Explore Advanced Education and Research Roles in Health Informatics 2024

Advanced Education and Research Roles in Health Informatics

Table of Contents

Advanced research roles in health informatics blend a love of research and data technology with the field of medicine. Among the key positions in this area of health informatics are those in medical informatics. Those unfamiliar with the field sometimes use health informatics and medical informatics interchangeably.

However, they’re not the same. Medical informatics relates specifically to data surrounding medical and patient data to fuel research and improve patient outcomes.

Advanced education and research roles in health informatics are offered to those with a Ph.D. in Health Informatics. This level of doctorate education provides the skills and analytical thinking needed to complete the research and evaluation of medical data at the highest level.

Medical Informatics Scientist

Medical informatics scientists are key to research and development in health informatics. They develop and conduct research, then utilize those findings to develop new technical solutions to organizational and clinical pain points in healthcare settings.

Professionals in this role use their knowledge and experience to transform complex data into workable solutions that can be applied in various healthcare settings.

Educational Paths

A Ph.D. level of education is required for advanced positions as a medical informatics scientist. If a specific focus, such as biomedical informatics or genomics, is chosen, the focus of education should also be in that area. Positions may be available for those with a bachelor’s degree, but compensation will be significantly less.

Salary Range

According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for medical informatics scientists is $61,663 and varies depending on location and specific discipline. [1] From our research, this is on the low end for those with a Ph.D. and likely reflects many employed at various levels with bachelor’s degrees. Many at this level earn compensation on average of $119,000 per year. [2]

Career Opportunities

Biomedical Informatics Specialist

Biomedical informatics specialists work on the development of software and databases to integrate biomedical data in healthcare. Biomedical informatics specialists are key in piecing together data from research to help drive new clinical insights, treatments, and outcomes.

Educational Paths

Those interested in becoming biomedical informatics specialists should begin by pursuing a master’s degree in biomedical informatics and completing a Ph.D. program.

Salary Range

Biomedical information specialists can expect to earn an average yearly salary of $82,781, with top earners receiving $133,500 per year. [3]

Career Opportunities

Higher-level career opportunities in the field include biomedical research scientist and biomedical informatics director.

Genomic Informatics Specialist

Genomics informatics specialists focus on genomic data analysis. The development of genome sequencing data analysis processes and managing and documenting genomic sequencing. This data is used to create large genomic databases. Genomic informatics specialists may also take on other roles, including consultation, genomic project management, and training.

Educational Paths

Ph.D. in bioinformatics, genetics, molecular biology, medical sciences, or other related fields is required. Those entering the field should also have a foundation of experience with genomic data and bioinformatics.

Salary Range

Average annual salary information for genomic informatics specialists is difficult to find. Current open positions offer salaries ranging from $150,000 to $200,000, averaging $165,000. However, ZipRecruiter reports an average salary of $82,781, the same as careers in biomedical informatics. [4]

Career Opportunities

Genomic informatics specialists work in numerous research and genomic sequencing settings, taking part in creating both small and large-scale databases. Those in this role may advance toward executive positions.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for some of the most exciting opportunities in health informatics, the research roles top the list. Professionals in these roles are in an exciting position to pioneer the future of health informatics related to patient care. There’s a spectrum of salary ranges, but top positions with a Ph.D. are among some of the top paying in the field. Now is the ideal time to explore one of these advanced informatics careers and the potential that awaits you.