[BioPython] Lecturer needed for "Advanced Python"

Fri Mar 24 14:06:11 UTC 2006

Hello,

Ruediger Braeuning has asked me to forward this to the list.

Jeff

On Fri, Mar 24, 2006 at 02:04:14PM +0200, Ruediger Braeuning wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I'm writing to you from the South African National Bioinformatics
> Network (NBN). We need a lecturer for our course in "Advanced Python" as
> Andrew Dalke (the lecturer of last year's "Advanced Python") is not
> available this year.
> 
> So if you are qualified and want to spend some time in Cape Town drop me
> a line.
> 
> Time
> ----
> We allocated 36 days for this module (Thursday, August 10th till Friday,
> September 29th, 2006). I know that this is a long time but as you can
> see from the daily schedule it's just 3 hours per day. For the rest of
> the day you are free and we can provide you with an office.
> 
> Expenses
> ---------
> We arrange and cover your flight, local transport, accommodation, meals.
> There is also a small honorarium of ZAR 300 per day of teaching.
> 
> Please find more details below:
> 
> The National Bioinformatics Network (NBN)
> ------------------------------------------
> The NBN was established to stimulate and support growth and development
> of Bioinformatics as a scientific and applied discipline in South Africa
> at an internationally competitive level.
> 
> The Course
> -----------
> We run national courses on an annual basis. Details of the courses
> (content, lecture material) that were run in 2004 & 2005 can be found
> under "Bioinformatics Workshop Modules" at
> http://www.nbn.ac.za/Education/course.html
> 
> The course content is aimed at covering as much of our Bioinformatics
> core curriculum as possible.
> 
> Your module
> ------------
> We have the following suggestions for your module:
> 
> - Data structures (object oriented design)
> - Libraries, BioPython
> - How to write larger pieces of code
> - Interface Design
> - Usability Testing Methodologies
> 
> Note: These are just suggestions. You are the expert and we would
> welcome your ideas. The students already got 35 days of introduction to
> Python (Feb - Apr 2006). I'd be more than happy to hook you up with the
> lecturer of that module.
> 
> IMPORTANT: Please let us know of any prerequisites you require your
> students to have. We can then make certain course modules a prerequisite
> for your module.
> - module on "Introductory Python"
> 
> Also let us know of any required reading your students have to for
> preparation.
> 
> As your module is part of the bigger course on Bioinformatics we would
> like to encourage you to show the relevance of your module for the whole
> discipline and use Bioinformatics examples. The courses should start
> easy, get everybody on board and then go into detail. Lectures should be
> complemented by hands on sessions, which we believe is absolutely
> crucial to the success of teaching and training. Problem based teaching
> approaches worked best for our students. The NBN strongly emphasizes
> open source solutions. It would be great if you could support this by
> choosing your software accordingly.
> 
> Daily Schedule
> --------------
> 08:00-10:45    Python
> 10:45-11:00    Break
> 11:00-13:00    Lecture/Practical for another module
> 13:00-14:00    Lunch
> 14:00-15:30    Lecture/Practical for another module
> 15:30-15:45    Break
> 15:45-17:00    Lecture/Practical for another module
> 
> Students will be taught Python every day of the course. We encourage all
> our lecturers to exchange ideas for little tasks that are relevant for
> their module and can be tackled in Python with the Python lecturer.
> 
> Background of students
> -----------------------
> Course participants will come from a range of different backgrounds
> (Biology, Computer Science) and comprise people who study Bioinformatics
> (attendance is mandatory for students with a NBN bursary) and people who
> are "just" interested in particular aspects of Bioinformatics. Students
> will also vary in terms of seniority from undergraduates to postdocs
> with the majority being postgraduates. You should therefore expect a
> higher degree of heterogeneity of knowledge amongst the course
> participants than you would normally expect. This means you should be
> prepared to have some flexibility in adjusting your course schedule to
> the participants.
> 
> Number of students
> -------------------
> We expect a maximum of 25 students.
> 
> Assistants
> ----------
> Please let me know if you need some student assistants.
> 
> Facilities
> -----------
> Every participant will have her/his own PC to work on. A video projector
> and stable internet access is in place.
> 
> Evaluation and Assignments
> ---------------------------
> To give you and us feedback on the success of the course we will hand
> out evaluation questionnaires after each module. Students also have to
> take one assignment per course (our pass mark is 65%). In that respect
> we would like to ask you to provide and mark your assignment.
> 
> Should you require further information please don?t hesitate to contact
> me at ruediger at nbn.ac.za or + 27 21 959 2991. I?m also more than happy
> to give you a call.
> 
> I?m looking forward to working with you.
> 
> Should you not be available I would be grateful if you could recommend
> another lecturer to me.
> 
> Ruediger
> -- 
> Ruediger Braeuning    /   National Bioinformatics Network
>              (=)  University of the Western Cape
> Ph. +27 21 959 2991   /   Private Bag X17
> Fax +27 21 959 3573  (=)  Bellville, 7535
> www.nbn.ac.za         /   South Africa