[lemming]

This is a little discouraging - BioInformatics was my top choice for a Master's program I'm planning to start this year. The program at Melbourne Uni looks really good (accepts from three streams, Math/Stats, Biology or Computing and tailors the course based on your background). Maybe I should go for a more generic Machine Learning one and try to apply that to healthcare in some other field if things are really this bad.

[chrisamiller]

As someone in the field, let me assure you: This article does not accurately reflect the state of the field.

[lemming]

Thanks for the reply. I wasn't basing this just on the article, there seem to be a fair number of comments here supporting a less-extreme version of what he's saying.

[zmmmmm]

I'm just starting a PhD at Melbourne Uni in bioinformatics after working in the field for several years. Don't pay any attention to this is my advice. Bioinformatics is a field currently pulling itself up by its own bootstraps out of the realm of research into the clinic. That's a painful process to be sure, but IMHO it's the most profoundly exciting time to be part of any discipline. You are literally being a part of and watching history in the making. It's going to be messy, but there are chances to contribute here like no other field going around.

[lemming]

Interesting, thanks for the point of view. If you'd be interested in getting a beer or a coffee at any point, let me know - contact details in my profile.

[jerven]

I am also in the field, and IMHO we are starting to get away from the worst excesses code quality wise i.e. things are getting better.

6 years ago using CVS or something like that was novel. Now not using GIT is. Big improvement!

Problems are still interesting and challenging.

[jstevens85]

Could you add an email to your profile? I'd like to email you regarding Masters courses at UniMelb.

[lemming]

Sure, done.