Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 1-3 p.m., Online
Taught by Srilakshmi Chaparala and Alexis Cenname
Register for Chat to Code in R: Bulk RNA-Seq in Google Colab with Generative AI

Turn plain‑English prompts into reproducible R code as we walk through the key steps of a bulk RNA‑seq analysis—no prior coding knowledge required. In this hands-on session, you’ll start with raw RNA-seq count data downloaded from a GEO-deposited study and work through quality control, differential expression between two conditions (using DESeq2 and edgeR), publication-ready visualizations (volcano plots, heatmaps, MA plots), and functional enrichment to interpret pathways and biology. The core of the workshop is a chat-based, prompt-driven workflow: you’ll learn how to describe your intent in natural language and have R code generated for you, then run, refine, and document it using Google Colab. Along the way, we’ll cover data upload, environment setup, effective prompt writing, and result interpretation.

Upon completing this class, you should be able to:
  • Summarize the bulk RNA‑seq analysis pipeline (raw count data → QC/PCA → DEGs → enrichment) and define key concepts (normalization, dispersion, multiple testing, contrasts)
  • Formulate effective chat-based prompts using Google Gemini to generate R code for RNA-seq data analysis workflow
  • Perform differential expression with DESeq2 and edgeR, and compare outputs (e.g., DEG counts, log2FC, adjusted p‑values
  • Assemble a reproducible Colab notebook that documents prompts, generated R code, and results (DEG tables, plots, enrichment summaries), suitable for reuse and reporting.
Level: Novice
Prerequisites: We recommend that you complete R Bootcamp Session 1; Lecture Video
Recording status: This class will be recorded and shared with attendees.
Class Materials: Class materials will be shared with attendees.