Between Nature, Data Analysis, and AI—Thanks to the New Bioinformatics Specialization

As a high school student, Zoé Wenz dreams of becoming a biologist and working outdoors in nature. Today, the master’s student enthusiastically analyzes datasets, explores machine learning, and contributes to research projects. She has chosen bioinformatics as her area of specialization: a field that demonstrates just how much computer-aided methods are transforming the natural sciences—and what opportunities this offers.

It’s early in the morning, and Zoé Wenz is walking through the woods with her dog, Arkani. She stops, looks at plants, and identifies a butterfly using an app. Although she’s still a high school student, she has a clear vision of her future: “I always thought I’d become a forest and meadow biologist,” she says.

Today, the master’s student is sitting in a computer lab at RPTU in Kaiserslautern. On the screen: protein datasets, statistical models, and algorithms. She never would have imagined at the start of her studies that she’d one day be working with such methods: “At first, you don’t really associate computer science and programming with biology. But it’s now a huge part of modern research,” she explains.

“At first glance, you don’t really associate computer science and programming with biology. But it’s now a huge part of modern research.”

Even as a high school student, Zoé Wenz was a regular visitor to the RPTU campus in Kaiserslautern: she participated in competitions, attended Girls Week—an introductory week for young women in the natural sciences—and visited college information days. “Unlike high school, college grabbed me right away,” she says. By the time Zoé Wenz began her bachelor’s degree in molecular biology, she had long since decided on RPTU. “Once I’ve grown to love something, I stick with it.”

Zoé Wenz also made a conscious decision to stay at RPTU in Kaiserslautern for her master’s degree. “I like being at a small, close-knit campus university. You get to know the instructors—and even the professors—really quickly—and realize: ‘They’re just people, too, with whom you can share your enthusiasm.’"

Practical Experience in the University Lab

In the fifth and sixth semesters of her bachelor’s program, Zoé Wenz can choose from various advanced lab internships. These are longer projects that promote independence and provide her first real research experience in the university lab. Zoé Wenz decides on human biology and bioinformatics. She’s fascinated by both. But bioinformatics has really captured her interest.

“We analyzed and visualized biological networks and worked with real datasets,” she explains. What excites her is the thinking behind it: identifying a biological problem, translating it into a model, and then independently developing a solution. “When it all clicks and you realize, ‘Hey, this works’—that’s an incredibly cool feeling.” She decides to pursue the new Bioinformatics specialization in the Master’s in Biology program.

Building solutions for massive amounts of data

What Zoé Wenz particularly appreciates about bioinformatics is its thematic openness. “If you become a neurobiologist, the chances are slim that you’ll ever look at plants again,” she says. “But in bioinformatics, you often collaborate with very different departments and become a sort of bridge-builder between biological questions, data analysis, and computer science.” Today, bioinformatics methods are used, for example, to analyze genetic patterns in tumors or to evaluate large environmental and climate datasets.

Whereas hundreds of cell images from the microscope used to have to be evaluated by hand, the Computational Systems Biology department, among others, is now working on AI-supported methods for automated data analysis. “There is AI that makes predictions, but there will always be a need for people who can critically evaluate those predictions.” She believes this is a strength of her field: “You learn a problem-solving mindset while working with state-of-the-art technology. This skill is becoming increasingly essential, including in biology.”

Today, bioinformaticians work wherever large amounts of data are generated and analytical thinking is required: for example, in research, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, or in the field of data science. “There are so many paths you can take later on. With the bioinformatics specialization, the world is honestly your oyster,” says Zoé Wenz.

The Bioinformatics track combines theory, practice, and modern technologies. “At the same time, the program becomes increasingly flexible and self-directed as you progress,” says Zoé Wenz. At the start of each semester, for example, the curriculum includes two-week reading courses. These are compact, intensive courses in which a topic is explored in depth, such as machine learning and data science. Then come the major internships: independent, multi-week projects within a research group at the university, which form the core of the specialization.

In one internship, for example, Zoé Wenz prepared samples in the lab and then analyzed the resulting data on the computer. In her next internship, her group will train and optimize their own language model. For the third internship, a postdoc is currently planning a research project in the field of agent-based data evaluation. “I find the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research while still in my master’s program incredibly exciting,” says Zoé Wenz.

“I find the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research as early as my master’s program incredibly exciting.”

In addition to her studies, Zoé Wenz has been active on the Biology Student Council for about three years and has served as its spokesperson for the past year. She sits on the departmental council and the examination committee. As a student assistant, she also supports courses and creates learning materials for students. “I really enjoy it,” she says. “I remember all too well how intimidating college can be at first.”

Zoé Wenz never would have thought it possible that she, of all people, would one day chair meetings and promote the degree program at an open house. “I used to be really afraid of speaking in front of others,” she says. She explains her decision to put herself in these situations simply: “It’s a free experience, so to speak. You can’t mess anything up, but you can learn a lot and push yourself beyond your limits.”

Future Opportunities Instead of Clichés

When interacting with prospective students, Zoé Wenz tries to dispel computer science stereotypes: “We don’t just sit alone in a dark little room programming,” she says. “We sit together in the computer lab or in group offices, enthusiastically discussing scientific questions, finding solutions, and supporting one another.”

More important than prior knowledge, she says, are curiosity, motivation, and a willingness to dive into new topics. “I never took computer science in school. I started from scratch.” But even in the bachelor’s program, everyone is met where they are— “the most important thing is that you’re genuinely interested in learning new things and open to new ways of thinking.”