• Advanced Courses in Life Sciences

    Header of Systems Biology at Transmitting Science

Course – 6th Edition

Introduction to Network Analysis in Life Sciences

September 24th-28th, 2018, Barcelona (Spain)

Systems Biology

Systems Biology

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

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 Course Introduction to Network Analysis in Life SciencesCourse Overview

Many features and processes of biological systems can be well represented by networks of interacting elements. In the last decades, network analysis has provided new insights into the organization and functioning of complex biological systems such as brain wiring, genetic regulation, or ecological dynamics. A basic knowledge on network modelling and network analysis will provide biologists a better understanding of cutting-edge research in their fields.

This course will introduce participants into the analysis of complex biological systems using network models. Students will learn the basics of network analysis: gathering information, building network models, and interpret the outcomes of their analysis. This course combines theoretical introduction and computing practices using the free software environment R.

Previous knowledge in R is not required. Participants are encouraged to bring their own data for practicing. Emphasis is placed on offering participants a wide overview of network modelling in biology and the many available software tools to do it.

REQUIREMENTS

Graduate or postgraduate degree in Biomedical, Life or Earth Sciences; and basic knowledge of Statistics.

All participants must bring their own personal laptop.

Contact

courses@transmittingscience.com

LOCATION

DATE

September 24th-28th, 2018

LANGUAGE

English

COURSE LENGTH & ECTS

34 hours on-site.

This course is equivalent to 2 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) at the Life Science Zurich Graduate School.

The recognition of ECTS by other institutions depends on each university or school.

PLACES

Places are limited to 18 participants and will be occupied by strict registration order.

Participants who have completed the course will receive a certificate at the end of it.

Diego Rasskin-Gutman instructor for Transmitting Science

Diego Rasskin-Gutman

Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology
Spain

Borja Esteve-Altava Instructor for Transmitting Science

Dr. Borja Esteve-Altava

Pompeu Fabra University
Spain

Program

Monday 24th, 2018. Theoretical Overview, by Dr. Diego Rasskin-Gutman.

  • Introductions and course overview.
  • Conceptual basis of networks analysis.
  • Types of networks.
  • Networks parameters.
  • Networks organization (small-world, scale-free, hierarchical networks).
  • Community detection in networks (modularity).
  • Getting R and RStudio ready to work.


Tuesday 25th, 2018. Hands-on Computers I, by Dr. Borja Esteve-Altava.

  • The igraph package and the igraph object.
  • Create deterministic networks.
  • Create networks from data (students are welcome to bring their own data).
  • Manipulate network elements and attributes.
  • Calculate network parameters.
  • Identify small-world, scale-free, and hierarchical organization in networks.
  • Create null network models.

Wednesday 26th, 2018. Hands-on Computers II, by Dr. Borja Esteve-Altava.

  • Community detection algorithms (detection, validation, and comparison).
  • Overview to secondary extinctions.
  • Overview to bipartite networks and the package bipartite.
  • Students project preparation.


Thursday 27th, 2018. Students Projects, supervised by Dr. Borja Esteve-Altava.

  • Student project preparation (in groups of 2-3 persons).


Friday 28th, 2018. Projects Presentations and Feedback, supervised by Dr. Borja Esteve-Altava.

  • Each team will present its work to the group for discussion and round table (15-20 min + 10 min).
  • Course feedback.

Fees

  • Course Fee
  • Early bird (until December 31st, 2020):
  • 576 € *

    (460.8 € for Ambassador Institutions)

  • Regular (after December 31st, 2020):
  • 695 € *

    (556 € for Ambassador Institutions)

  • This includes course material, coffee breaks and lunches (VAT included).
    * Participants from companies/industry will have an extra charge of 100 €.
  • Course Fee + Accommodation Package
  • Early bird (until December 31st, 2020):
  • 906 € *

    (790.8 € for Ambassador Institutions)

  • Regular (after December 31st, 2020):
  • 1025 € *

    (886 € for Ambassador Institutions)

  • This includes course material, coffee breaks, transportation from and to Barcelona, accommodation from Sunday to Friday, breakfasts, lunches and dinners (VAT included).
    * Participants from companies/industry will have an extra charge of 100 €.

You can check the list of Ambassador Institutions. If you want your institution to become a Transmitting Science Ambassador please contact us at communication@transmittingscience.com

Schedule

Course Schedule

Participants will make their own way

  • Monday to Thursday:
    • 9:30 to 13:30 Lessons.
    • 13:30 to 15:00 Lunch (included).
    • 15:00 to 18:00 Lessons.
  • Friday:
    • 9:30 to 13:30 Lessons.
    • 13:30 to 15:00 Lunch (included).

The class schedule is approximate; it is possible that the content of one day may run into the next and a working day may be longer than advertised.

Course + Accommodation Package Schedule
  • Sunday:
    • 19:00 Meeting point in Plaza Catalunya (Barcelona) to take the bus to Els Hostalets de Pierola. If you are planning to arrive later, you can find more information on how to get there.
    • 20:00 Registration in the Hostel.
    • 20:30 Dinner.
  • Monday to Thursday:
    • 08:00 to 09:00 Breakfast
    • 9:30 to 13:30 Lessons
    • 13:30 to 15:00 Lunch (included)
    • 15:00 to 18:00 Lessons
    • 20:00 Dinner
  • Friday:
    • 8:00 to 9:00 Breakfast.
    • 9:30 to 13:30 Lessons
    • 13:30 to 15:00 Lunch
    • 15:00 Meeting point in the Hostel to take the bus to Barcelona city.
    • 16:30 Arrival at Plaza Catalunya (Barcelona).

The class schedule is approximate; it is possible that the content of one day may run into the next and a working day may be longer than advertised.

Accommodation

If you choose the Accommodation Package you will be hosted at the Youth Hostel Can Roviralta,  in shared dormitories (common bathrooms), although you will only share rooms with other course participants (male or female only).

If you prefer to stay in a single room, you can do so with a supplementary charge.

The Accommodation Package includes transportation from the centre of Barcelona to the venue and back, at the start and end of the course, respectively. The trip takes around 1 hour each way by private bus.

If you do not wish to take the Accommodation Package, you can find a few other options in near by towns or in Barcelona city. However, please be aware that from the centre of Barcelona city it takes about one hour by car and one hour and a half by public transport to arrive to Els Hostalets de Pierola. Course participants will find that staying in Els Hostalets de Pierola is more convenient.

Funding

Discounts are not cumulative and apply only on the Course Fee. We offer the possibility of paying in two instalments (contact courses@transmittingscience.com).

Former participants will have a 5 % discount on the Course Fee.

20 % discount on the Course Fee is offered for members of some organizations (Ambassador Institutions). If you want to apply to this discount please indicate it in the Registration form (proof will be asked later).

Unemployed scientists living in the country were the course will be held, as well as PhD students based in that country without any grant or scholarship to develop their PhD, could benefit from a 40 % discount on the Course Fee. If you want to ask for this discount, please contact the course coordinator. That would apply for a maximum of 2 places and they will be covered by strict inscription order.