Do you love both biology and coding? Do you have plans to become a data scientist or researcher but are not sure if they are a good fit for you? This 3-week online program on Data Science for Biology 2022 will help you to get a flavor of the advanced (college-level) courses and get a headstart for future careers in biosciences and data science.
We had launched this Bootcamp in the summer of 2021. Below are the reviews and feedback from the summer 2021 cohort.
Review / Feedback from Summer Bootcamp 2021 Cohort
AI & Data Science for Biology Summer Program 2022
Co-authored by Tamoghna Das
Why Should You Attend?
In the modern era, just knowing biology (theory and lab skills) is not good enough anymore. Biologists need to know basic coding for data analysis.
Just imagine – it took 2nd fastest vaccine (mumps vaccine) 5 years to develop. The COVID-19 vaccines took less than 1 year. It was possible due to AI, big data analytics, and bioinformatics.
Additionally, core biotechnology is a research-oriented career path. The biological lab skills might not work in the finance or the IT industry. It always helps if you diversify your skillset. Learning Python, R, and the basics of AI-ML can help you to break into other industries as well.
Read the following articles to get a clearer idea:
Common Problems Faced by Biotechnology Students in India – A Student’s Perspective
How to Improve Employability after B.Sc/B.Tech Biotechnology (or Biomedical) in India
For Biotechnology students, I would recommend becoming adept in at least one programming language. It’s needed everywhere, including our core area.
– Isha Sharma (MS Biomedical Engineering, UC Berkeley and B.Tech Biotechnology DTU)
Read Isha’s MS Biomedical Engineering Admission Journey.
Also, read Want to Make It as a Biologist? Better Learn to Code!
Data Sciences (including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Data Analytics) and Biosciences (Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical & Life Sciences) are currently the hottest careers.
Data Science for Biology Summer Program Curriculum
[table id=111 /]
Want to Attend the Bootcamp?
Click below to Get a Call Back
Why AI & Data Science for Biology and Biosciences?
The next big thing in data science is biology! Actually, Computational Synthetic Biology (CSB) is sometimes referred to as ‘computational systems biology, or simply ‘synthetic biology’.
From the biological researcher’s perspective, CSB broadly refers to the design and fabrication (building) of biological components and systems that don’t already exist in the natural world or to the redesign and fabrication of existing biological systems.
To the data scientist and particularly the start-up world, CSB is a newly emerging field. It will capitalize on advances in deep learning (use of computer programs to predict some biological events).
Depending on your personal sense of priority, CSB will remarkably accelerate cures to some of mankind’s most intractable diseases or be the foundation for the next generation of unicorns in the time frame of 5 to 7 years.
Perhaps the better way to frame this is which would you rather be working on, facial recognition to label your friends’ faces on Facebook, creating chatbots for that travel platform, or working to cure cancer and extend quality human lifetimes.
What kind of Data Scientists are Companies Looking for?
For those of you who might be interested in making the switch, your deep learning skills in CNNs, RNNs models will serve you well, depending on the company. The job descriptions we looked at called out Python and R but not much else specific to bioinformatics.
The exception is that the descriptions we saw asked for more than a passing familiarity with biological research. Our guess is that there aren’t enough data scientists with parallel degrees in biology to go around and that these companies will begin to favor strong data science over biology.
Related Articles:
Role of R and Python in Biology & Biosciences
Beginners Guide to Data Science, AI, ML, Big Data Analytics, NLP, IoT, and Blockchain Technology
Neural Networks vs Deep Learning vs Machine Learning vs Artificial Intelligence
Natural Language Processing (NLP) Jobs, Salaries, Skills, Learning Path & Online Courses
How to Prepare for Careers in Data Science & Biosciences while in High School?
If we were advising students what to study as they approach high school and college the combination of data science and biology looks strong.
Our guess is that this field is just getting underway and that to become as mature as tech AI is today will take another 5 to 7 years. That could be a good long career run for young data scientists today, or a good entry point for new data scientists graduating from school in 5-7 years.
Where we are today with CSB is roughly equivalent to Henry Ford’s hand-built Model A. Between advances in data science and automation in this field, we could be routinely designing or editing genomes on computer screens in the not too distant future.
George Church, a genome scientist at Harvard Medical Schools says, “I think this could be bigger than the space revolution or the computer revolution”. We think so too.
3-Week AI & Data Science for Biology Online Bootcamp – FAQs
Who Can Attend This Program?
The curriculum has been designed for absolute beginners. So, high school students (ideally, Grade 9 – 12) and college students – all are welcome. Its course content has been designed as per some of the top artificial intelligence summer programs for high school students.
Dates and Timings
- 1st Batch: May 14 – May 31
- 2nd Batch: Jun 15 – July 2
Classes will be held in the evening during the afternoon and evenings. Only Class-9 (the final one) could be on a Sunday. Faculty Members are based out of the US, UK, and India.
Fees
Regular Fees: Rs. 15,000 / $200
Early-Bird Discount: Rs. 12,000 / $160
How to Apply for Data Science for Biology Summer Program?
Please fill up this Google Form to express your interest. One of our team members will call you for the enrollment procedure.
Trainers and Mentors
Jishnu Nair (Ex VIT, UC Boulder & IIT-Madras): Jishnu is co-founder of The Chroma Foundry. He is currently solving biological problem solving through the application of synthetic biology and associated concepts. Jishnu is currently based out of Chennai, India.
Tamoghna Das (Ex UCL, IISc, VIT): Tamoghna is co-founder of The Chroma Foundry. He is currently working on mathematical modeling and computational methods (using Python, AI, Data Science & Machine Learning) for vaccine design and development. Tamoghna is currently in the UK.
Ankita Murmu (Ex LPU and KITS): Ankita is currently working as a Data Curation Intern at NuGenomics. She did her M.Tech and B.Tech in Biotechnology. Previously, she worked as an intern at CSIR, IIT-Guwahati, and Pine Biotech. Ankita is currently based out of Assam, India.
Ajay Singh (Ex Harvard University, UT Austin, IIT-Roorkee): Ajay is a seasoned digital transformation leader who has conceptualized and driven a number of global digital solutions, strategic initiatives, new markets with a customer-centric, agile product development approach in a number of Fortune 500 companies such as American Express, BCD Travel, Travelport, Intel, HP, etc. Strong technical, startup, and product management background. Ajay is based out of Palo Alto (Silicon Valley) in the US.
Tanmoy Ray (Ex Oxford, UMCU, UNSW): Tanmoy is a Career Adviser and Admission Counselor. He specializes in working with candidates on their career paths and applications for STEM subjects; particularly Data Science & Analytics; Biotechnology, Biomedical Engineering & Life Sciences; and Renewable Energy & Sustainable Systems Engineering. At present, Tanmoy is in Kolkata, India.