Computer skills for biological research: an introduction to GNU/Linux and bash scripting (2019)

28 - 30 August & 2 - 3 September 2019

Dr. Mathias Currat, University of Geneva
Dr. Jose Manuel Nunes, University of Geneva

Dr. Mathias Currat, University of Geneva
Dr. Jose Manuel Nunes, University of Geneva

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 intended for beginners and for more advanced people, its level of complexity increasing through the four days. Basic knowledge in computing and programming is a plus but is not mandatory. The first part of the course will consist in learning the basic of GNU/Linux: installation of the environment, useful shell commands to work with text files, simple command lines and the use of regular expressions, pipes, and short scripts. The second part will consist in developing more complex scripts, as well as exercises using a computer cluster. 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 perform file format conversions
- Be able to read and write simple regular expressions
- Use GNU/Linux computer clusters.

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. Regular expressions
4. Working with computer clusters

University of Geneva

Map

2.5 ECTS

Full attendance and personal work

When? 28-30 August and 2-3 September 2019

9:30-12:30 and 14:00-17:00

Where? University of Geneva

Room 4-419, Building Sciences II, 30 quai Ernest Ansermet, 1205 Geneva

Reimbursement:

PhD students of the DPEE are eligible for reimbursement of incurred travel expenses by train (half-fare card, and 2nd class). Please send the original tickets along with the reimbursement form to:

Marta Bellone 
Doctoral Program in Ecology and Evolution
University of Fribourg
Chemin du Musée 10
CH-1700 Fribourg

NO reimbursement of your meal expenses!

Regarding reimbursement of accommodation, please contact the coordinator of the doctoral program (ecologie-evolution(at)cuso.ch) BEFORE the beginning of the course. NO reimbursement of accommodation without the agreement in advance of the course of the coordinator of the doctoral program.

Through your myCUSO account

Priority is given to PhD students of the DPEE until 30th of June, 2019. After this deadline, first comes, first serves! 

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