Introduction to
Bioinformatics
Our Introduction to Bioinformatics course is a structured, four-part course for Saudi university students. It begins with the basics of bioinformatics and progressively covers more advanced topics. Practical projects round off the course, offering students opportunities to put their acquired skills into action in real-life situations.
Who can attend
The Introduction to Bioinformatics course is specifically designed for Saudi university students engaged in studies within the life sciences domain. This includes, but is not limited to, fields such as medical sciences, clinical studies, biological sciences, and medical technology. The course is ideal for students who demonstrate a deep interest and enthusiasm for exploring the intersections of biology and information technology.
In addition to being currently enrolled in a relevant degree, students must also meet the following criteria to qualify for the course.
- Candidates are required to pay a subscription fee. This fee is mandatory to cover course costs and resources. Details regarding the fee amount and payment process will be provided upon application.
- Candidates must complete designated prerequisite courses available on Coursera. These courses are designed to ensure that all participants have the foundational knowledge necessary for the course.
- A qualification exam will be administered to assess the candidates’ understanding of key concepts. This exam must be passed to proceed further in the course.
- Participants will undergo assessments at each stage of the course. Only top-qualified students will be invited to advance to the next stage. This ensures a competitive and merit-based progression, aligning with our commitment to academic excellence.
Registering for the course
Registration for the course will remain open until November 30, 2023. Interested candidates are encouraged to complete their registration before this deadline.
Eligible candidates will be invited to participate in the qualification exam for the first cohort, scheduled for the week of November 2 – 6, 2023. This is a key step in the selection process for the course.
Additionally, eligible candidates will have the opportunity to be invited for the second cohort qualification exam, which is set for the week of December 14 – 17, 2023.
To qualify for the exam, candidates must be actively enrolled in the KAUST Academy Coursera program and must have completed the prerequisite online courses. This ensures that all participants have the necessary foundational knowledge for the course.
Candidates who do not pass the first qualification exam will have the opportunity to attend the second qualification exam. This provides applicants with a second chance to demonstrate their eligibility for the course.
Prerequisite online courses
To qualify for the Introduction to Bioinformatics course, candidates must successfully complete a prerequisite specialization on Coursera.
- Fundamental Skills in Bioinformatics
This specialized series of courses is designed to provide a foundational understanding of bioinformatics, equipping students with the necessary knowledge for advanced study in the field.
The specialization must be completed before November 1, 2023, for those aiming to attend the qualification exam for the first cohort. For those targeting the second cohort, the completion deadline is December 12, 2023.
Upon successful completion of these prerequisites, candidates become eligible to take the qualification exam. Those who excel in this exam will be rewarded with exclusive invitations to enroll in the Introduction to Bioinformatics course.
Your enrollment in our course also grants access to over 200 online courses, each culminating in a certificate upon successful completion. This extensive learning opportunity is available at a significantly discounted fee of 400 SAR, a special offer exclusively for KAUST Academy students.
Topics covered
by the course
- An introduction to the R programming language, focusing on its application in bioinformatics.
- Techniques and tools for analyzing bulk RNA sequencing data.
- Covering the foundational aspects of Python programming, particularly in its use for bioinformatics.
- Exploring methodologies for analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing data.
Skills you’ll gain
- R Programming Basics
- Programming in Python
- Bulk RNA Sequencing Data Analysis
- Computational Biology
- Linear Algebra
- Statistical Analysis
- Data Visualization
- Project Management
- Critical Thinking
- Innovative Thinking
- Leadership
- Collaboration
Course stages
Stage 1: Prerequisite Massive Open Online Courses
Duration: 2 weeks Completion Date: Before November 1, 2023 Method: Self-paced, Online
In this initial stage, students are required to complete a dedicated specialization course on Coursera, focused on the essentials and foundational elements of bioinformatics.
Note that enrollment in the prerequisite Coursera courses does not automatically guarantee participation in the later stages of the course. Progress through the course depends on high performance in assessments. They are strategically integrated into the course and occur between its key stages. Only top-performing students will be invited to advance to the next stage.
