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XX50235: Applied data science in biology

[Page last updated: 15 October 2020]

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2020/1
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Biology & Biochemistry
Further information on credits Credits: 15      [equivalent to 30 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 300
Further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Academic Year
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Case Studies (CW 40%)
  • Report (CW 60%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Description: Aims:
This unit is aimed at students with strong computational skills interested in gaining extensive hands-on experience in practical data-driven analytic science.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this unit you will be able to:
* Describe and implement the processes involved in initial data handling, preparation and assessment
* Discriminatively apply relevant analytic techniques in the context of defined objectives, and critically interpret results
* Deploy, and critically assess, a high-level software technology in a "Big Data" scenario
* Deliver a critical and informative report of methods applied and analytic output obtained, in both written and oral form.

Content:
Topics covered normally include data sources and acquisition, preparation and pre-processing, summarisation and exploratory analysis, application of statistical and machine learning models using a relevant programming language (e.g. Python), model assessment and interpretation of results, along with legal and ethical factors. In the second half, topics will typically focus on higher level Python packages, big data technologies, data sources, mainstream applications and report production.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

XX50235 is Optional (DEU) on the following programmes:

Department of Biology & Biochemistry
  • RSBB-AFM48 : Integrated PhD Molecular Biosciences (Bioinformatics)
  • TSBB-AFM48 : MSc Molecular Biosciences (Bioinformatics)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2020/21 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2021/22 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2020/21.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.