A Successful R Bootcamp Week

In response to the rising demand for coding and data analysis skills, HSLS has been actively providing R workshops. Traditionally, these workshops—R: Introduction, R: Data Wrangling, and R: Data Viz—were spread over several weeks, which sometimes made it challenging for participants to maintain learning momentum. While these sessions remain available for viewing, HSLS has now introduced a more intensive learning experience to better meet participants’ needs.

This past June, Dr. Jenna Carlson elevated our approach by hosting an engaging four-day online R bootcamp. Tailored for both beginners and those seeking a refresher in R coding, the bootcamp covered essential data analysis techniques, including data manipulation, summarization, and visualization. With over 200 registrants, it became one of the largest workshops ever hosted by the HSLS Molecular Biology Information Service.

To accommodate those with busy schedules, HSLS has made all course materials accessible online. The R Bootcamp Guide is a treasure trove of resources—data sets, files, and lecture videos—allowing for flexible, self-paced learning. Participants lauded the bootcamp for its well-paced, informative sessions.

Building on this success, HSLS is currently hosting a Python bootcamp, with registration still open for the remaining classes on August 7, 8, and 9. This bootcamp will explore similar concepts using Jupyter Notebook. Whether researchers plan to join live or watch the videos later, this presents an excellent opportunity to enhance their data analysis skills.

~Alexis Cenname