GRAD 778 - Elements of Research Computing
We are pleased to announce the return of an exciting opportunity for graduate students, postdocs and faculty to acquire and/or improve their skills in research computing.
Course overview
Instructors from across campus will be offering an intensive module-based course that will be an overview of computational research as well as a skills-based introduction to programming and shell scripting for automating computational tasks. Lectures are delivered in a mixed-modality setting. That is, some units will be made available via pre-recorded video one week before the scheduled session for students to complete the programming assignments, followed by real-time live discussions, demonstrations, and exercises on Saturdays. Other modules will be held in person in a computer lab where the instructor will teach the concepts and allow for real-time discussion, programming, and demonstrations. Each workshop is designed to run approximately three hours.
Please see below a tentative schedule of workshops. Students can select from mini-courses of interest and “build their own curriculum,” choosing which weekend modules work with their interests and schedule. Workshops are generally designed with minimal pre-requisite knowledge about each unit.
Course topics
| Workshop | Logistics |
| Data Operations and Programming in R (Intro to R) Format: In person |
Two full-day workshops, two modules 12 hours, instructional [2x 9 .a.m. to 4 p.m.] |
| Intro to Linux Command Line Format: Hybrid |
One full-day workshop, one module Six hours, instructional [9 a.m. to 4 p.m.] |
| Documentation and reproducibility Format: Hybrid |
One half-day workshop, one module Three hours, instructional [9 a.m. to 12 p.m.] |
| C++ Programming Format: Hybrid |
One full-day workshop, one module Six hours instructional [9 a.m. to 4 p.m.] |
| Intro to Python (Programming and Data Analytics in Python) Format: In person |
One full-day workshop, one module Six hours, instructional [9 a.m. to 4 p.m.] |
| Introduction to Bach Processing on Pronghorn Format: In person |
One half-day workshop, one module Three hours, instructional [9 a.m. to 12 p.m.] |
| Advanced Utilization of Pronghorn Format: In person |
One half-day workshop, one module Three hours, instructional [9 a.m. to 12 p.m.] |
| Cloud Computing Format: In person |
One full-day workshop, one module Six hours, instructional [9 a.m. to 4 p.m.] |
| Version Control Format: In person |
One half-day workshop, one module Three hours, instructional [9 a.m. to 12 p.m.] |
Anyone interested in using computational tools for research is encouraged to attend, including graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff. Attendees will have the opportunity to work hands-on with various real-world examples and write basic programs in more than one programming language. Each module is held in mini-session format in which lessons will be fully inclusive within each weekend module. Attendees must have their own laptop and a valid NetID.
The graduate version of the course, GRAD 778, Elements of Research Computing is cross-listed in several departments (including Biology, CSE, NRES, and Psychology) and is available for registration in MyNevada.
Students intending to register for graduate-level S/U credits will have the option of attending:
3 modules = 1 credit
6 modules = 2 credits
9 modules = 3 credits
Important: The course will be capped at 80 students. Priority will be given to graduate students who are enrolled in the course, but we will allow auditing of the course by faculty, staff, and students if there are available seats.
Interested students or auditors will be required to attend the mandatory course introductory session via Zoom on Saturday, August 27th at 10 a.m.
Register for introductory session
For more information, please contact Alireza Tavakkoli (tavakkol@unr.edu).