Building skills and finding community

April 14, 2025

Headshot of Tanvir Saini During his time with Brandeis Online, Tanvir Saini MS’25 has developed essential statistical skills — all while finding a community of supportive instructors and peers.

For Tanvir Saini MS’25, transitioning to a career in bioinformatics has always been the end-goal.

Tanvir’s first introduction to bioinformatics was through his bioinformatics minor in undergrad, when he gained a basic introduction to the ways that computer science tools could be used to tackle biology problems. As someone who spent the late 2000s and early 2010s making websites as a side-hustle, the programming and problem-solving aspect of bioinformatics really spoke to him.

“I really enjoyed the mental workflow of programming a website, debugging a website,” Tanvir told Brandeis Online. “So when I jumped into bioinformatics, the satisfaction of tackling the problem … nothing else compared to it.”

Despite his passion for the field, Tanvir didn’t have the credentials to jump right into bioinformatics after completing his undergraduate degree in 2016. Instead, he started a job on the production end of biotechnology, working an overnight shift extracting DNA from blood plasma. While he enjoyed this work, working in bioinformatics was still Tanvir’s goal — so he made sure to keep his skills sharp outside of work.

Eventually, Tanvir was able to make the transition into bioinformatics in 2022. Once he got to that point, Tanvir discovered that even with years of work experience, there was so much more he could learn — especially in terms of statistics. That’s when he decided to pursue a master’s degree in bioinformatics.

While Tanvir researched programs throughout the country, Brandeis Online stood out for a variety of reasons. Brandeis Online’s flexibility meant that Tanvir could continue working full-time while earning his degree — and Brandeis’ partnership with the International Society for Computational Biology meant that Tanvir got 15% off tuition.

Of course, Tanvir would not have chosen Brandeis Online were it not for the program’s curriculum. “There was a nice breath of biomarker discovery, genetics, and the software being utilized in the program aligns with what is up to date,” Tanvir explained.

Now that Tanvir is over halfway through the program, he’s found that the coursework has been extremely helpful. “Whether it's statistics in the form of regression models, or looking at structural bioinformatics using PyMOL to investigate protein catalytic sites… I've acquired one to two years of applicable work experience just from RBIF 111 and RBIF 101 alone,” Tanvir said.

The statistical skills that Tanvir has developed over the course of the program have been particularly impactful. “Being able to mathematically model biology is insanely powerful,” Tanvir told Brandeis Online. “If you can confidently say, ‘Hey, if we try and do this thing X number of times, we're confident we're gonna be wrong 80% of the time,’ you've just saved the company you're working with so much time and money. Any employer is going to think of you as a rock star.”

On top of gaining valuable bioinformatics skills, Tanvir has also found a supportive community at Brandeis Online. He’s been able to “exchange hopes and aspirations” with peers outside of the classroom, and has found that instructors truly care about their students. “I'm super happy to say that in all of the office hours that I've attended, I've only been met with a lot of warmth and comfort when asking questions,” Tanvir said. “They are willing to not just talk to you about the material that you're learning, but you can even ask, ‘Hey, how does this fit into the grand scheme of biotech?’”

To mid-career professionals like himself, Tanvir recommends Brandeis Online’s program. “If bioinformatics is what you want to do, this program is perfect, especially if you also want to continue working full time,” Tanvir said. “I’ve been able to get immediate reinforcement, knowing what I’m learning is actually making a difference — not just for my company, but also for my career.”

To learn more about the MS in Bioinformatics and other Brandeis Online programs, please visit our website.