August 2026 - VBCF courses - lists.vbcf.ac.at

R programming course announcement

by Aszodi,Andras

Dear Colleagues, Why would you bother with learning a programming language in this age of "vibe coding"? Well, studies have shown that understanding the subject matter helps you use "AI" tools more efficiently... So let me announce my "R as a Programming Language" course (more info at https://training.vbcf.ac.at/training/rlang.php ). This introductory course serves as the foundation for most of my biostatistics trainings by teaching you the basics of the R programming language. Please read the following information carefully until the end. Who may attend? If you have received this email, you may sign up :-) However, preference is given to the "new" phd students as discussed during the "Prime Your PhD" boot camp. Topics on Day 1 (9th September): • Introduction to R: general principles. • Data structures in R: vectors, matrices, arrays, lists, data frames. Data import/export. Topics on Day 2 (11th September) : • Functions in R: how to write your own functions and scripts. • Visualization in R: various plot types ("classic" built-in graphics only). Out of scope: We won't discuss statistics at all. Basic biostatistics and more advanced data analysis/machine learning courses will come soon. Prerequisites: Good typing skills. Experience with other programming languages is advantageous but not needed. Date/Time: Wednesday the 9th and Friday the 11th September (Wed-Thu), 09:00 - 13:00 on both days. This is a "two-half-day course", but due to lack of seminar room availability there's a break (on Thursday) between the two parts. Attendance: physical only, no remote participation. Reason: it's very difficult to correct typos over Zoom. Cost: free of charge. How to register: 1) Check your calendar. *** If you register but don't attend, you are taking away a place from a colleague! *** 2) Ask your supervisor for permission to attend. 3) Inform your supervisor that you won't be available during the course. (No last-minute lab meeting presentations etc!) 4) Open this URL: https://training.vbcf.ac.at/training/schedule.php Click on the [REGISTER] button and fill out the form. Please specify your job type correctly. Thank you, András

Aug. 31, 2026

Python course registration - additional information

by Aszodi,Andras

Dear Colleagues, The fact that I announced two Python-related courses for next week seems to have caused some confusion. The first one is about programming in Python, from Monday to Thursday. The second one is about NumPy and Pandas, will be held on Friday. These are separate courses with separate sign-up buttons. I attach a screenshot of the registration page pointing out which button should be clicked for which course. Please click thoughtfully 🙂 Thanks a lot, András [cid:957ba5f7-daf2-4acc-b297-9372a6fadbb7] András Aszódi, PhD Computational Biology Training andras.aszodi(a)vbcf.ac.at<mailto:simone.obermeier@vbcf.ac.at> Vienna BioCenter Core Facilities GmbH Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3 1030 Vienna Austria www.vbcf.ac.at<https://www.vbcf.ac.at/>

Aug. 18, 2026

Python scientific data packages course announcement

by Aszodi,Andras

Dear Colleagues, I have the pleasure to announce my "Python scientific data packages" course (see https://training.vbcf.ac.at/training/pydata.php ). This course teaches you how to use the NumPy and Pandas packages which are the foundations of scientific computing in Python. Knowledge of NumPy and Pandas is a pre-requisite for my upcoming machine learning courses. Please read the following information carefully to the end. DATE/TIME: 28th August (Friday), 09:00 - 13:00. Please check your calendar and sign up only if you can attend. Do not take away slots from others by signing up and then not joining. TOPICS: NumPy: - Array creation. - Array indexing. - Array manipulation: reshaping, adding/removing rows and columns. - Broadcasting and universal functions ("ufunc"-s). - Text and binary file input/output. Pandas: - Series and DataFrame objects. - Object creation, data input/output. - Indexing. - Adding and removing rows and columns. Rearranging tables. Sorting. - Numerical work: aggregate functions, simple statistics, random samples. OUT OF SCOPE: - No data analysis. PREREQUISITES: - Python programming experience. The Python programming course (https://training.vbcf.ac.at/training/pylang.php) held just before offers a good foundation. COST: Free of charge. NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: Strictly limited to 16. First come, first served. HOW TO REGISTER: Ask your supervisor for permission to attend, then open this URL: https://training.vbcf.ac.at/training/schedule.php . Click on the appropriate [REGISTER] button. Note that the Python programming course is also open; click carefully! :-) Then fill out the registration form. Please specify your job type correctly. Use an Austrian academic email address. See https://training.vbcf.ac.at/training/practical_information.php for details. Thank you, András

Aug. 14, 2026

Python programming course announcement

by Aszodi,Andras

Dear Colleagues, The summer is (almost) over, and the VBCF computational courses are back! Let's start with the "Python programming" course (see https://training.vbcf.ac.at/training/pylang.php ) Please read the following information CAREFULLY TO THE END TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT. COURSE DIFFICULTY: This is an "entry-level" course that starts from the very basics of Python programming. However, towards the end we will move to more complex concepts. Please DO READ the "TOPICS" section below carefully! DATES/TIMES: The course consists of two parts, and both parts involve two four-hour sessions (16 hours in total). You must take both Part I and Part II because they build on each other. PART I: 24th and 25th August (Monday-Tuesday), 09:00 - 13:00 PART II: 26th and 27th August (Wednesday-Thursday), 09:00 - 13:00 PLEASE DO CHECK YOUR CALENDAR BEFORE SIGNING UP! Make sure you can attend ALL sessions. Do not take away slots from others by signing up and then not joining. ATTENDANCE: In person only. Remote attendance is not offered because it would be very difficult for me to help correcting typos etc. EXERCISES: There will be "homework" assignments after Days 1,2,3 so plan about 1-2 hours for them in the afternoons/evenings to work on them at your own pace. TOPICS: Day 1: - Introduction to Python: basic principles. - Python data structures: strings, tuples, lists, dictionaries, sets. Day 2: - Object-oriented programming in Python. Encapsulation, inheritance (base and derived classes), polymorphism. Day 3: - Writing a Python class and a small package using test-driven development techniques. Day 4: - Writing Python scripts. Command-line option processing, file I/O, error handling. OUT OF SCOPE: - No data analysis! This course is only about the Python language itself. - No personal projects! You all will work on the same task (genomic region representation). I don't have the resources to supervise individual projects. PREREQUISITES: - You must have good typing skills, otherwise you'll hold up everybody else. - Previous experience with another programming language is highly desirable (but not mandatory). COST: Free of charge. NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: Strictly limited to 16. First come, first served. Please sign up only if you can attend all four sessions! HOW TO REGISTER: Ask your supervisor for permission to attend, then open this URL: https://training.vbcf.ac.at/training/schedule.php . Click on the [REGISTER] button of Part I of the course, this will register you to Part II as well. (It is not possible to register for only one part.) Then fill out the registration form. Please specify your job type correctly. Use an Austrian academic email address. See https://training.vbcf.ac.at/training/practical_information.php for details. Thank you, András

Aug. 14, 2026