Centre for Research Informatics Training

Computational Research Skills Training Programme

SBS MPhil in Crop Science (2026-2027)

Cohort description

Welcome to the computational research skills training programme, offered by the Centre for Research Informatics Training! This page is your landing page for the duration of the programme, so please read it carefully.

  1. Bookmark this page. It is a working document, which will get updated throughout the programme.
  2. We use your registered email address for communication. If you use a different account please set up email forwarding to or from your Cambridge address.
  3. Please arrive on time. Check the event page for times and locations. Attendance is recorded - sign the attendance sheet at each event.
  4. Review the prerequisites for each event below and install any required software before the course.
  5. Some of the events below are opt-in and you’ll receive a separate sign-up email.
  6. Bring a fully charged laptop when required and make sure you have administrator rights to install software.

Introduce yourself to the trainers before the programme begins.

Exam information

There will be an exam taking place at venues in central Cambridge or the Clinical School on 27 November, starting at 09:30. Detailed information including exact venue plus SSD adjustments, if applicable, will be given closer to the time, but for now block out the time in your calendar from 09:00 - 13:00 on this date.

  • The assessment is a 2-hour (plus time adjustment if applicable) invigilated in-person exam using your own laptop.
  • All questions will be multiple choice, and you will be allowed to access course materials and your own notes throughout the exam (open-book); however, you may not use large language models/generative AI.
  • Ensure you have installed the required software beforehand to run either Python or R/RStudio on the laptop, the same as you are using in the teaching sessions.
  • Exam questions cover the core statistics course material as taught during sessions CS1 to CS6, so you do not need to prepare for additional topics.
  • You will not be examined directly on your use of Python or R/RStudio. However, you will be expected to use the software to apply the statistical concepts to generate your answers.
  • Submission of your answers will be via the online platform, Microsoft Forms.
  • You will receive all required additional information (e.g., time, location, agreed adjustments) within plenty of time before the assessment, as well as some practice questions to familiarise yourself with the format.

There will be an optional online post-exam Q&A session hosted on Zoom on the 11 December, 09:30 - 13:00. We will run through the exam answers, however, questions on individual scripts will not be covered.

Data analysis in R

Core statistics

Introduction to the Unix command line

Timetable

Instructors: Dayana Salas Leiva (Biochemistry); Ji-Ming Yang (Clinical Neurosciences)

Time Session Instructor
09:30 - 09:40 Welcome
09:40 - 10:10 Introduction to the Unix shell Dayana
10:10 - 11:00 Navigating the file system Dayana
11:00 - 11:15 Break
11:00 - 11:45 File Operations Ji-Ming
11:45 - 13:00 Working with text & Combining commands Ji-Ming

Bulk RNA-seq analysis

  • Course document - contains link to materials, timetable, and other resources.
  • Course setup:
    • You can use the computers in the room, which have the necessary data and software.
  • Feedback survey - fill in after the course.

Single-cell RNA-seq analysis

Before attending

Only attend this module if it is compulsory for your Pathway or you have specifically signed up as places are limited

  • Joining instructions and links will be provided separately if you have signed up.

Visual data communication