Switching from Zoology to Bioinformatics!
I'm currently in my second year of BSc in Zoology. I originally chose this subject partly out of interest and partly because I didn’t have many options at the time. I thought i actually like wildlife and field works. but after participating in a volunteer role in an amphibian conservation field study, I realized it just sucks. this kind of outdoor, field-based work is not for me long term. I’ve come to understand that I’m more suited to a desk-based, analytical, white collar type of career. That’s why I’ve recently started feeling interested in bioinformatics.
However, there are a few concerns:
• i currently have zero programming knowledge • My university curriculum has little to no bioinformatics/computational biology courses. • if I pursue this path, I’ll likely have to self learn everything or rely on doing a Master’s in bioinformatics later.
My long-term goal is to pursue higher studies abroad, ideally with a scholarship, so I want to make sure I’m making the right decision now. So now I’m feeling quite confused.
- Is it realistic to transition from Zoology to Bioinformatics at this stage?
- Has anyone here made a similar shift from a non-computational biology background?
- What would you recommend I focus on right now if I want to keep this option open?
- Any advice or personal experiences would really help. Thanks!