DataWiz-IN scholars program for Biomedical Informatics workforce in Indiana

Indiana University Indianapolis, Indianapolis IN

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Research in biomedical and bioengineering careers increasingly relies on rapidly evolving domain-specific data analysis skills and the expert management of information and knowledge. There is a critical need to enhance the preparation of students with strong academic potential to meet the growing workforce requirements in biomedical informatics. A significant barrier to addressing workforce shortages lies in ensuring that students are equipped with the advanced technical skills and research experience needed to succeed in this rapidly changing field. The Department of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics (DBMI) at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering (LSICE) at Indiana University Indianapolis (IUI) is uniquely positioned to host this R25 education program. The department hosts a Biomedical Informatics (BMI) baccalaureate degree program, the only such program in Indiana and the third in the nation when it started, designed to train students in a rapidly growing discipline to address the shortage of informatics-trained professionals in biomedicine. In addition, the highly successful accelerated BS+MS program allows students to complete both a baccalaureate and master’s degree in five years, enabling them to pursue advanced training and qualify for higher-paying positions in bioinformatics and health informatics. The IU Indianapolis campus combines the strengths of the basic biological and biotechnological sciences as well as clinical and biomedical sciences programs housed in the largest medical school in the United States at IU School of Medicine. Long-standing collaborations with leading pharmaceutical companies such as Eli Lilly, faculty joint appointments with renowned research centers like the Regenstrief Institute, and strong industry ties provide students with unparalleled opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research and applied learning. Hence, the goal of our proposed program is to provide academically talented students with hands-on summer research experiences in various research laboratories during their junior, senior undergraduate, and first-year graduate studies. These experiences will motivate them to pursue research careers and take advantage of the accelerated degree pathways available on campus. Since informatics in biomedicine impacts a wide variety of interdisciplinary fields, proposed summer research experiences will benefit undergraduate and graduate student population in a multitude of NLM-supported research careers.