Advice, Transition From Structural Bioinformatics To Bioinformatics, How?

Question

[Tommy Carstensen]

I am asking for advice. I have recently handed in my PhD thesis. I worked with structural bioinformatics. I want to do a post doc, but I want to make a transition to bioinformatics / genomics. That is where my passion is. I know multiple programming languages and I possess a lot of other transferable skills. How do I convince a PI, that I am a suitable candidate? Has anyone else had experiences with changing their field of research? Any advice or suggestions as to how I should proceed is very much appreciated.

[Vladimir Chupakhin]

I am curious - what is the reason? Because I decided to do the same.

[User 5102]

It's a faster growing research field, and I think I can make a bigger impact. In terms of disease research, I also think bioinformaticians will make a bigger dent in the universe compared to structural bioinformaticians over the next decade.

Answer 1

[Mikael Huss]

The way the question is worded is a bit funny - surely you are already in bioinformatics? But I understand what you mean ...

I made a perhaps even more radical transition for my post-doc, from computational neuroscience to genomics / bioinformatics. It is hard to say exactly what I did to succeed, but I guess I managed to convince my PI that many of the skills I had learned during my PhD were transferable, and that I was really passionate about genomics. It could work for you as well!

[User 5102]

It's great to hear that someone else succeeded. I will keep pursuing my dream. Thank you for leaving your feedback.