As Senior Bioinformatician and Head of the Bioinformatics team at Wolfe Lab in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Loyola University Center for Translational Research and Education, Melline Fontes Noronha (Certificate, Introduction to Data Science ‘25) utilized expertise learned in her CPST 291 course to solve a pressing issue in her workplace. 

The course, CPST 291 – Dynamic Programming Languages, taught by instructor Chris Fulton, introduces students to programming in dynamically typed languages, sometimes known as scripting languages. Primarily using the language example of Python, the course also briefly addresses how JavaScript fits into the category of dynamic languages. 

Faced with inefficiencies in her lab’s biological sample inventory system, Melline built a centralized database informed by the teachings of the course to streamline data management and reduce manual labor. The database - designed as a relational database schema - integrates multiple datasets into a unified, accessible system that improves data consistency and facilitates cross-study analysis. While the solution was intended as a temporary fix, it laid the foundation for a larger, more permanent upgrade and is currently being used by her team.  

“We still need a little bit of manual work to complete this task,” Melline clarifies. “But it was much easier to complete the task when we had the database. This final database serves as a solution for a bigger problem.” 

Despite earning a computer science degree nearly two decades ago, Melline recognizes the importance of staying current in a field that is evolving rapidly.  

“Computer science is a field that constantly evolves,” Melline states. “Continuous learning is not optional - it is essential.” 

Through the SCPS Introduction to Data Science certificate program, she not only refreshed her skills in programming, databases, and data analysis but also was able to directly apply course teachings to her profession concurrently.