L2M – BioinformHER

Bioinformatics is fundamental to modern medicine, driving breakthroughs in cancer, pandemics, and disease understanding, however, while demand for this field continues to grow, its workforce still does not reflect the people it serves. Fewer than 20% of bioinformaticians are women, and less than 5.7% are Black [1]. This homogeneity reflects and perpetuates systemic biases across science leading to significant lost of innovation and non-inclusive research. This talent gap also hinders the industry’s ability to meet growing demand for skilled professionals.
BioinformHER is an EdTech platform solving this dual challenge. We are making bioinformatics education accessible, inspiring, and achievable for women and underrepresented minorities. Unlike typical online courses, we combine hands-on learning and community mentorship with powerful storytelling from female scientists who have overcome systemic barriers in the field. This approach helps learners build both confidence and skill. With over 7,500 engaged traction and 40 past interns, we are creating a more inclusive generation of scientists who ensure that biomedical research reflects and serves the challenges and overlooked problems of all communities, not just a select few. Unlike conventional MOOCs, which focus solely on content delivery, BioinformHER creates a supportive ecosystem where users see themselves reflected in instructors and mentors, making career success feel both possible and attainable. Our freemium model ensures that cost is not a barrier to entry and guarantees access to a self-sustaining engaging community of learners, while premium features options for personalized mentorship to create individualized, clear career pathways to foster the transition from learning to professional and career success.

Faculty Supervisor:

Ayooluwa Bolaji

Student:

Partner:

North Forge

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education; Management of companies and enterprises; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Manitoba

Program: