Spring 2025
Data Interpretation with Andrey Grigoriev (Virtual)
- Feb 26, 12:00 pm-1:00 pm
- Apr 2, 12:00 pm-1:00 pm
- Student Consultants: Meron Dibia
Workshop Description: This workshop will help trainees interpret the results of their studies. Students will submit a brief description of their research problem two weeks before the first session, providing technical details needed for data interpretation. A subset of submissions (3-5) will be selected for detailed discussion, with suggestions on follow-up studies. In the second session, results from follow-up studies will be discussed.
Learning Goal: Use statistical and logical approaches to understand research results.
Open to any STEM graduate student.
Surviving your PhD Qualifying Exam with Grace Brannigan (In-person at JHSC 104BC with Hybrid option)
- Feb 5, 12:00 pm-2:00 pm | JHSC 104BC
- Apr 9, 12:00 pm-2:00 pm | JHSC 104BC
Workshop Description: This two-hour workshop will present “survival tips”, cover expectations for the overall format, host multiple Q&A panels with students who recently qualified, give you a glimpse into the conversation when the student is out of the room, provide tips on answering questions, and help you construct your own checklist and timeline for the months leading up to the qualifying exam.
Learning Goals:
- Participants will increase their understanding of the experience for the written proposal, oral exam, and overall qualifying process.
- Participants will be able to prepare for their qualifying exam more systematically, with a planning toolbox and set of concrete steps.
- Participants will feel less of the “stress of the unknown” and gain confidence in their ability to grow and success in the qualifying exam process.
- Participants will gain perspective on what success “looks like” to the student, the PI, and the committee.
Open to any STEM graduate student. Pre-Qualifying CCIB PhD students are highly encouraged to attend.
Registration is now closed.
Code Review with Sunil Shende (In-person at JHSC 104BC)
- Mar 12, 12:00 pm-2:00 pm
- Apr 8, 2:00 pm- 4:00 pm
- Student Consultants: Ezry Santiago-McRae
Workshop Description:
This workshop focuses on reviewing Python (or similar programming language) code to encourage best practices for documentation, linting, and refactoring. Students will submit code samples with specific questions for critique, and in the second session, they will incorporate feedback to improve their code.
In the first session, students are asked to submit code samples along with specific questions they may have about the readability or efficiency of their code. This code is reviewed and critiqued by me and to the extent that time allows, by students attending the workshop. The critiques provide an opportunity to discuss general aspects of
best practices for code organization, documentation and layout. Students are given specific feedback for improving their code with the understanding that they will make those changes before the second session. These suggestions can include learning to use tools for documenting and testing the code.
In the second session, students return having incorporated the suggested corrections to their earlier code. The code is reviewed again and any additional suggestions for implementing good STEM-specific software engineering principles are reiterated and reframed based on the quality of the code.
Learning Goals:
- Learn to document code properly and use a linter to detect errors.
- Implement best practices in code organization, refactoring, and testing.
Open to any STEM graduate student.
Registration will close after March 5.
Keeping up with the Scientific Literature with Anthony Geneva (In-person only at JHSC 104BC)
- Mar 26, 12:00 pm-2:00 pm
- Student Consultants: Jesse Sandberg
Workshop Description:
This workshop will combine lecture and hands-on practice into a single 2-hour session. Roughly the first half will consist of an interactive lecture providing an overview of strategies for finding and evaluating the relevance of scientific papers as well as a discussion of the difference between active and passive literature searching. The hands on portion will consist of a (very) brief example of active literature searches followed by an interactive demonstration of the construction of literature alerts and bots for the remainder of the session.
Learning Goals:
- Understand literature searching and archiving tools available to RU affiliates.
- Learn to rapidly evaluate the relevance of the papers discovered via these searches.
- Build automated tools for literature discovery.
- Understand passive vs. active means for discovering literature.
Open to any STEM trainee.
Registration will close after March 19
Open Forum on Machine Learning and AI Advancements: Concerns, Opportunities, and Applications with Iman Dehzangi (In-person at JHSC 104A with Hybrid option)
- Apr 23, 12:00 pm-1:30 pm
- Student Consultants: Alyssa Vanerelli
Workshop Description:
The rapid advancements in machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming diverse domains, from healthcare and education to finance and entertainment. This forum invites an open discussion on the implications of these technologies, exploring their transformative potential alongside ethical and societal concerns. Key topics include the role of AI in addressing global challenges with a focus on disease diagnosis, bioinformatics, and computational biology. Concurrently, we will address pressing issues like bias in AI systems and data privacy. Attendees are encouraged to share insights, challenges, and visions for the future.
Join an open discussion on the advancements of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), their implications, and their transformative potential across various sectors. We will discuss the role of AI in global challenges, particularly in disease diagnosis and bioinformatics, alongside ethical and societal concerns.
Learning Goals:
- Discuss concerns, opportunities, and ideas surrounding ML and AI.
Open to any STEM trainee.
Registration will close after April 16
OARC GitHub Workshop (In-person in JHSC 104BC) Hybrid option available. For the best learning experience we recommend attending this workshop in person.
- Beginner – March 5 12:00pm-2:00pm (Register for Introduction to GitHub Workshop)
- Intermediate – April 30 12:00pm-1:30pm (Register for Intermediate GitHub Workshop) Registration will close April 23
- Student Consultants: Shriya Subedy and Lindsey Riggs
Alphafold Workshop with Guillaume Lamoureux (Hybrid; In person in JHSC 104BC)
- May 14 12:00pm-2:00pm
- May 28 12:00pm-2:00pm
- Student Consultants: Jahmal Ennis
Registration will close May 7