Computer skills for biological research
6 - 9 July 2010, Geneva
Organizers
Teachers: Dr. Mathias Currat & Dr. José Manuel Nunes
Guarantor: Prof. Alicia Sanchez-Mazas, University of Geneva
Summary
This course intends to present useful computer tools and techniques for young researchers in biology that substantially extend basic computer knowledge acquired at undergraduate levels. The course concentrates on GNU/Linux environment and tools because it is powerful, free and easy to install in any kind of computer. Moreover, most of the computer clusters available for scientists run Linux.
The course is divided in two modules of two days each: a “beginners” module and an “advanced” module. The “beginners” module (Tuesday and Wednesday) will consist in learning the basic of GNU/Linux: installation of the environment, useful shell commands to work with text files, simple command lines, pipes, and short scripts. The “advanced” module (Thursday and Friday) will consist in developing more complex scripts, including the use of regular expressions and awk scripts, as well as exercises using a computer cluster.
It is possible to attend only one of the two modules (maximum 20 attendees per module).
Upon conclusion of the course the attendees are expected to be able to:
- use comfortably GNU/Linux workstations environments
- work with shells and write shell scripts,
- manipulate data files and file format conversions,
- be able to read and write simple regular expressions,
- use GNU/Linux computer cluster
The training will provide a minimal theoretical basis in each of the topics listed below and concentrate on practical aspects through numerous applications. It will confer a working autonomy to solve problems while handling data and conducting data analyses pertinent to the researcher in biology.
Topics:
1. GNU/Linux workstation, shell and command line utilities
2. Programming in the shell
3. Working with computer clusters
General information
Number of participants: maximum 20
Location: University of Geneva, Pavillon Ansermet building (next to Sciences III building on quai Ernest Ansermet), computer room 119. (map)
Schedule: 10 to 13 and 14 to 17.00
ECTS: 2 (1 per module)
Registration
Send an E-mail to Mathias.Currat[@]unige.ch or Jose.DeAbreuNunes[@]unige.ch, specifying that you are a doctoral student of the ecology and evolution doctoral program.
Priority is given to PhD student of the EE doctoral program until 15 June 2010.
After this deadline, first-come, first-served!
Contact
Nadia Bruyndonckx
Coordinator of the Inter-University
Doctoral Program in Ecology and Evolution
Biophore building
University of Lausanne
Tel: +41 (0)21 692 4244
Fax: +41 (0)21 692 4165
E-mail: nadia.bruyndonckx(at)unil.ch