Stage 2: Introduction to Bioinformatics
Duration: 5 days Start Date: November 17, 2023 Method: Instructor-led, In-person
In this stage, the most qualified students will explore the core aspects of bioinformatics, gaining skills and tools crucial for practical applications in the field. Progress to the next stage is contingent upon meeting qualification criteria and assessment performance.
Stage 3: Advanced Bioinformatics Course
Duration: 5 days Start Date: To be decided! Method: Instructor-led, In-person
This stage immerses qualified students further into bioinformatics, covering more complex theories and advanced applications of bioinformatics technologies. Continuation to the next stage is based on student qualifications and assessment performance.
Stage 4: Bioinformatics Summer School
Duration: 8 weeks Start Date: June 16, 2024 Method: Instructor-led, In-person
Qualified students will be invited to participate in the prestigious KAUST Academy Summer School, hosted either at KAUST or at top international universities. This stage offers intensive training in various advanced topics in bioinformatics. On-campus accommodation and services are provided.
Prerequisite course agenda
This section provides a detailed agenda, outlining the specific segments of the Coursera specialization to complete and their recommended timelines. The aim is to ensure participants finish these courses in time for the qualification exams. For the first cohort, the target completion date is before November 1, 2023. For the second cohort, the target completion date is before December 12, 2023.
This course introduces the essentials of programming using R. Key topics include working within the R and RStudio environments, understanding data types, and using control structures like loops and conditional statements. It also introduces R Markdown as a tool for code documentation and sharing.
Building on the basics, this course dives into more complex R programming concepts. It covers logical values and vectors, their applications in quality control, and basic statistical analysis techniques such as exploratory data analysis, correlation, linear models, T-tests, and ANOVA. The course also guides students in exploring additional resources for R programming.
This course presents the fundamentals of Python, starting with a comparison between Python and R programming languages. Students will learn Python’s syntax and get hands-on experience with key Python libraries like pandas and NumPy, essential for data manipulation and analysis.
In this course, students apply their programming skills to a practical bioinformatics case study, focusing on the analysis of RNA-seq data. R is used for bulk RNA-seq analysis, while Python handles single-cell RNA-seq data. The course emphasizes integrating results from both analyses and offers insights into advancing skills in R programming.
Click on the apply now button to sign up!
Professor’s Take
on the Course
“Bioinformatics is not only about using existing tools to process and analyze biological data, but rather about developing novel methods and tailored approach for targeted knowledge discovery. The field of biology has gradually changed into a data-driven field, in which AI is playing more and more important roles for hypothesis generation and scientific discovery.” – Professor Gin Xia, Acting Associate Director of Computational Bioscience Research Center
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the course covers foundational concepts that are directly applicable to real-world scenarios.
The course is primarily aimed at university students, providing them with tailored content that bridges academic learning and practical application.
The course structure varies across stages. The initial MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) stage is self-paced, allowing flexibility. Stages two to four are instructor-paced and conducted in person, requiring a more structured time commitment.
Yes, participants receive certificates of completion at each stage of the course. This certifies their proficiency in bioinformatics.
The enrollment fee gives you the opportunity to qualify for KAUST Academy’s Introduction to Bioinformatics course. Additionally, for an exclusive discounted fee of 400 SAR, students can gain access to over 200 online courses offered through Coursera.
Fees can be conveniently paid through Shopify, ensuring secure processing of both credit and debit card transactions. For debit card users, please ensure that online transactions are enabled on your card before proceeding.
No, completion of 200 courses is not required. Candidates need to complete only one specific specialization that consists of four separate online courses.
Three significant assessments are strategically integrated into the course, occurring between its key stages. These assessments are designed to evaluate the depth of your understanding and the application of the concepts learned. Only top-performing students will be invited to advance to the next stage. This competitive system ensures that only the most dedicated and capable students move forward in the course.
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