From learning Python to doing biology
The capstone is an optional, in-person workshop for students who complete the four-week virtual program. The 2026 project uses fungal protein sequences to practice transparent measurements, sliding windows, data wrangling, and scientific interpretation.
Schedule
Light breakfast and arrival
Check in, settle at your workstation, and make sure your computing device is ready.
Biological introduction and day overview
Meet fungal adhesins and the biological question that will guide the day.
Examine proteins and use prediction servers
Compare example proteins and interpret SignalP and NetGPI results.
Python refresher and Challenge 1A
Use loops and functions to calculate whole-protein S/T frequency.
Coffee break
Group picture
Gather for a workshop photo before the final coding session.
Sliding windows and a real protein dataset
Measure local S/T-rich regions and apply the calculation to fungal proteins.
Pizza lunch
Logistics
Location
B20 (basement), Biology Building
129 E. Jefferson Street
Iowa City, IA 52242
Open the Biology Building in Google Maps ↗
Parking and arrival
Parking is available at Tower Place Parking Ramp. Please allow enough time to park, walk to the Biology Building, and find room B20 in the basement.
Open Tower Place Parking Ramp in Google Maps ↗
What to bring
Bring a computing device with an attached physical keyboard and a mouse or trackpad.
Food and breaks
- Light breakfast: 9:00–9:25 a.m.
- Coffee break: 11:30–11:45 a.m.
- Pizza lunch: 12:45–1:30 p.m.
Contacts
Workshop organizers:
- Bin He — bin-he@uiowa.edu
- Hubert Kicinski — hubert-kicinski@uiowa.edu
Notebook
Python in Biology
The 2026 workshop uses one student notebook for the in-person activities. It runs in Google Colab, so no local Python installation is required.
Open the student notebook in Colab ↗
Before editing, use File → Save a copy in Drive so your work is saved to your own Google Drive.
Before the workshop
- Sign in to a Google account that can use Google Colab.
- Open the notebook using the button above.
- Confirm that the notebook loads. You do not need to run it in advance.