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Biological information specialists for biological informatics.
P Bryan Heidorn1, Carole L Palmer, Dan Wright
1Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA. pheidorn@uiuc.edu
Journal of Biomedical Discovery and Collaboration
|February 14, 2007
Summary
Effective biological data integration requires enhanced bioinformatics training. New Biological Information Specialists can bridge data gaps and advance scientific discovery by managing complex information across disciplines.
Area of Science:
- Bioinformatics
- Data Science
- Biological Sciences
Background:
- Data management and integration pose significant challenges across biological science disciplines.
- Successful cross-scale integration hinges on seamless information management and data migration.
- Existing bioinformatics training may not adequately address the complexities of interdisciplinary data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To advocate for an expanded definition of bioinformatics and its training.
- To propose the creation of a new informatics professional role: Biological Information Specialists.
- To highlight the potential of these specialists in advancing scientific research.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual framework development for interdisciplinary informatics roles.
- Analysis of current gaps in bioinformatics training and data management practices.
- Drawing parallels with the informationist movement in library and information science.
Main Results:
- A need exists for specialized informatics professionals to manage biological data.
- Biological Information Specialists can improve scientific information access.
- These specialists can alleviate data management burdens on researchers, allowing focus on core science.
Conclusions:
- Broadening bioinformatics training is crucial for effective data integration.
- Establishing Biological Information Specialists can significantly enhance scientific progress.
- This role extends the informationist model to support diverse biological research needs.
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