The Rising Influence of Machine Learning and Coding in Biotechnology (a Survey)

Coding: An Essential Skill for Biotechnologists

According to the survey, a significant majority of biotechnologists are now adept at coding. A remarkable 87% of wet lab scientist respondents reported that they write code, with 55% scripting to automate workflows weekly and 39% programming data engineering or pipelines on a similar schedule. Most of these scientists have acquired their coding skills independently, with 74% learning on the job and 63% through formal education.

Python emerged as the most common coding language, used by 97% of respondents for data analysis in the past year. Other frequently utilized languages include Shell (Bash/Powershell), R, SQL, and HTML/CSS.