Classes

    Algorithmic Thinking: How you should be thinking about your data

    Semester: 

    Spring

    Offered: 

    2019

    The objective of this nanocourse is to encourage students to perform complex bioinformatic and data analysis questions in their own research with a modular and methodical approach. During the first day, students will learn what an algorithm is and be introduced to the concept of algorithmic thinking. Students will learn to take problems relevant to computational biology and craft solutions in the form of flowcharts and general pseudocode. On the second day, students will learn how to transform the flowcharts and general pseudocode into very specific pseudocode. In this second session,...

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    Single-Cell Sequencing: Experimental Design, Analysis, and Practical Applications

    Semester: 

    Spring

    Offered: 

    2019

    Single-cell sequencing technologies allow us to study genomes and transcriptomes at the single cell level. These relatively new techniques have expanded our knowledge in a wide range of fields from microbiology to development and cancer biology. This course will provide a general introduction to both RNA and DNA-based single-cell sequencing. We will start with a broad overview of RNA-sequencing in single cells with an emphasis on current and emerging technologies. Subsequent lectures will focus on experimental design for single-cell experiments and common approaches to data analysis....

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    Optics and Light Microscopy for Life Sciences: Introduction

    Semester: 

    Spring

    Offered: 

    2019

    Light microscopy is a key component of life science research. Many systems are available on the HMS quad to image samples from the nanometric to the macroscopic scale, whether the samples are live or fixed, fluorescent or stained.
    This nanocourse aims at refreshing the fundamentals of light and optics, explains the various components of microscopes and basic software controls in order to acquire the best image. We will also discuss the strengths and weaknesses of common microscopes to help you choose the right modality for your experiments.
    In the workshop, we will dissect a...

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    Graduate TA Training in the Biomedical Sciences

    Semester: 

    Fall

    Offered: 

    2019

     

    This course is an introduction to the skills and frameworks necessary for success as a graduate student teaching assistant (TA). After completing this 6 hour introduction, students will be able to:

    - describe core pedagogy concepts including backwards design, formative assessment, active learning, alignment, and inclusive teaching

    - identify ways these core concepts influence their work as graduate student TAs

    - demonstrate the ability to apply these concepts to their expected teaching and course-related responsibilities

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    CRISPR Gene Editing for Studying Disease Pathology and Treating Human Disease

    Semester: 

    Fall

    Offered: 

    2019

    Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) RNAs and their CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins are an important part of adaptive immune systems in many prokaryotes. CRISPR-Cas systems function as RNA-directed endonucleases that can target nucleic acids in a sequence-specific manner and are now widely used as genome editing tools. In this course, we will provide lectures covering: an introduction to genome editing and cutting-edge improvements to CRISPR-Cas systems; a review of bioinformatics tools for guide RNA design and analysis of CRISPR-Cas data; and an overview of...

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    Arduino for Biologists: Building scientific instruments using Arduino

    Semester: 

    Fall

    Offered: 

    2019

    Director: John Assad

    Instructors: Ofer Mazor, Pavel Gorelik, Brett Graham

    Course description:

    The Arduino is a powerful and inexpensive digital microcontrollers that can be used to develop custom lab instruments. Many tasks that used to require a PC or expensive hardware can be put together with an Arduino and tens of dollars worth of parts. Developing microcontroller-based tools allows researchers to automate and scale up aspects of their research that were previously unfeasible.

    This nanocourse will cover the basics of programming an...

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    General Quantitative Microscopy and Experimental Design

    Semester: 

    Fall

    Offered: 

    2019

    Light Microscopy is currently a widespread tool for scientific discovery. Advances in this field including the development of brighter and better dyes and fluorescent proteins and techniques that go beyond the optical resolution limit have shaped the way scientist do science. Furthermore, the inherent quantitative nature of light microscopy makes it a powerful tool to solve biological problems in both live and fixed samples and really goes beyond a pretty picture.

    SESSION 1: December 3rd 2-5 pm (open to everyone) Cannon Room, Building C

    • ...
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