Description: “Introduction to Bioinformatics for Molecular Biologists” is a joint course for the various life science Masters programs at the Utrecht University. This introductory course provides an overview of the importance of bioinformatics in various biological disciplines. While a biological background is required, no programming skills are needed. The course can be considered a general introduction to bioinformatics, with a focus on the research that is performed at Utrecht University. The theory and tools for bioinformatics provided are very useful for any life science researcher. The course will be partially theoretical with lectures taking up to 30% of the day while the major focus will be on working with various tools and datasets. These computer tasks are performed in groups of 2 students. The maximum number of participants for this course is 40 students. The course will be concluded on the last day with an exam that consists of normal pen-and-paper questions but also of tasks that should be completed on the computer. Active participation during the course provides sufficient preparation to complete the exam. Furthermore, follow-up courses are organized later in the year that will allow you to specialize in specific directions. Students are expected to be familiar with the subjects from this introductory course when participating in any of the follow-up courses.
