1. When you should use local persons to do your bioinformatics work: Part 1

If you work in an academic institution and training young scientists is an important part of your job and career, then you should give higher priority to the "local people" option. Especially if you are using a training grant, outsourcing may not even be an option for you. It is true that this option will likely take longer and cost considerably more, but isn't this also true for all other work in your lab? Having students and inexperienced trainees do the work - letting them make (sometimes expensive) mistakes and learn through those mistakes - is just part of the process. It will give you a sense of accomplishment to see your students and trainees overcome obstacles and finally reach the finish line.

There is another advantage to having your own people complete at least some of the bioinformatics work: it will help you gradually build up some bioinformatics capability in your own lab. Let's face it: bioinformatics will play an increasingly important role in many research projects in many research labs in the years to come. You will want to have some local bioinformatics capability to handle at least some of the basic bioinformatics work, and seek outside help only for the more challenging bioinformatics problems. Think of it this way: having your own people try out some of the routine bioinformatics work is an investment you are making towards building up your basic bioinformatics capability, which you will benefit from in the long run.