Hello! I would like to ask the advice of the community.

I want to do bioinformatics. I'm very inspired by the various discoveries in the field of "-omics" and epigenetics. I am trying to follow the latest news in these areas and go through all MOOCs, which I can, related to these topics.

I received MS in Biology about three years ago. Then I spent two years as a teacher of chemistry and biology at school. Now I also have experience as objective-C programmer for about a year. Also, I'm writing in Python and trying independently master R. I'd really like to do a PhD in bioinformatics, but so far all online PhD courses which I found too expensive for me. Relevant publications, which are also required for admission, I have neither.

I live in Ukraine and there is only one institution that deals with issues of bioinformatics. As with all academic institutions in the country, it suffers from poor funding and bureaucracy. I do not know whether it makes sense to try to do PhD there.

What would you advise me? Where do I start? Look for work or try to find an institution to make PhD? May be there is some other options? I will be grateful for any advice of people who are "already on the other side."

PS. sorry for my poor English.