in-demand, learners exploring Computational Biology can find opportunities in commercial, academic, and government domains. The positions learners can look forward to include Computer and Information Research Scientist, Computational Biology Professor, Software and Instrumentation Test Engineer, Bioinformatics Scientist, and related roles.

    Some industries in which Computational Biology learners will find exciting opportunities include Medical Device and Equipment, Research and Testing, Agricultural Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, National Institutes of Health, and more.‎

    Courses in Computational Biology offered through Coursera explore various methods for extracting data from biological experiments. Learners discover how algorithms, data structures, and other computational methods can help them analyze DNA sequencing data. The basics in biological systems are covered so learners have a foundational understanding of DNA, genomics, and DNA sequencing. Hands-on learning of data science tools is available in many courses as well, where learners use Python, R Programming, and more to analyze real genomes and DNA sequencing datasets.‎

    Computational biology sits at the intersection of machine learning and life science, so if you possess skills in computer science and any of the various disciplines of biology, you’re ready to start learning computational biology. Having a working understanding of biology, pharmacology, and genetics can help you gain a foothold in learning computational biology, and the deeper your knowledge of those fields, the better off you’ll be in your studies. You can also benefit from a background in coding and computer programming, especially if you have experience using discrete mathematics for research and data analysis. An understanding of statistics can also give you an advantage in studying computational biology because you can apply the principles of statistics and data analysis to problem-solving within scientific disciplines.‎

    Since computational biology—also known as bioinformatics—is a scientific discipline that relies on the analysis of large amounts of data, people with analytical natures or backgrounds in statistics are well-suited for careers in this area. Individuals who are passionate about life science and want to apply technology to studying its various fields will enjoy jobs in computational biology. Computer programmers who have an interest in biology or genetics can combine their skills in building data structures with their passion for bioinformatics. Whether you want to work in academic research or for a medical corporation, you can put your scientific and computational knowledge to work in a career in computational biology.‎

    Computational biology might be the right field for you if you’re interested in biology and genetics beyond family trees and the insights from DNA test kits ordered online. If you have the desire to help develop the next revolutionary prescription or a passion to use data to help solve scientific issues, learning computational biology could be a good fit for you. You can take the skills in data analysis and computer programming that you learn studying computational biology to conduct research that helps lead to scientific breakthroughs. From pharmaceutical studies to academic research, learning computational biology offers rewarding opportunities for those who want to combine computer skills with scientific exploration.‎

    Online Computational Biology courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Computational Biology skills. Choose from a wide range of Computational Biology courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.‎

    When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Computational Biology, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.‎

    This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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